Goals crucial as Na Fianna topple Davis girls

NA FIANNA delivered an exceptional team performance when enjoying a comprehensive twenty-three point victory, 4-23 to 0-8 over a disappointing Thomas Davis in their Dublin Senior Championship Group B encounter at Kiltipper Road.

The large crowd assembled were hopeful of a repeat of last year’s thrilling semi-final clash but those wishes went unanswered as the visitors seized the initiative from the first whistle with the winning margin an accurate barometer of their supremacy on the night.

From the moment that Hannah Tyrrell opened the scoring when converting a 2nd minute free, there was an intensity to the Na Fianna play that left their opponents chasing shadows for the large part.

Lucy Collins doubled that lead two minutes later with a cracking score off her left foot and her midfield partnership with Eilish O’Dowd allowed the visitors to remain on the front foot throughout.

Tyrrell kicked a score from play soon after and Na Fianna’s lightning quick start was rewarded even further as Emma Deeley raced through before unselfishly placing Laura Grendon for a well-taken goal.

The hosts had enjoyed some sporadic moments of pressure at the opposite end and finally opened their account through a Ciara McGuigan free in the 8th minute but it proved an isolated moment of encouragement as they played second fiddle for the remainder of the half.

Thomas Davis were well beaten by Na Fianna in Kiltipper Road

Points followed for Na Fianna through Tyrrell, lively half-back Orla Martin and Grendon while Collins kicked another sumptuous point as we entered the second quarter.

A fine save from Lauren Young denied Grendon in the 18th minute and Thomas Davis drew encouragement from that let-off as they showcased their attacking play with a fine Sinead Deegan point in the 21st minute.

McGuigan tagged on a free to offer further grounds of optimism for the hosts but their opponents regained their authority towards the end of the half with points by O’Dowd, Grendon and Tyrrell leaving them 1-12 to 0-3 clear by half-time.

Any hopes that the hosts would claw their way back into contention upon the restart were dealt a massive blow in the 32nd minute as Collie Casey was sin-binned and Na Fianna showed their ruthless nature to kick further ahead.

Grendon netted her second goal from a Tyrrell pass in the 36th minute while Karla Conway and Tyrrell added points to re-enforce the Glasnevin side’s control.

Thomas Davis continued to battle and enjoyed some sustained periods of possession that yielded frees for McGuigan but by that point, O’Dowd had raced through unopposed before unleashing an unstoppable finish to the roof of Young’s net.

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