St Martin's (Wexford) 1-21 Na Fianna (Dublin) 2-17
Dublin champions Na Fianna surrendered their provincial and All-Ireland Club SHC crowns on Sunday as Wexford's St Martin’s avenged the outcome of last year’s Leinster semi-final meeting.
This time it was at the quarter-final stage, and the home-side defied the defending champions, clawing ahead by 2-17 to 1-18 on the stroke of the 60th minute as substitute Ben Stafford and a pair of Rory O’Connor injury-time frees sent St Martin’s supporters into ecstasy after four minutes into added-time.
The Wexford champions now face Naas in a fortnight’s time in a bid to become the first side from the Model County to make the Leinster final since Oulart-The Ballagh’s historic breakthrough title in 2015.
Despite wides hurting their early efforts, St Martin’s moved purposefully through the opening quarter to forge a 0-04 to 0-1 advantage after 14 minutes.
Darren Codd, Barry O’Connor, Jake Firman and Rory O’Connor (free) obliged for the maroon and whites, before Seán Currie got Na Fianna off the mark after eight minutes.
A quick-fire brace from Colin Currie (one free) narrowed the gap to 0-04 to 0-03 after 16 minutes after he he had been denied a possible goal by Philip Dempsey and Eoin O’Leary.
But the challengers appeared to be reasserting when easing out to a 0-10 to 0-05 lead on 25 minutes, a four-point surge from Rory O’Connor (two frees) fuelling the charge as Darren Codd and Mikey Coleman also registered.
Na Fianna were set to finish the half strongly though, jolted by Seán Currie finding the net after gathering Peter Feeney’s delivery from the left and holding off a couple of challenges.
Spurred on by that breakthrough, the Dublin champions hit the front for the first-time shortly before half-time through captain Donal Burke another couple of additions by Colin Currie.
However, St Martin’s fought back to bridge the gap at the interval (0-11 to 1-08) after the O’Connor brothers combined, with Rory feeding Jack.
The latter grew prominent as the home-side resumed to lead 0-14 to 1-09 after 41 minutes, the number 14 striking twice while earning a free from which sibling Rory made it a two point gap.
However, Na Fianna turned the tables as a pair of points from midfielder Brian Ryan sandwiched a 42nd-minute goal through full-forward AJ Murphy, who took a couple of challenges before flicking home off his knees (2-11 to 0-15).
The response screamed defiance, St Martin’s grabbing two of the next three points, before Rory O’Connor fed his cousin Barry to snatch the lead back with a 50th minute goal (1-17 to 2-12).
The sides were level twice more before St Martin’s were left breathing a huge sigh of relief when Na Fianna messed up a goal chance amid a now feverish atmosphere as Jack Meagher let the chance slip.
Regardless, the holders went 2-17 to 1-18 clear in the 60th minute as AJ Murphy and Seán Currie struck only to be reeled-in by St Martin’s substitute Ben Stafford and Rory O’Connor (free), before the latter’s ninth score – sixth free – sparked celebrations more akin to wining a final, speaking volumes for the determination Daithí Hayes’ charges were brimming with to settle a score from 12 months ago.
St Martin’s: Callum Quirke; Eoin O’Leary, Conor Firman, Philip Dempsey; Daithí Waters, Diarmuid O’Leary, Joe Barrett; David Codd, Aaron Maddock; Jake Firman (0-02), Darren Codd (0-02), Jack O’Connor (0-04, 1 free); Mikey Coleman (0-1), Barry O’Connor (1-02), Rory O’Connor (0-09, 6 frees).
Subs: Ben Maddock for A. Maddock (46), Ben Stafford (0-1) for Coleman (48), Sam Audsley for O’Leary, inj. (58).
Na Fianna: Jonathan Tracey; Micheál Murphy (0-1), Conor McHugh, Seán Burke; Liam Rushe, Paul O’Dea, Peter Feeney; Brian Ryan (0-02), Jack Meagher (0-01); Seán Currie (1-03), Donal Burke (0-02), Joe Kavanagh; Tom Brennan, A.J. Murphy (1-02), Colin Currie (0-06, 3 frees).
Subs: Charlie McCarthy for Brennan (HT), Liam Stacey for Kavanagh (52), Diarmuid Clerkin for M. Murphy, temp (55-56).
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)
