Late Gaels free sees off Na Fianna challenge
VETERAN Mark Bergin broke Na Fianna hearts with a late converted free to deny the Dublin club a first ever Leinster title in Croke Park yesterday.
Bergin, a survivor from the team that lost the 2011 All-Ireland final to Galway’s Clarinbridge, racked up 0-11, with his final score in the 60th minute delivering the Kilkenny champions their third provincial title.
But while Bergin may have got the defining score, there was no doubt who had the defining performance.
County star Paddy Deegan produced a display of heroic proportions from centre-back, which saw him rack up five points in a man-of-the-match performance.
And O’Loughlin Gaels needed him to be at his very best as Na Fianna, despite the continued absence of their top forward Donal Burke with a long-term hamstring injury, pushed them all the way in an epic decider.
Trailing by two points (0-11 to 0-9), the first-time Dublin champions took the lead eight minutes into the second half with a cracking goal.
Colin Currie released his brother Sean, who side-stepped All-Star full-back Huw Lawlor, before firing a blistering drive to the net.
It set up a pulsating final 27 minutes – five minutes of injury time was played – as it became virtually point for point, with the teams tied on no fewer than five occasions in that period.
A couple of sublime points from David Fogarty ensured that
Gaels stayed in the game long enough for Bergin to ultimately have the final say.
The Kilkenny champions will meet the winners of this afternoon’s Ulster final between Slaughtneil and Cushendall in Saturday’s week All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park. o’loughliN gaels: S Murphy; T Forristal, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Fogarty, P Deegan, J Molloy; J Nolan (J Ryan, 54), C Loy (C Kelly, 49); C Heary, M Bergin, E O’Shea; P Butler (L Hogan, 26), O Wall, S Bolger. scorers: M Bergin 0-11 (9f), P Deegan 0-5, D Fogarty 0-2, C Loy, J Nolan, C Heary, L Hogan 0-1 each.
Na fiaNNa: J Treacy; S Burke, C McHugh, D Clerkin; P O’Dea, L Rushe, K Burke; B Ryan, P Feeney; J Tierney, M Murphy, S Currie; C Stacey, AJ Murphy, C Currie. scorers: Colin Currie 0-11 (9f), Sean Currie 1-1, Brian Ryan 0-3, AJ Murphy 0-2, John Tierney 0-1. referee: C Flynn (Westmeath).