14-man Fechin’s are caught Nap-ping

Na Piarsaigh St Fechin’s 3-18 2-16

NA Piarsaigh defied the odds with a stunning relegation play-off victory over St Fechin’s at The Grove on Sunday morning.

The black and amber were heavy underdogs going into the clash and would even have been most people’s favourites to drop down to the junior ranks, but they refused to follow the script.

St Fechin’s were the architects of their own downfall to some extent as indiscipline proved costly once again, but that shouldn’t take away from Na Piarsaigh’s heroic achievement.

They bared their teeth early with Robbie Murphy and Mark Larkin (2) opening a 0-3 to no score lead. St Fechin’s eventually settled and played their way back into the contest before snatching the lead with a Dermot McConnell goal.

However, Damien McGeeney hit back for Na Piarsaigh and the sides werre level at 1-5 apiece when Brian Devlin was dismissed for St Fechin’s.

Na Piarsaigh didn’t make the numerical advantage count immediately as they adjourned with the minimum one-point lead and fell behind after the re-start when Ronan Holcroft netted Fechin’s second major to make it 2-8 to 1-9.

Eoghan Duffy and Ryan Sheridan followed up with points to give Fechin’s a fivepoint cushion as they looked set to defy playing three quarters of the game with 14 men.

But Na Piarsaigh were simply outstanding from that point on and they closed the gap to two before a David Boyle goal sent them back in front, 2-11 to 2-10.

They stretched that lead to three points before Mark Larkin converted a penalty to make it 3-13 to 2-11.

The sides continued to exchange points but 14-man Fechin’s couldn’t make any meaningful headway and Na NA PIARSAIGH: Damien McCrink; Fergal Mulholland, Ronan McCartney, Stephen McGuinness; Ciarán Murphy, Joe Woods; Conal Shields; Michael Woods, Jarlath Lyons; Eamon McAuley 0-2, Mark Larkin 1-6, Robbie Murphy 0-5; Damien McGeeney 1-1, David Boyle 1-0, Alan McCartney 0-3. Subs: Gerard Smyth 0-1 for Mulholland, Gavin McGee for Alan McCartney, Mark O’Hare for Lyons, David Yore for McGeeney, Stephen Arrowsmith for Woods.

ST. FECHIN’S: Niall McDonnell; Donal Ryan, David Collier, Niall Carolan; Harry McArdle,Niall McCabe, Ryan Sheridan 0-1; Bevan Duffy 0-1, Dermot McConnell 1-0; Eoghan Duffy 0-2, Colm O’Neill, Ronan Holcroft 1-7; Niall Devlin, Brian Devlin 0-1, Joe Corrigan 0-1. Subs: Matthew Flanagan for Niall Devlin (BC), Tom Burke for McConnell (BC), Danny Burnell 0-2 for Flanagan, Harry Haughney 0-1 for McArdle, Paul King for Corrigan.

REFEREE: Noel Hand.