Na Fianna 6-21  Drumree: 0-05

The first hurling game of the year was played on a bright crisp morning in Baconstown. There was a strong blustery wind favouring Drumree in the first half but Na Fianna won the first ball with Diarmuid Bailey dropping it into Ronan Byrne who duly pointed. After 8 minutes Mark Slevin scored a 65 putting Na Fianna 2 points up. In the 10th minute Sean Martin received a fine ball from Mark Slevin and made no mistake firing to score the 1st goal of the match.

Drumree scored their first point in the 13th minute but Na Fianna continued to dominate possession and scored their 2nd goal in the 16th minute after a fine run from Shane Walsh who laid it off to Seán Martin who duly finished to the net. Mark Slevin of Na Fianna pointed shortly after to extend the home teams lead.

Na Fianna scored their 3rd goal in the 23rd minute after a great passage of play amongst the forwards led to Shane Burke finishing to the net. Drumree didn’t give up and kept the pressure up on the Na Fianna backs but a free gave Drumree only their 2nd point, followed almost immediately by another free to Drumree which they scored their 3rd point.

Persistent defending by Cormac Redmond of Na Fianna demonstrated the work rate to gain possession throughout the pitch. Shane Burke pointed for Na Fianna after a solo run from Peter Slevin split the Drummer defence. Na Fianna conceded a free from which Drumree scored their 4th point of the first half. A high ball delivered in to Ronan Byrne who demonstrated fine skill to bring it down and scored a fine point. The next passage of play on the half hour had Shane Burke scoring his 2nd and Na Fianna's 4th goal. Followed by a Shane Walsh point. Bringing Na Fianna first half tally to 4 goals and 6 Points. The final score of the half went to Drumree from another free bringing their half time total to 5 points.

The second half started with the Na Fianna forwards refusing to let up. However, the wind didn’t help Na Fianna’s accuracy from placed balls as they hit a couple of early wides. It took only 3 minutes of the second half for Peter Slevin to open Na Fianna's account. Again, neat interchange between the forwards led to Ronan Byrne breaking the ball down and in turn laying it off to Mark Slevin to score another point.

Half time substitute Dáire Slattery showed predator instincts to get his foot to a loose ball and score Na Fianna's 5th goal. Drumree launched an attack but a great block by Noel O Sullivan prevented the visitors from adding to their score line. The number of wides by both teams increased as the blustery wind sent a number of high balls from set plays and play wide of their target. Na Fianna introduced Adam Farrell for Shane Burke after ten minutes of the second half. 

The following 10 Minutes where all Na Fianna with the full forward line breaking down the ball and the half forwards moving in the receive the lay off resulting in points for Peter Slevin, Shane Walsh and Mark Slevin. 15 minutes in, Na Fianna scored further points in quick succession from Peter Slevin, Mark Slevin and Shane Walsh. Na Fianna made their third substitution of the game when Shane Burked replaced Mark Slevin after 45 minutes. Na Fianna's Peter Slevin and Ronan Byrne pointed in the 46 and 47th minutes. A good win of the breaking ball by Ronan Byrne which he laid off to Adam Farrell who duly scored giving Na Fianna their 6th and final goal of the game.

The final 10 minutes saw Na Fianna pop over points with ease from Shane Burke, Peter Slevin, Diarmuid Baily and Ronan Byrne. Drumree launched a few attacks but stout defending from the Na Fianna backs to tackle and win back possession prevented Drumree from getting any scores in the 2nd half. Peter Slevin pointed the final score of the game for Na Fianna.

Na Fianna's scorers: Diarmuid Bailey (0-1), Shane Walsh (0-3), Mark Slevin (0-05 (1-65’),(1-F)), Peter Slevin (0-06 (1-F), Seán Martin (2-0), Shane Burke (2-2), Ronan Byrne (0-4), Dáire Slattery (1-0) and Adam Farrell (1-0).

Na Fianna: 1) Eoin Reilly, 2) Seán Coffey, 3) Evan Mullally, 4) Stephen Slevin, 5) Noel O Sullivan,  6)Daniel Gleeson, 7) Cormac Redmond, 8)Kevin Coffey, 9) Diarmuid Bailey, 10) Shane Walsh, 11) Mark Slevin, 12) Peter Slevin, 13) Seán Martin, 14) Shane Burke, 15) Ronan Byrne. Subs Used: Dáire Slattery for Seán Martin at half time, Adam Farrell for Shane Burke (40Min) and Shane Burke for Mark Slevin (45min) 

 

 

 

 

 

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