Loughrea v Na Fianna score and result from All-Ireland club semi-final
Na Fianna 0-17 Loughrea 0-16
The great survivors Na Fianna did it again as they reached the All-Ireland Club Hurling final in an epic tussle against Loughrea in Thurles.
Dublin Champions Na Fianna have come close to exiting multiple times this year, scraping through the county and needing an epic last-gasp goal in their county final.
And the Mobhi Road outfit needed more heroics to keep their All-Ireland dream alive, with star forward AJ Murphy scoring the winning point deep into injury time.
Going into half time, Na Fianna looked far from their best as they trailed by four at the break.
However, three points in quick succession boosted their hopes. Loughrea still controlled the match, with Ian Hanrahan, Jamie Ryan, and Anthony Burns all scoring crucial points.
The last 10 minutes is where Na Fianna played their best stuff, with Man of the Match Colin Currie scoring three quick points as they took an unlikely lead.
Tiernan Kelly put things back level,l but stalwart AJ Murphy kept his composure as Na Fianna won by the smallest of margins and booked a Croke Park date against Sarsfields.
16:51Darragh Culhane
Heroic defending from Na Fianna and the ball somehow squeezes up to the forwards and AJ Murphy scores a crucial point. Last chance for Loughrea here but Na Fianna win a HUGE free in the back line.
Free out and the referee blows the full time whistle. Na Fianna are going to the All-Ireland final
16:49Darragh Culhane
Long range free for Loughrea but it's wide. Clock approaches 63 and Na Fianna scream for a free but it's given to the Galway outfit.
16:47Darragh Culhane
Four minutes added time.
16:46Darragh Culhane
Big moment for Loughrea as they win a free right in front of goal as the clock goes red. All level going into injury time.
16:43Darragh Culhane
What a comeback this could be as Currie fires a free over for Na Fianna.
16:42Darragh Culhane
All level with four minutes to go.
16:40Darragh Culhane
Great score by Currie for Na Fianna and the gap back to one.
16:39Darragh Culhane
Another good score for Loughrea
16:38Darragh Culhane
Gap back to two as Loughrea score a point from play. Na Fianna go for a goal and, unlike their Dublin final heroics, the rebound goes over. Gap back to one.
16:35Darragh Culhane
Close game here now as the clock ticks past 47 minutes with Na Fianna bringing it back to a point. Untimely wide for Loughrea, but it's close and goes to Hawkeye. The shot is good and Loughrea are two points ahead.
16:31Darragh Culhane
Turning into a good contest here as Loughrea and Na Fianna trade scores
16:24Darragh Culhane
Na Fianna close the gap but living on the edge as AJ Murphy is given a yellow card.
16:21Darragh Culhane
Not the most exciting start to this half as Loughrea extend their lead.
16:17Darragh Culhane
Back underway in Thurles as Na Fianna put a free wide.
16:03Darragh Culhane
Ugly way to end the half with a coming together and a Na Fianna player kneed to the head while on the ground. Referee deems It accidental and no card given. Loughrea very lucky there. Last play of the half, and goalkeeper Jono Tracey sends it long, but Dublin star Donal Burke sends it wide.
16:00Darragh Culhane
Loughrea with a couple of soft wides before a much needed score from Na Fianna but their Galway opponents respond straight away.
15:57Darragh Culhane
Loughrea have had some good long range frees in this first half and lead by five.
15:54Darragh Culhane
Na Fianna living off scraps but score a close range free. Four points in it with 25 minutes gone.
15:47Darragh Culhane
Slow start for favourites Na Fianna but get a much needed score
15:44Darragh Culhane
It has been all Loughrea so far and they rattle off four scores in a row
15:36Darragh Culhane
Level here after six minutes in Thurles
15:31Darragh Culhane
Loughrea opens the scoring
15:30Darragh Culhane
The teams are out and we are ready to go!
15:16Darragh Culhane
A thriller in the earlier semi-final as Sarsfield beat Slaughtneil 0-18 to 0-17. A cruel way to miss out on a final but Cork side Sarsfields become the first Rebel outfit to reach a club final since 2005.
15:09Darragh Culhane
TG4 are broadcasting the game live and it is available to watch on the TG4 Player.
14:53Eamon Doggett
By Pat Nolan
Playing hurling for Na Fianna in the ‘90s and 2000s wasn’t a particularly fulfilling pursuit, and among the various low points, one stands out for Declan Feeney in particular.
He had been part of a Na Fianna minor team that won a county title in 1981 and the bones of that side reached three county semi-finals in the late ‘80s. But there was nothing coming through and they inevitably dropped down the divisions and out of the senior grade.
In 2007, they played St Jude’s in a senior B final which took three games before there was a winner declared, but Na Fianna, a much more established hurling club despite their flagging fortunes, couldn’t find a way to win.
Read on here
