Denis Walsh’s report is in.
“On top of everything else, they had time to enjoy the view. The tension probably died with Na Fianna’s opening goal late in the first half and by half-time the game was in a palliative state. A campaign that had been defined by so many cliffhangers and daring feats of escapology was crowned by a performance that made a tilt at completeness,” he writes.
Take a read of his full report below:
[ Unrelenting Na Fianna defeat Sarsfields to claim All-Ireland club hurling titleOpens in new window ]
And with that, I’ll sign off. Commiserations to Sarsfields and congraulations to our newest All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling champions Na Fianna.
FT: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-20
Here is Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s reaction to a famous victory for Na Fianna. The new Dublin boss signs off from managing his home club with an All-Ireland title. As endings go...
Stay tuned for Denis Walsh’s full match report.
FT: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-20
Molly Malone ringing out around Croke Park now as the Na Fianna players go up the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the Tommy Moore Cup. What a way for Niall Ó Ceallacháin to finish up as Na Fianna manager. He will be back in Croke Park next weekend for his first game as Dublin senior hurling boss when the National Hurling League throws in.
FULL-TIME: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-20
Na Fianna are All-Ireland club senior hurling champions for the first time. On the biggest day, they met the moment with a superb display. The Dublin side were full value for their victory at Croke Park today.
62mins: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-20
Bryan Murphy with a consolation point for Sars.
58mins: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-19
O’Connor with another point for Sars.
56mins: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-18
O’Connor is carrying the fight for Sars, to be fair. He burrows through for a goal chance but his shot is well saved by Jonathan Tracey. Kearney sends over the resulting 65.
54mins: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-17
Jack O’Connor pops over a point. He looked at a possible goal chance but there was no way through. Had to settle for the point.
53mins: Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-16
Jack Meagher with a point for Na Fianna.
51 mins: Na Fianna 2-22 Sarsfields 0-16
Brian Ryan hits a massive score from downtown for Na Fianna. Myers replies for Sars, but the Cork side need goals. Time is running out to stage a comeback.
Here’s Na Fianna’s second goal.
49mins: Na Fianna 2-21 Sarsfields 0-15
AJ Murphy with a good score after great work by Liam Rushe at the other end of the field. Rushe has looked so composed and in control at the heart of the Na Fianna defence, clearing a huge amount of ball. Daniel Hogan and Daniel Kearney reply with a point apiece for Sars.
45mins: Na Fianna 2-20 Sarsfields 0-13
Myers with a free for Sarsfields.
43mins: GOAL!! Na Fianna 2-20 Sarsfields 0-12
Tom Brennan with his second goal of the day. This time Brennan was set up by Stacey. A nice finish by Brennan. Na Fianna now lead by 14. Hard to see a way back for Sarsfields.
41mins: Na Fianna 1-20 Sarsfields 0-12
Jack O’Connor pulls one back for Sars. They’ll need more than odd points here and there though. Sars need a period of dominance, doesn’t look like coming right now though.
40mins: Na Fianna 1-20 Sarsfields 0-11
Currie with a tap over free.
37mins: Na Fianna 1-19 Sarsfields 0-11
Colin Currie free for Na Fianna.
Sars made two half-time subs: Shane O’Regan replaces Cian Darcy, Craig Leahy comes in for Luke Elliott.
35 mins: Na Fianna 1-18 Sarsfields 0-11
Two on the bounce for Sars - Myers and Jack O’Connor. They need to sustain this, if possible.
33mins: Na Fianna 1-18 Sarsfields 0-9
We’re back at Croke Park and both teams have added a pair of points. Myers with both of the scores from Sars - one from play, one from a free. Brian Ryan and AJ Murphy with the Na Fianna scores.
HALF-TIME: Na Fianna 1-16 Sarsfields 0-7
Na Fianna are full value for their lead, the Dublin champions have dominated the game. Sars are really struggling to get any momentum whereas there is a real flow and confidence to Na Fianna’s play. Their pace up front is cutting Sars open time and time again - it looks like there are more goals for the Mobhi Road outfit. Sars will hope the break allows them to reset, but right now it’s Na Fianna’s to lose.
31mins: Na Fianna 1-16 Sarsfields 0-7
AJ Murphy with another from play for Na Fianna before Seán Currie completes the first-half scoring.
30mins: Na Fianna 1-14 Sarsfields 0-7
Myers with a close range free for Sars.
29mins: Na Fianna 1-14 Sarsfields 0-6
Na Fianna come straight down the field, Jack Meagher off-loads to AJ Murphy who taps over.
28mins: Na Fianna 1-13 Sarsfields 0-6
Myers with a free for Sars.
27mins: Na Fianna 1-13 Sarsfields 0-5
Make that 11. Goal-scorer Brennan grabs a point for himself. This has been a super display by Na Fianna so far.
26mins Na Fianna 1-12 Sarsfields 0-5
Currie with a free from out under the Cusack Stand. Na Fianna lead by ten.
24mins: Na Fianna 1-11 Sarsfields 0-5
Stacey with a point for Na Fianna.
22mins: Na Fianna 1-10 Sarsfields 0-5
Decent response by Sars, who hit back with two points - a Myers free and one from play by Jack O’Connor.
21mins: GOAL: Na Fianna 1-10 Sarsfields 0-3
Tom Brennan with a goal for Na Fianna. Jack Meagher sets him through and Brennan hit the ball low beyond Ben Graham. A goal had been coming.
20mins: Na Fianna 0-10 Sarsfields 0-3
Daniel Kearney with a first from play for Sars.
17mins: Na Fianna 0-10 Sarsfields 0-2
Finally Sars get their second score - another free from Myers. But Na Fianna go straight down the field and create another goal chance, which is saved and the ball goes out for a 65. Currie nails the 65.
16mins: Na Fianna 0-9 Sarsfields 0-1
Currie with a free, followed by another from play by Burke. Na Fianna are rolling here, Sars need to stop this.
14mins: Na Fianna 0-7 Sarsfields 0-1
Donal Burke plays a clever one-two with Currie before arrowing over the crossbar. Six ahead now and playing all the hurling. Na Fianna’s pace and movement up front is causing the Sarsfields defence all sorts of problems.
12mins: Na Fianna 0-6 Sarsfields 0-1
Brian Ryan with a nice point from the middle of the field. Na Fianna push five ahead.
Three consecutive wides from Sars. Jack O’Connor turned over - though possibly could have had a free. The Cork outfit need to settle here.
9mins: Na Fianna 0-5 Sarsfields 0-1
Donal Burke with a monster free from his own end of the pitch.
8mins: Na Fianna 0-4 Sarsfields 0-1
Good pressure period from Na Fianna here. Ciarán Stacey and AJ Murphy pop over points. They have also had two wides in recent minutes and Murphy’s point came after a goal-scoring chance was foiled by Sarsfields. Good start by Na Fianna here.
4mins: Na Fianna 0-2 Sarsfields 0-1
Paul O’Dea with the first score from play. The Na Fianna wing back has been firing over from long range throughout the season and does so again on the biggest day of all.
3mins: Na Fianna 0-1 Sarsfields 0-1
Sarsfields pull back level, Aaron Myers clipping over a free from under the Hogan Stand between the 20 and 45 metre lines.
2mins: Na Fianna 0-1 Sarsfields 0-0
Colin Currie opens the scoring with a neatly struck free from distance.
Na Fianna playing towards the Hill in the first half. And we’re off
Almost set to go at Croke Park, teams marching here now.
TEAM NEWS: Both sides make changes from the officially listed teams.
Na Fianna - Seán Ryan for Gavin King
Sarsfields: Cillian Roche, Cathal McCarthy, Aaron Myers all start. Craig Leahy, Ben Nodwell, Shane O’Regan drop out.
A nice read here from Denis Walsh, chatting with Diarmuid O’Sullivan. The Rock is a selector with Sarsfields.
“The way I played the game wouldn’t cut it with modern-day players.”
Seán Moran is giving the edge to Na Fianna in his match verdict.
[ Na Fianna’s even tempo gives them edge on Sarsfields in hurling deciderOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to Croke Park for All-Ireland senior club final day, it’s Gordon Manning here.
The action starts at 1.30 when Na Fianna of Dublin will face Sarsfields of Cork in the hurling decider, followed by Cuala of Dublin facing Tyrone champions Errigal Ciarán in the football showpiece event.
These days serve as a reminder of what the GAA is all about. On the walk up to Croke Park earlier, the streets around the stadium were full of families – from grandkids to grandparents - all coming to shout on their own. Croke Park won’t be full today, but these club finals – just like the junior and intermediate games – are some of the association’s most important days.
I’ll be with you from the press box in Croke Park bringing you live updates all afternoon. We’ll have some pre-match reading for you before throw-in at 1.30.
