What Sars need to know about Dublin hurling champions Na Fianna

For the first time since Cuala won their breakthrough title in 2017, two new clubs will contest the All-Ireland Club SHC final.

Sarsfields will hope, this time, they can deny the Dublin champions the Tommy Moore Cup.

A novel All-Ireland means unfamiliar opponents, although the backroom teams will ensure due diligence is completed to ensure no secrets remain between the sides by the time January 19 comes around.

Sitting at Semple Stadium on Sunday as Na Fianna defeated Loughrea by 0-17 to 0-16 – a near identical scoreline to Sars’ victory over Slaughtneil – it was the Dubs’ resilience that stood out.

They didn’t lead until the 57th minute of a scrappy semi-final but clung onto Loughrea’s coattails for long enough to slingshot ahead for a finish.

The Galway champions did so much to upset them in the first half, and Sars will take plenty of notes from that game.

They didn’t rip up their team to man-mark Dónal Burke but still held him scoreless. Centre-back Shane Morgan took on most of the marking duties but he was able to hand over to Johnny Coen or Ian Hanrahan when the All-Star nominee wandered closer to goal or out into midfield.

Loughrea had eight scorers to Na Fianna’s five but none could match the heavy-scoring of Colin Currie.

His first-half return was just two frees but he found more joy drifting out the flanks in scoring eight of their 11 second-half points. He will be a priority for Sars to clamp down upon.

For all the talent they possess, Currie attributed Na Fianna’s victory to their doggedness.

They arrived flat, wasting several possessions with misdirected passes over the sideline among a catalogue of basic errors, but grew to dominate the second half.

“We probably let ourselves down a bit,” said Currie of their first-half performance. “The way we played wasn’t good enough.

“They were much better than us all over the pitch. There wasn't enough fight even off the ball, tracking runners, it just wasn't good enough.

“They were all over us physically and they’ll probably be disappointed with a few wides.

“But at the same time, being four points down at half-time wasn't the worst position to be in for how badly we played.

“We really turned it around in the second half from a physical standpoint and that’s where the scoring opportunities came from.

“That’s what this team has been all about, staying in games. We have a lot of talented players throughout the squad but that determination to stay in the game is probably our most important trait.

“We have players to score from anywhere. It’s just staying in the game, staying determined, winning ground ball, just keep focusing on that, and it’ll turn around.” 

That mirrors Sars’ focus on bringing the sliotar to grass and then bossing the breaking-ball contests. No mystery where much of the focus in the build-up will go.

Elsewhere, Ciarán Stacey has scored five goals this year and he threatened two more against Loughrea. Sars can’t fall asleep given his lightning pace but that’s an area the Glanmire men are well equipped.

Jack Meagher is another relentless wing-forward. He assisted, or was fouled for, 0-5 of their total and forced the best save of the match.

While held scoreless, Burke still won three frees for Currie and produced a vital intercept on his own 21-metre line.

Their other Dublin regular Seán Currie started in midfield and when all else were struggling, he struck two first-half scores.

And we haven’t yet mentioned match-winner AJ Murphy. He poses a serious threat on the edge of the square and is their highest scorer from play this year.

IMPOSING

In defence, former Dublin footballer Conor McHugh and two-time All-Star Liam Rushe make up an imposing spine.

Their biggest tactical tweak at half-time saw wing-backs Paul O’Dea and Peter Feeney press up to disrupt the opposition supply. They held Loughrea to one point in the final 11 minutes of play.

They have strengthened further with Tom Brennan, a Dublin U20 footballer last year, coming into the panel wearing number 30 and playing his part off the bench.

New Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin will be seeing plenty of Croke Park in the new year.

The double-jobbing boss will lead his club to the All-Ireland final six days before his inter-county managerial debut, when the Dubs host Antrim at HQ on January 25.

With Ó Ceallacháin’s appointment, McHugh has been speculated as a potential successor for Eoghan O’Donnell following the full-back’s decision to switch to football in 2025.

First, there’s the matter of a wide-open All-Ireland final to be decided. Na Fianna are essentially on home turf but Sars will bring an almighty battle to Dublin.