It was an eventful afternoon of hurling on the opening hurling league Sunday. The first team were first into action against Ballinteer St John in Ridgewood. Before the match a minutes silence was observed in respect and memory of Paddy Greene who sadly passed away earlier in the week. Paddy was a founder member of the club in 1983. Paddy was a dual player on the initial adult hurling and football teams that the club fielded and a stalwart club member
Paddy's grandson Lee Kavanagh was very much to the forefront of the St Finians effort from the very start of the match pushing forward from the wing back position to turn defence into attack on several occasions. The Finian's defence as a whole was defending strongly and providing good quality ball to the forwards with good early points from Senan Crosbie & James Burke. It was more good supply of ball that fed Adam O'Shaughnessy and MJ Feehan to strike for a goal each mid way through the half, both chances finished well by the corner forward duo with Adam making a big impact overall on his first match back after his cruciate ligament knee injury.
The goals put Finians in a good position at half time leading 2-6 to 0-5. Ballinteer came out strong in the second half as one would expect and threatened to narrow the margin but stout defending by St Finians meant they could never strike for a goal with some great hooks and blocks by Kieran Murnane eptomising the attitude of the team on the day and preventing goals on a number of occassions. At the final whistle, St Finians were victors on a 2-11 to 0-9 scoreline with two valuable league points in the bag.
The 2nd team took on Na Gaeil Eireacha later in the afternoon. This was a historic fixture as it represented the first adult hurling fixture for Na Gaeil Eireacha and it was clear that they were motivated for the fixture with a large panel of players and good support. Unfortunately St Finians couldn't muster such a panel but credit to the 15 who togged especially those who played through injury.
On the day there could be no faulting the effort of the Finians 15 who took part in a cracking and sporting encounter. Playing against a strong wind staunch defending by a defence well led by James Quigley meant Finians were keeping the home side at bay. With Sean Cronin pushing forward from wing back to strike two superb points and Stephen Donnelly adding another Finians trailed by a point on a 0-6 to 0-5 scoreline. The 2nd half was a cracking encounter with goals beginning to flow. Ian Moriarty who couldn't start owing to injury, commenced the day as a mentor, then umpire and photographer was pressed into playing action to provide cover. Ian struck for an early 2nd half goal with a deft finish and Johnny Walsh added two to bring his career goals tally to 954. However, with finians injuries mounting and Na Gaeil Eireacha playing some great hurling the St Finians defence was also breached for two goals and it was these two goals that edged them to a 2-12 to 3-7 two point victory. A great win for Na Gaeil Eireacha on a historic day for them
The fixture was also notable for St Finians as young players Sean Cronin, James Elder , Adam Duffy all made their adult hurling debut with Daragh Power, Waterford native also making his club debut meaning Dave Kelleher now has some Deise companionship in the hurling squad.
Disappointing to lose on the opening day but some encouraging performances in what was a very enjoyable encounter
