A.I.B Leinster Club Championship Semi Final.

A.I.B Leinster Club Championship Semi Final.

This Sunday October 19th Na Fianna Dublin’s Intermediate champions
take on Kildare champions Athgarvan in the A.I.B intermediate
club championship semi final, throw in 3.00pm with Na Fianna
at home for the first time in the A.I.B championship, so expect
a huge crowd in Mobhi Road on Sunday.

2003 has been an extraordinary season to date for the Glasnevin
outfit having dropped from senior football last year Na Fianna
regrouped determined to regain their senior status which they
achieved in impressive fashion having over come the challenge
of Man-O-War in the Dublin Intermediate County Final, final
score Na Fianna 0-15, Man-O-War 3-04. Na Fianna played Meath’s
Blackhall Gaels in the preliminary round of the A.I.B club
championship, this game was a thriller with very little between
both sides, Na Fianna finally emerged as winners following
extra time with the score board reading Na Fianna 1-17, Blackhall
Gaels 3-08. Next up was Louth champions Monasterboice a game
which was a very one sided encounter with Na Fianna having
a comprehensive victory winning by 7-13 to 0-02.

Na Fianna’s opposition on Sunday Kildare champions Athgarvan
are a formidable outfit with a number of Kildare County stars
amongst their ranks, including defenders Edel Delaney and
Aisling Lambe plus Kildare’s impressive corner forward Tracy
Noone. Last Sunday Athgarvan had a one sided win over St.
Forcherans (Carlow) winning by 4-11 to 0-04.

Na Fianna also have a number of Inter County stars amongst
their ranks, namely Dublin senior stars Mary Nevin and Bernie
Finlay as well as Dublin Junior stars Fionnuala Sexton and
Ann Hunt plus former Mayo midfield star Rachel Barrett.

Na Fianna will be looking to the fore mentioned stars to shine
on Sunday especially Mary Nevin who has had a superb season
to date both for club and County, Mary finished up this year
as Dublin’s top scorer having bagged 28 points for Dublin,
the highlight of which was the 12 points she scored in the
Leinster final victory over Laois thus earning herself the
player of the match award.

The success of this Na Fianna team had been a catalyst for
the surge of interest in Ladies Gaelic football in Na Fianna
with the club fielding an under-14 team for this first time
this season and with the intention of introducing another
team at juvenile level next season. All credited to the work
being done at juvenile level in the club under the supervision
of former senior star Una Kavanagh.

Everybody in Dublin wish Na Fianna all the very best on Sunday
and hopefully the Mobhi Road gang will have another final
to look forward to in 2003!

Meanwhile Dublin’s Ballyboden St. Endas failed to progress
to their third Leinster club final in a row following their
defeat in the senior semi final by Meath side Senchalstown,
final score Ballyboden St. Endas 1-07, Senchalstown 5-10.