As it happened: Sarsfields v Na Fianna, All-Ireland senior club hurling final
Tom Brennan of Na Fianna celebrates scoring a goal. Pic ©INPHO/Ken Sutton
And there's the final whistle. A polished victory for the Dubliners. An emotional AJ Murphy tells TG4: "It's just so special. It's a dream. The first half we were unbelievable. Everything went to plan."
Sars have made a fist of the second half without ever threatening to eat into the lead. They should win the second half, which restores some pride after a disastrous opening period. But Na Fianna have been in charge throughout with a perfect final performance.
Brian Murphy points for Sars in added time.
AJ Murphy named the TG4 man of the match. He has contributed five from play to Na Fianna's tally.
Sean Currie gets yellow for pulling down Eoin O'Sullivan. Sars try to work the free but no joy. Jack O'Connor eventually slots his fifth point.
: This time Jack does find a way, slaloms towards goal but his shot is well saved by Tracey for a 65, which Kearney points.
Jack O'Connor tried to figure out a way to drive towards goal but takes a point. He has battled gamely for Sars.
Fogs says: Na Fianna's familiarity with Croke Park was an advantage but they have simply been superb here. They haven't given Sarsfields a sniff of a goal. All-Ireland medals appear to be going the way of Limerick's Brian Ryan and Meath's Jack Meagher.
52 mins: Jack Meagher caps an industrious performance with a Na Fianna score.
Magnificent to see the mighty Eoin O'Sullivan take the field for Sars. After all he's been through, nobody deserves to play in an All-Ireland final more.
Brian Ryan launches a mammoth for Na Fianna. Lap of honour stuff. Brief alarm for Na Fianna with Jonathan Treacy uncertain under a high ball but free out. Aaron Myers adds another.
AJ Murphy in acres of space points for Na Fianna. Daniel Hogan responds with his first of the day. Daniel Kearney adds another.
A bit of rooting and shemozzling now as Sars frustration spilling over a little. Can only suit the runaway leaders. Yellows for Brian Ryan and Aaron Myers from Liam Gordon. Myers points a free.
Fogs from HQ: "There is no let-up in the Na Fianna performance. Ciarán Stacey and AJ Murphy have been outstanding. Jack O'Connor has picked off a couple of second-half points for Sarsfields but it's goals they need. And then Tom Brennan strikes a second goal for Na Fianna"
: Stick a fork in it, you'd have to think. Tom Brennan buries a fine goal for Na Fianna to extend the lead to 14. His second goal.
Stop-start now, which won't suit Sars attempts to kickstart something. Cillian Roche picks up a yellow for a fairly wild overhead pull. Currie slots another free.
Yellow card for Sars' Bryan Murphy for an 'unceremonious'. Currie nails the free.
Jack O'Connor adds another for Sars after wheeling away in his bike in familiar style. A touch of momentum for the Cork lads
Myers replies from play to a Na Fianna score. Sars will need more than replying point for point. But Shane O'Regan slices wide. He was fouled though and Myers slots the free
Brian Ryan gets Na Fianna going where they left off with a long-ranger. Myers replies with a free.
Here's that Tom Brennan goal - Na Fianna have found plenty of joy down that channel.
#GAABEO 20 nóim @clgNaFianna 1-10 (13)@SarsfieldsCork 0-03 (3)
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 19, 2025
CÚL ag Tom Brennan 🔥🔥
Tom Brennan buries the ball to the back of the net #GAA #Hurling
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/mGRS45qr8c
Sars will need a few green flags of their own to pull off a special comeback. will take you through the second half from Croke Park.
: Maurice Brosnan checks in from HQ: "A nightmare half for Sarsfields. They are struggling massively on their restarts and can't live with Na Fianna's pace. Just two of their seven points have come from play and they have had another seven wides. Back-to-back points from Na Fianna only worsened their outlook. They need something special now."
"We've left ourselves in an awful position," says Sars selector Eoin Quigley, "we'll have to make changes to try to inject some pace."
The Munster champions will be targetting goals in the second period, he says.
AJ Murphy collects the ball in front of the posts, shakes and bakes and arrows over. Currie adds another to bring an end to the half and we see Paschal Donoghue clapping his local team off.
Aaron Myers -- from a free -- keeps the scoreboard ticking over as we approach half time.
AJ Murphy looked in for goal once more but takes his point for Na Fianna - as does Tom Brennan moments beforehand.
Great response to that goal from Sars with points from Jack O'Connor and Cathal McCarthy - Currie brings the gap back to 10 with another converted free.
That's been coming. After getting in a few times, Na Fianna finally raise a green flag through Tom Brennan.
Currie slots the 65 after that goal chance and Daniel Kearney produces a brilliant point for the Cork outfit.
As the gap stretches to eight points midway through first half, we see Johnny Crowley pondering how this is unfolding.
Jack O'Connor gets them going with a free and Sars snuff out a good goal chance at the other end.
Donal Burke adds to his tally and this is some start. Sars, you feel, are pushing for it at this stage but could do with just getting the scoreboard ticking over with some better decision-making.
Currie adds another, as I type, with a free.
Another point for Na Fianna from Brian Ryan and a few poor wides from Sars - Colm McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy and finally Jack O'Connor.
The Glasnevin side are really on top now; Donal Burke with a monster score from a free from his own half - that gets the crowd going.
Liam Rushe intervenes art the back brilliantly, Ciarán Stacey ultimately points.
Sean Currie draws the ball wide of the posts for the Dubliners after some lovely work, minutes later Jack Maher adsd a point.
Na Fianna win a breaking ball, Brian Ryan lays it off and Paul O'Dea makes no mistake. Fast start.
Colin Currie converting a free before Jack O'Connor reciprocated.
Liam Gordon from Galway is the man in the middle, he throws it in and we're off.
A few late changes for the respective sides.
Tom Brennan is in for Gavin King for Na Fianna.
On the Sars side, Cillian Roche, Cathal McCarthy and Aaron Myers are in, with Craig Leahy, Ben Nodwell and Shane O'Regan dropping to the bench.
Not long to throw-in now with the teams parading around the pitch, which looks great.
Some pre-game reading?
John Fogarty previews the novel match-up on Jones' Rd.
Damien Irwin meets the hurling-mad priest heading on another pilgrimage to Croke Park this afternoon.
And Anthony Daly reckons we're in for a quality match.
It's been all go in Glasnevin and Glanmire over the past few weeks.
Na Fianna's supporters have made the short journey on foot to HQ this afternoon on a memorable afternoon for the club.
Therese O'Callaghan caught up with Sars boss Johnny Crowley in the build-up to the big match, meanwhile:
: History's on the line. Welcome to live coverage of the much-anticipated All-Ireland decider between Cork's Sars and Na Fianna of Dublin - Adrian Russell here.
We'll have score-by-score updates throughout, as well as insight and analysis from our team in Croke Park.
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