Currie's late winner lifts Na Fianna over Lucan to defend Dublin crown

The Mobhi Road men were in real danger of relinquishing the Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland titles they won last season until they found a late groove

Sat, 25 Oct, 2025 - 21:10

Paul Keane

Dublin SHC Final: Na Fianna 1-20 Lucan Sarsfields 0-22

Na Fianna are Dublin SHC champions again, and retain their grasp on the Leinster and All-Ireland titles they won last season, but just about.

The Mobhi Road men were in real danger of relinquishing all three of their titles when they trailed underdogs Lucan Sarsfields by two points with 60 minutes almost played.

But three points on the trot climaxed with the winner from Sean Currie in the 64th minute to secure a memorable three-in-a-row of capital crowns.

The first of those last gasp scores came from Man of the Match Brian Ryan, his fifth of the night. Colin Currie then levelled the game with a trademark free, bringing his tally to nine points.

Currie then turned provider, gathering up a long free in by goalkeeper Jonathan Tracey and feeding it to his brother, Sean, who tapped over. But Lucan will look back in anger at the concession of a 39th-minute penalty which county star Donal Burke converted.

Referee Rory Hanley judged that Burke was initially fouled by Ronan Smith, despite the Lucan defender arguing that he pulled off a perfectly timed interception. It was desperately tough on a Lucan side managed by Charlie Carter and chasing their maiden title.

It was only their second final, and their first since 2013, and they were superbly led by Ben Coffey who struck 10 points, eight from frees. Coffey's 10th of the game in the 59th minute left them with that two-point lead having bounced back impressively from the goal concession.

But county, provincial and All-Ireland winners Na Fianna showed all their mettle to claim the New Ireland Assurance Cup - securing a Leinster club SHC quarter-final clash with the Wexford champions on November 9.

Na Fianna put their unbeaten record on the line when they took to the field, reaching the final with seven wins from seven.

They overcame Lucan along the way in mid-September though their last defeat in championship fare, back in a 2024 group game, was also to Lucan.

Wides cost Na Fianna this time as they hit the interval with a narrow 0-11 to 0-10 lead despite creating enough chances to be further clear.

They had the stiff wind and continuously shot from distance, with mixed results as their first-half wides tally of 11 indicated. Former Limerick senior Ryan drilled three first-half points but struck two wides, as did Jack Meagher and Burke. They were costly errors which allowed the more efficient Lucan to open up a 0-6 to 0-3 lead after 12 minutes.

All six of Lucan's scores came from different players as the seemingly perennial semi-finalists displayed the depth of their quality.

Na Fianna took over for a period then, reeling off, firstly, three and then five points without response to take a 0-11 to 0-07 lead and, apparently, control of the game. But three Lucan points to close out the half left Na Fianna with just a one-point interval lead.

The sides were level eight times in the second-half and while Na Fianna benefited from that penalty call, Lucan responded with a series of scores to leave themselves in pole position.

Goalkeeper Seanie McClelland boomed over a long-range free and teenager Killian Costelloe even grabbed a crucial score after coming on.

But the west Dublin side couldn't hold out for a landmark win as Na Fianna made their own piece of history with a memorable three-in-a-row.

Scorers for Na Fianna: Colin Currie 0-9 (7f), Brian Ryan 0-5, Donal Burke 1-0 (pen), Sean Currie 0-2, AJ Murphy 0-2, Paul O'Dea 0-1, Charlie McCarthy 0-1

Scorers for Lucan Sarsfields: Ben Coffey 0-10 (8f), Charlie Keher 0-4, Paul Crummey 0-2, Colm Walsh 0-1, Cathal Kennedy 0-1, Donal Flannery 0-1, Chris Crummey 0-1, Killian Costelloe 0-1, Seanie McClelland 0-1 (0-1f)

Na Fianna: Jonathan Tracey; Sean Burke, Conor McHugh, Diarmuid Clerkin; Paul O'Dea, Liam Rushe, Peter Feeney; Brian Ryan, Jack Meagher; Micheal Murphy, Donal Burke, Sean Currie; Colin Currie, AJ Murphy, Tom Brennan.

Subs: Joe Kavanagh for Clerkin 45, Charlie McCarthy for Brennan 52, Liam Stacey for Meagher 57.

Lucan Sarsfields: Seanie McClelland; Massimo Pappalardo, Chris Crummey, John Bellew; Matt McCaffrey, Paul Rigney, Ronan Smith; Colm Walsh, Liam Garrigan; Charlie Keher, Donal Flannery, Ben Coffey; Dave Mulqueen, Paul Crummey, Cathal Kennedy.

Subs: Ciaran Dowling for Mulqueen 43, Killian Costelloe for Garrigan 50, Matt Coogan for Flannery 53.

Referee: Rory Hanley (St Brigid's).