Queeney rescues Na Fianna as Simonstown drop out

Former champions 31-year stay in senior ends

Na Fianna .........................................2-1-8 (16)

Simonstown ......................................0-3-7 (13)

It was never pretty and at times it was quite poor, but when this SFC relegation final kicked into life in the closing 10 minutes there was more drama than an Oscar winning thriller as Na Fianna secured their senior status with a late, late scrambled goal from Dan Queeney to break Simonstown hearts at Dunganny on Friday night.

Na Fianna looked on course to stumble over the winning line when they led by 1-9 to 0-7 after 53 minutes. Simonstown were nervous and second best up to that stage, but they hung on in there.

That perseverance and determination to hold onto their senior status, which was hard earned in 1995, kept them in the game, but they looked bereft of ideas. They tried everything, but Na Fianna's well marshalled defence stood strong.

Even when Nathan Reilly tapped over a close range free in the 54th minute it looked little more than a consolation score for the Navan men, but 30 seconds later they were right back in contention when Padraig McKeever's short two-point attempt was bizarrely deflected over his own crossbar by the Na Fianna goalkeeper Sean Coyle.

Seconds later there was just a point in it when Reilly was fouled and despite calling for a black card and a penalty Simonstown had to settle for the 13-metre free which Reilly converted to make it 0-11 to 1-9.

In the 58th minute Shane Barry completed the remarkable turn around when he landed a superb two-pointer and celebrated with the crowd as Simonstown led by the first time since the 17th minute.

Less than a minute into injury-time Luke Kelly ignored the advantage of a free and restored parity for Na Fianna and there was still time for more drama as Na Fianna pushed for the winner.

There appeared to be no serious danger when Ethan Devine was fouled to the left of the 40-metre arc, but the former Meath player decided to have a go at the posts for a winning two-point free.

His effort from the ground didn't have the legs, but it landed dangerously around the square and in the ensuing scramble it was Dan Queeney who got the final touch to give Na Fianna a remarkable three point lead.

Simonstown threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but Reilly's late effort was always rising as it hit the upright and when Na Fianna cleared their lines the final whistle blew to cheers of relief more than anything else, but for Simonstown their 31 year stay in senior football, which included two Keegan Cups, was over.

It had started so well for Simonstown with Reilly converting a free inside a minute, but both sides struggled to find there range with Reilly and Conor Downey trading points in the seventh and eighth minutes as the opening quarter ended with Simonstown one ahead.

That one point lead became a two-point deficit in the 17th minute when Oran Smullen's speculative punt forward from 60 metres out on the right deceived goalkeeper Robbie Burlingham and ended up in the net.

Simonstown's response to that blow was decent as they hit three of the next four points with Shane Walsh's first for Na Fianna cancelled out by points from Brian McGrath, Reilly (free) and Oran Meade as Simonstown drew level in the 24th minute.

However, Na Fianna, and in particular Queeney, finished the half strong with the number 14 ignoring advantage from fouls to kick two points before closing the half with a two-point free from over 50 metres to ensure a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead for the Enfield men.

Half-time substitute Sean McDonnell made an impact within two minutes of the restart when he stretched Na Fianna's lead to five.

Simonstown threatened a recovery with a 35th minute two-pointer from Shane McEnery, but patient Na Fianna restored their two-point cushion with points from Sean Rafferty and Walsh.

That lead looked like being enough, but in the thrilling conclusion Na Fianna threw away their advantage before snatching it back again late on to secure survival - just.

Na Fianna: Sean Coyle; Oran Smullen (1-0), Mick Farley, Cian Doherty; Anthony Healy, Sean Rafferty (0-1), Sam Jordan; Shane Jordan, Oisin Bright; Shane Walsh (0-2), Ethan Devine, Ronan Byrne; Cormac Rafferty, Dan Queeney (1-4 one two-point free), Conor Downey (0-1). Subs - Sean McDonnell (0-1) for C Rafferty half-time, Luke Kelly (0-1) for Shane Jordan, 41m, Eoin Bright for O Bright 46m, Jamie Queeney for Byrne 56m.

Simonstown: Robbie Burlingham; Paddy Heaney, Michael Gavin, Max Condon; Brian McGrath (0-1), Niall Kane, Will Byrne; Oran Meade (0-1), Brian Conlon; Shane McEnery (0-2 two-pointer), Padraig McKeever (0-2 two-pointer), Eddie Nash; Sean Tobin, Aaron Farrelly, Nathan Reilly (0-5 four frees). Subs - Aaron Woods for Byrne half-time, Shane Barry (0-2 two-pointer) for Nash 46m, Ben Hoey for McEnery 57m, Mark Gardiner for Condon 60m.

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Curraha).