Dublin SFC semi-final

Na Fianna 1-14 Ballyboden St Enda's 0-7

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park

A dream double of Dublin senior football and hurling titles remains on the cards for Na Fianna after powering beyond Ballyboden St Enda's to secure their football final place.

Lar Norton's side laid the foundation for a surprisingly comfortable 10-point semi-final win with a storming first-half performance, striking the opening 10 points of the match.

Former Dublin forward Conor McHugh was among the scorers and finished with 0-5 while David Lacey registered the game's only goal late on, taking his tally to 1-3 for the evening.

It will be Na Fianna's first final since 2005 and keeps them in line for a potential first title success since 2001. They will play the winners of tomorrow's second semi-final between holders Kilmacud Crokes - whom they ironically faced in 2005 - and Thomas Davis.

Ballyboden, champions as recently as 2019 and All-Ireland winners in 2016, were chasing a third final spot in four seasons but struggled badly initially and failed to score from play in the opening half.

Their solitary point in the first half came from a stoppage time Colm Basquel free.

That score drew ironic cheers from the Firhouse Road faithful after watching a slick and organised Na Fianna capitalise on the stiff wind by registering 10 points in a row between the second and 32nd minutes.

It wasn't vintage Na Fianna but the Mobhi Road men were efficient in attack and converted the majority of the chances that came their way.

Lacey shot three wides but those were the only blots on Na Fianna's record as six different players split the posts including goalkeeper David O'Hanlon.

Paddy Quinn punched the air in delight when he struck Na Fianna's sixth consecutive point in the 21st minute, putting them into an ominous 0-6 to 0-0 lead.

Lacey eventually got on the mark with a converted free approaching half-time following a foul on the influential McHugh.

'Boden had the wind behind them after the break and briefly raised a gallop when they restarted with points from Alan Flood and Basquel. They needed a goal but it never arrived.

They brought veteran Conal Keaney on from the bench too but while the 40-year-old sniped a point, he was unable to inspire a comeback win.

Lacey scored the game's only goal in the third minute of stoppage time for Na Fianna - ending 'Boden's hopes of a double of senior football and hurling titles though that dream is still alive for Na Fianna.

**Scorers for Na Fianna:  **David Lacey 1-3 (0-1f), Conor McHugh 0-5 (0-2f), Glenn O'Reilly 0-2, David O'Hanlon 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), Paddy Quinn 0-1, Ali Fitzgerald 0-1.

Scorers for Ballyboden St Enda's: Colm Basquel 0-2 (0-1f),  Ross McGarry 0-2, Alan Flood 0-1, Ryan O'Dwyer 0-1, Conal Keaney 0-1

Na Fianna: David O'Hanlon; Gus Farrell, Eoin O'Dea, Eoin Murchan; Ali Fitzgerald, Jonny Cooper, Adam Rafter; Michael Day, Paddy Quinn; David Quinn, Aaron Byrne, David Lacey; Glen O'Reilly, Conor McHugh, Brian O'Leary.

Subs: Sean Caffrey for McHugh 17-19, Caffrey for O'Reilly 38, Darragh Kennedy for Farrell 48, Donal Ryan for D Quinn 51, Dean Ryan for Rafter 57, 

Ballyboden St Enda's: Darragh Gogan; Brian Bobbett, Shane Clayton, Cathal Flaherty; James Holland, Alex Gavin, Paddy Dunleavy; Luke O'Donoghue, Michael Darragh Macauley; Alan Flood, James Madden, Colm Basquel; Ross McGarry, Darren O'Reilly, Warren Egan.

Subs: Ryan O'Dwyer for O'Reilly 36, Ryan Baynes for Holland 44, Conal Keaney for O'Donoghue 48, Donagh McCabe for Madden 51, Michael McDonald for Flood 61.

Referee: Barry Tiernan.