Revenge for St Martin's ends Na Fianna's reign as club champions

Beaten by Dublin's Na Fianna in last year's Leinster championship, St Martin's looked set to suffer a similar fate when they trailed by two points in stoppage time.

But substitute Ben Stafford pulled back a crucial point before winning a free that O'Connor converted, levelling the game.

O'Connor himself then won a 64th minute free that he drilled between the posts for the winning point - propelling St Martin's through to a semi-final against Naas in a fortnight.

Former AFL player Barry O'Connor had a big impact too with 1-2 while Jack O'Connor's 0-4 contribution was significant.

Sean Currie and AJ Murphy struck the goals for Na Fianna but they will reflect on a dozen wides overall and far too many unforced errors.

Na Fianna led virtually from pillar to post when the same clubs met at the semi-final stage last year at Parnell Park.

But it took them 25 minutes or so to find their groove this time and they trailed the hosts for most of the first-half.

Dropped balls, fumbled passes and over-carrying all cost Na Fianna as St Martin's opened up a 0-10 to 0-5 lead.

And it should have been worse from the north Dublin side's perspective as St Martin's failed to fully ram home their authority, drilling nine first-half wides.

Micheal Murphy, for instance, dropped the ball whilst soloing up the field for Na Fianna in the 23rd minute but Darren Codd was unable to properly punish, firing a wide for St Martin's.

Na Fianna were guilty of wasteful play too with seven first-half wides, and two point attempts that dropped short, but they finally found their groove approaching the interval.

Aidan Downes' side reeled off 1-3 without response between the 26th and 29th minutes, the mini-blitz beginning with Sean Currie's goal.

Peter Feeney played the ball across from the left wing and Currie displayed ingenuity in a crowded goalmouth to kick to the net.

Na Fianna briefly led but a Jack O'Connor point closed out the half and left the sides level, 1-8 to 0-11.

They were tied again at 1-9 to 0-12 before St Martin's surged two clear following Jack and Rory O'Connor points.

Just like earlier, the urgency of the situation appeared to energise Na Fianna, and Donal Burke in particular.

Two great Burke catches led, firstly, to a Brian Ryan point and then AJ Murphy's 42nd minute goal.

Ryan and Sean Currie added points and now it was Na Fianna that led by two, 2-12 to 0-16.

This was a game that was destined to go all the way though and the sides were level three times in a blood and thunder closing quarter that St Martin's eventually edged.

St Martin's scorers: Rory O'Connor 0-9 (0-6f), Barry O'Connor 1-2, Jack O'Connor 0-4 (0-1f), Darren Codd 0-2, Jake Firman 0-2, Michael Coleman 0-1, Ben Stafford 0-1.

Na Fianna scorers: Sean Currie 1-3, Colin Currie 0-6 (0-3f), AJ Murphy 1-2, Donal Burke 0-2, Brian Ryan 0-2, Jack Meagher 0-1, Micheal Murphy 0-1.

ST MARTIN'S: Callum Quirke; Eoin O'Leary, Conor Firman, Philip Dempsey; Daithi Waters, Joe Barrett, Diarmuid O'Leary; David Codd, Aaron Maddock; Jack O'Connor, Darren Codd, Jake Firman; Michael Coleman, Barry O'Connor, Rory O'Connor.

Subs: Ben Maddock for Aaron Maddock 45, Ben Stafford for Coleman 48, Sam Audsley for O'Leary 59.

NA FIANNA: Jonathan Tracey; Micheal Murphy, Conor McHugh, Sean Burke; Paul O'Dea, Liam Rushe, Peter Feeney; Brian Ryan, Joe Kavanagh; Sean Currie, Donal Burke, Jack Meagher; Colin Currie, Tom Brennan, AJ Murphy.

Subs: Charlie McCarthy for Brennan h/t, Liam Stacey for Kavanagh 52, Diarmuid Clerkin for Murphy 56-57, blood.

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).