Star quality lifts Na Fianna to title

On Friday night Kieran McGeeney collected his first All Star award. Yesterday afternoon the Armagh man - a so-called "import" on the Na Fianna team - gave an emotional speech to his team-mates as they prepared to re-emerge for the second half of the Leinster club football final with Sarsfields at Pairc Tailteann, Navan.

"We were worried at halftime," claimed Na Fianna manager and former Dublin player Paul "Pillar" Caffrey, "and we told the lads that they'd have to dig deeper than they had ever dug before . . . and then Kieran gave a few words that stirred everybody."

Deeds, though, speak louder than words and McGeeney made a significant contribution to Na Fianna's cause in the second half, scoring two points and proving a colossus in midfield and attack, as they eventually ran out 1-11 to 0-8 winners. It was Na Fianna's first provincial championship.

Caffrey, who had orchestrated the Na Fianna success, paid tribute to the "fantastic squad effort" which entailed building up a panel of 28 players and a back-up team that included two masseuses and a statistician. "That's what you have to do these days to get success," he explained.

Na Fianna will now meet Connacht champions Crossmolina in the All-Ireland semi-finals in the spring, but the protagonists in the other semi-final have still to be decided. Cork champions UCC staged a late rally to snatch a draw with defending champions Doonbeg of Clare in the Munster final yesterday.

The two teams must meet again at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds next Sunday (2.0 throwin) to determine who will meet Ulster and All-Ireland champions Crossmaglen.

Antrim football claimed a rare and welcome moment of glory when the county won the All-Ireland B final at Casement Park yesterday, with a 2-10 to 1-10 defeat of Fermanagh.