A Coffey free within a minute of the restart saw the teams back on level terms and the talented wing-forward added another placed ball to restore Lucan’s lead in the 34th minute.
Currie may have chipped over his fifth free at the opposite end but the holders were playing second fiddle for the large part as they fell behind once again following scores by Keher and Paul Crummey.
The opening goal was not long in coming as Donal Burke slotted home a penalty in the 39thminute after he was brought down close to goal when racing onto Sean Currie’s pass.
The influential Keher clipped over a sublime point by way of riposte but the holders were beginning to show their greater experience as they edged two points clear by the end of the third quarter thanks to Murphy and Colin Currie.
Lucan were in little mood to accept their perceived fate however as they reeled off the next three scores via Sean McClelland, Coffey and substitute Killian Costelloe to regain the lead by the 52nd minute.
Two further frees from Coffey looked to have sealed the deal for Sarsfields but the fighting spirit and calmness under pressure that has been a feature of Na Fianna’s recent success ultimately saw them over the line, albeit somewhat fortuitously.
Scorers – Na Fianna: C Currie 0-10 (7f); B Ryan 0-5; D Burke 1-0 (penalty); AJ Murphy 0-2; P O’Dea, S Currie, C McCarthy 0-1 apiece. Lucan Sarsfields: B Coffey 0-10 (7f, 1 ‘65’); C Keher 0-4; P Crummey 0-2; S McClelland (f), C Crummey, D Flannery, C Walsh, C Kennedy, K Costelloe 0-1 apiece.
Na Fianna: J Tracey; D Clerkin, C McHugh, S Burke; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, J Meagher; M Murphy, C Currie, S Currie; AJ Murphy, D Burke, T Brennan. Subs: J Kavanagh for Clerkin (45), C McCarthy for Brennan (52), L Stacey for Meagher (57), T Gleeson for Murphy (62).
Lucan Sarsfields: S McClelland; M Pappalardo, P Rigney, J Bellew; J Behan, C Crummey, R Smith; C Walsh, L Garrigan; C Keher, D Flannery, B Coffey; D Mulqueen, P Crummey, C Kennedy. Subs: C Dowling for Mulqueen (43), K Costelloe for Garrigan (49), M Coogan for Flannery (53).
Referee: Rory Hanley (St Brigid’s).
