The hallmark of Na Fianna’s road to Croker had been injury-time specials. They often had to show a nerveless capacity to dig themselves out of a seemingly undiggable hole. But today was frighteningly easy.
On All-Ireland final afternoon, Niall Ó Ceallacháin's side hadn’t a single glove laid on them.
Na Fianna forged eight clear by the 16th minute. 0-9 to 0-1. Four minutes later, that lead was 1-10 to 0-3. By half-time, that advantage was 12 strong. 1-16 to 0-7.
Their dominance was total. Their second half didn’t need to be anything special. It wasn’t. But the door wasn't left even slightly ajar for Sars.
Brian Ryan sent over boomers from distance. Full-forward AJ Murphy finished with five from play.
Tom Brennan’s second major on 41 minutes served to take the last pulse from this non-event. Na Fianna well on their way to becoming only the second Dublin side, after Cuala in 2017 and 2018, to lift the Tommy Moore Cup.
Sars' first point from play in this All-Ireland final was 19 minutes in.
Inside the opening 10 minutes, corner-back Paul Leopold twice blocked the strikes of Colin Currie.
On 20 minutes, there was no block. Na Fianna's Jack Meagher created the overlap for Tom Brennan. In his first start of the campaign, Brennan top-scored.
Very little went wrong for Na Fianna in the first half, and quite literally everything went wrong for Johnny Crowley's Sars.
Not long after the goal, a free was won and converted by Colin Currie.
At half time, the difference was 12 points.
The warning signs flashed right from the off. What was presumed to be a nervous opening act became an entire first-half act of mistakes and malfunction.
In the opening passage, Cathal McCarthy was hooked by Kevin Burke as he dithered between white and green flag. Cian Darcy fumbled. Others ran out over possession.
By the eighth minute, Na Fianna had five points on the board. All Sars had to show was a single Aaron Myers free.
Na Fianna found space wherever they looked.
Eight-in-a-row between the fourth and 16th minute sent the Leinster champions 0-9 to 0-1 clear. Seven players contributed.
Sars had to wait 17 minutes for a second, the county as a whole will have to wait another 12 months to attempt to bridge the gap to Newtownshandrum’s club success of St Patrick’s Day 2004.
For Na Fianna, the short spin back up to Mobhi Road will be so incredibly sweet.
