Who knows how often during this match Na Fianna's manager Mick Galvin thought of his six substitutions last week. At various stages it looked as if the controversial miscalculation had cost the Dublin champions a crack at this year's AIB Leinster club football title.

Far from the slick romp in Navan seven days previously, yesterday's match was hard and uncompromising and Na Fianna were never likely to repeat their abortive nine-point success.

It was also a breathtaking game of football. Backwards and forwards it swung, with both teams charging at each other in turn before Na Fianna's greater composure up front finally delivered the necessary margin, but only after half an hour of extra time.

In the end, Sarsfields' home venue of Newbridge helped tilt things against them. Tighter and heavier than Pβirc Tβilteann, it may have provided a comfortable setting for the Kildare team's early dominance, but in extra time there was less in their weary legs than the St Conleth's Park pitch demanded.

As the clichΘ so aptly indicates, it was a pity that either side had to lose. But these monumental performances were presumably driven by the unchallengeable fact that one of them had to go down.

Conditions ensured that there would be errors. The ball was frequently fumbled and given away but every concession was bitterly fought and possession disputed.

As the pitch was dead and no bounce was available to lend zip to attacks, each side had to make the running themselves, shuttling the ball into range before trying to lay the foundations for a telling attack.

Na Fianna always looked more dangerous in this regard. In Dessie Farrell, they had the most accomplished forward on the field. Although hobbling on one good leg and playing with a broken finger, he won virtually everything that came his way and threw 1-3 from play into the pot.

Last week's trigger man Jason Sherlock wasn't as well served this time, with little ball reaching him in the first half and Nigel Campbell coping with the threat until being sent off for hitting Ian Foley in the 45th minute.

Centrefield was an immense battle. Kieran McGeeney was selected as man of the match by the sponsors for a whole-hearted display of covering and blocking (one such block in extra time leaving him almost needing the ball to be surgically removed) and added two points. He got good support from Karl Donnelly who had his hands full with Dermot Earley.

Earley gave a classic display of catching and kicking, including the injury-time free that might have won the match for Sarsfields had Senan Connell not sensibly fisted an equaliser seconds later when a goal looked available.

Earley was also lucky not to get the line in the 23rd minute after McGeeney was flattened.

Gavin Slicker in the Sarsfields goal gave a great display, pulling out phenomenal saves from Sherlock whom Farrell sent in unmarked in the 40th minute, and from Des Mackin in the second minute of extra time.

There were distinct trends in the match. Na Fianna started well and Farrell scored a goal in the seventh minute after Ian Foley had supplied the pass for a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

But the game changed completely and Sarsfields showed drive and invention to make the chances count. Over 15 minutes later, Na Fianna had been outscored 1-6 to a single point.

The goal originated with a mistake in the Dubliners' defence. Padraig Brennan found Stuart McKenzie-Smith who still had a bit to do but, riding two tackles, he placed the ball precisely into the corner of the net.

Early in the second half it looked bleak for Na Fianna, trailing by five points and vulnerable to the robust and lively attacks being sent down on them. But within a couple of minutes of the restart, Kieran McGeeney found Farrell and he created an opening for Ian Foley, who shimmied in past the goalkeeper to slot the ball into the goal.

This was the first half in reverse with Sarsfields managing only a point in response to their opponents' 1-4.

Such was their primacy that it was hard to remember that the scoreline was now nip-and-tuck rather than landsliding in their favour. Sarsfields took some of their points but missed others and extra time beckoned.

Na Fianna had the puff for it and but for a flurry of wides would have been out of sight halfway through extra time.

Instead the match remained within Sarsfields' sights but just out of reach. Not surprisingly with the final margin down to two, goal fever set in but never quite came to anything during a scoreless final 10 minutes.

NA FIANNA: S Grey; M Foley (0-1, a 45), N Clancy, P McCarthy; T Lynch, S McGlinchey (0-1), B McManus; K Donnelly, K McGeeney (0-2); D Mackin, S Connell (0-2), P McGeeney (0-2); I Foley (1-6, five points from frees), D Farrell (1-3), J Sherlock. Subs: A Shearer for P McGeeney (59 mins), P McEvoy for I Foley (75 mins).

SARSFIELDS: G Slicker; N Campbell, M McIntyre, M Dunne; N Hedderman, J Whelan, T Brennan; Dermot Earley (0-5, two frees, one sideline), A Barry; P Brennan (0-7, four frees), B Moylan (0-2, one free), David Earley (0-1, a free); M Brown (0-1), S McKenzie-Smith (1-0), E Freaney (0-2). Subs: P Campbell for Freaney (41 mins), N Morrissey (15th man, extra time), E Freaney for Morrissey (75 mins), E Donoghue for Barry (89 mins).

Referee: S McCormack (Meath).