Naas breeze past Raheens in Kildare SFC after dominant second half

Naas 3-20

Raheens 0-8

Naas came out on top their second Group B game against Raheens to make it two wins from two in the Kildare SFC so far for the reigning champions.

It was an opening half of scoring sequences with these sides taking turns having a run of scores. Naas managed three in a row before Raheens’ five uninterrupted points were followed by seven without reply from Naas.

Alex Beirne opened the scoring after an extended spell of Naas possession, which was quickly followed by a second point from Paddy McDermott.

It was a slow opening to proceedings but the reigning champs moved 0-3 to no score ahead in the 12th minute.

Raheens finally got their first score a minute later after Liam Power found some space and was picked out with a long ball in. Power also picked up Raheens’ second point to reduce the gap to one.

Raheens then shot in front when Naas backed off Paddy Woodgate who fired over from outside the arc. The corner-forward then knocked over a close-range free to give his team a two point lead.

However, that converted set-piece in the 18th minute would be their last of the first half.

Paddy McDermott picked up his second to close the gap to one and parity was restored from the boot of Ryan Sinkey in the 23rd minute when he cut inside.

Fintan Quinn was then denied a goal for Naas by the leg of Declan Campbell who spread himself well as he emerged from his goal.

Dermot Hanifin did give them the lead moments later after he latched onto a fine cross-field ball and knocked his effort between the posts.

Naas put their foot down before the break and upped the pace of things. A change in tact that was exemplified by their seventh point from Jack McKevitt who galloped forward into a one-two before curling over.

Elliott Beirne sent the leaders three clear after they superbly turned Raheens over high up the pitch. Two Alex Beirne scores as the game crossed the half hour mark sent Naas in with an 0-10 to 0-5 lead.

Naas ran riot in the second half and put this game to bed just a minute after the restart.

A slick move moved through the hands of Fintan Quinn to Kevin Cummins who then lofted the ball to Eoin Doyle to slap smartly past the ‘keeper.

Ryan Sinkey, Paddy McDermott, and Elliott Beirne all added to their tallies before Raheens got their first score of the second half in the 43rd minute.

Naas pushed 13 points clear with a stranglehold on their opponents throughout the second half.

The leading side, much like they had in the first, were moving along at a canter before ramping things up for the final 10 minutes.

Alex Beirne got his side's second goal on the break before stroking over a gorgeous two-pointer to leave the score at 2-20 to 0-8 with four minutes to go and secure his status as the game’s top-scorer.

The finish flourish came from Sean Hanifin who had the simplest of finishes to slap into the net at the end of another sharp Naas move. The substitutes raising of a green flag would be the game’s last score as Naas finished as 3-20 to 0-8 winners.

Naas, Alex Beirne 1-6 (0-4 frees, one 2pt), Ryan Sinkey 0-4, Paddy McDermott 0-3, Eoin Doyle 1-0, Sean Hanifin 1-0, Elliott Beirne 0-2, Dermot Hanifin 0-1, Jack McKevitt 0-1, Paul McDermott 0-1, Neil Aherne 0-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-1.

Raheens, Paddy Woodgate 0-6 (0-4 frees, one 2pt), Liam Power 0-2.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Rob Fitzgerald, Mark Maguire, Paul McDermott; Jack McKevitt, Brian Byrne, Paddy McDermott; Eoin Doyle, Fintan Quinn; Kevin Cummins, Dermot Hanifin, Elliott Beirne; Darragh Kirwan, Alex Beirne, Ryan Sinkey. Subs: Tom Kelly for Elliott Beirne (35 minutes), Neil Aherne for Dermot Hanifin (43 minutes), Cathal Daly for Jack McKevitt (46 minutes), Sean Hanifin for Fintan Quinn (49 minutes), Daniel Lenihan (51 minutes),

RAHEENS: Declan Campbell; Liam Power, Jack Hamill, Paul Dolan; Fionn Tully, Niall Cramer, Graham Waters; Dara Crowley, Killian Thompson; Daniel Hamill, Niall Dolan, Daire Gilmartin; Paddy Woodgate, Luke O'Donovan, Jack Taafe. Subs: Conor Murphy for Killian Thompson (38 minutes), Shane Crowley for Luke O’Donovan (45 minutes), Tom Earley for Fionn Tully (56 minutes), Rob Thompson for Dara Crowley (59 minutes).

Referee: Fergus Devereux

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