Kildare SFC final: Naas make it three-in-a-row

Naas were crowned Kildare SFC champions for the third year in a row following a hard-earned two point win over a very game Celbridge side in Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, this afternoon.

Naas dominated early on but Celbridge came back strong in the second half but never drew level as Naas held on to record the remarkable treble.

It was Celbrige who opened the scoring, Kevin Flynn, getting possession from the throw-in and soloing up the right wing before punching over inside 35 seconds.

Alex Beirne opened his account, and added a free followed by a Darragh Kirwan boomerang to leave the champions leading 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes.

Celbridge were struggling to gain meaninful possession but Fergal Conway reduced the deficit to one.

Alex Beirne and a fine free from Luke Mullins saw the Naas lead out to three mid-way through.

A foul on Brian Byrne saw Luke Mullins come forward again to pop over and when Darragh Kirwan landed his second Naas were now leading by five on 25 minutes.

Celbridge coming more into the game as half-time approached, reduced the lead with points from Davy Hughes and Kevin O'Callaghan as the half-time whistle arrived with Naas leading 0-7 to 0-4.

All the excitement arrived in the second half as Naas played 'keep' football for long periods, espeially after losing Eoin Doyle to a black card in the 49 minute when leading by two.

Darragh Kirwan stretched it to three before Celbridge hit back with two Paddy Brophy points.

Celbridge hit two wides before Naas came back again with two points from Paul McDermott and Kevin Cummins to lead 0-12 to 0-9 on 65 minutes.

Nine minutes of time added on due to an injury hold-up; Aaron Browne reduced the deficit to two; Paddy Brophy (free) to a point on 68 but a late Darragh Kirwan point clinched it for Naas as they recorded an incredible three titles on a final score line of Naas 0-13 Celbridge 0-11.

Scorers: Naas, Darragh Kirwan 0-4, Alex Beirne 0-3 (1 free), Luke Mullins 0-2 (2 frees), Paul McDermott 0-1, Kevin Cummins 0-1, Dermot Hanafin 0-1, Sean Hanafin 0-1.

Celbridge, Davy Hughes 0-3 (1 free), Paddy Brophy 0-3 (2 frees), Kevin Flynn 0-1, Kevin O'Callaghan 0-1, Fergal Conway 0-1, Aaron Browne 0-1, Niall O'Regan 0-1.

Man of the match: Darragh Kirwan.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Brian Byrne, Mark Maguire; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle, Eoghan Prizeman; Paul McDermott, James Burke; Alex Beirne, Sean Hanafin, Jack McKevitt; Darragh Kirwan, Dermot Hanafin, Conor McCarthy Subs: Tom Browne for Jack McKevitt (54 minutes); Kevin Cummins for Dermot Hanafin (54 minutes); Eamonn Callagan for Cathal Daly (62 minutes).

CELBRIDGE: Shane McNamara; John Clarke, Peter McAteer, Mick O'Grady; Kevin Flynn, Mick Konstantin cpt., Liam O'Flynn; Dean O'Donoghue, Tony Archbold; Paddy Wall, Aaron Browne Kevin O'Callaghan; Davy Hughes, Fergal Conway, Paddy Brophy. Subs: Killian Browne for Aaron Browne (37 minutes); Niall O'Regan for Paddy Wall (39 minutes); Conor Plunkett for Tony Archbold (45 minutes); Johnny Owens for Conor Plunkett (48 minutes); Aaron Browne for Davy Hughes (57 minutes).

REFEREE: Paddy McDermott.