Leinster SFC: Naas push Crokes but come up short

AIB Leinster Club SFC final

Kilmacud Crokes 1-14

Naas 0-10

An opportunity lost!
Have no doubt this is one that will haunt Naas for many a long day. They matched Kilmacud Crokes for long periods; had most of the second half possession but just could not get that vital score that might have put their opponents under pressure.
They had their chances though, and a lot of them at that.

But a combination of losing possession at vital times, particularly up front; failing to take control of the ball on numerous occasions; even a few times failing to punish the Dublin champions when sloppy passing gave the ball to Naas but time and time again they just did not take advantage.

Add in the ball coming off the upright on a few occasions, it just was not to be for Naas. Unfortunately.
Dermot Hanafin opened the scoring for Naas inside the opening three minutes with a fine effort.

A foul on midfielder Craig Dias, a late but effective addition to Crokes, was punished by Shane Walsh.
Paddy McDermott made a fine run through the middle but his inside pass was short and the chance swallowed up.

Cian O'Connor had the sides level on five minutes but a foul on Eoghan Prizeman on the 45 saw Alex Beirne gain possession dance past a couple of defenders before blasting his left footed shot over.

Craig Dias edged Crokes back in front, coming through unchallenged, and when Shane Walsh got his first from open play, his side led 0- to 0-2 with ten gone.

A quickly taken sideline by Paddy McDermott put Alex Beirne into an attacking position, the Naas no. 10 cut inside before blasting just over to reduce the gap.

A slick move involving Shane Walsh and Dara Mullin drew a foul and Walsh did the rest.
Naas replied with a Darragh Kirwan free and when the same player split the posts on 18 minutes the sides were level at 0-5 apiece.

Alex Beirne picked up a yellow for a tackle on Andy McGowan (harsh) and Shane Walsh dished out the punishment.
No doubt Kilmacud Crokes were getting the rub of the green when it came to frees, the Dublin side, on more than one occasion seemed to be awarded some very soft ones and that's for sure.

Paul McDermott was the next Naas man to see yellow, a very harsh decision again; Shane Walsh added the free and Cian O'Connor his second of the game.

Naas replied with a mighty Alex Beirne effort; Dara Mullin replied before Darragh Kirwan ended the half with a Naas point to leave the half-time score Kilmacud Crokes 0-9 Naas 0-7.

A more than decent half and with just two point separating them it was all to play for.

Shane Walsh converted his first chance of the second half inside a minute, a free from 40m or so but Naas came back strong.
A foul on Darragh Kirwan saw Alex Beirne convert a free.

Paddy McDermott put Cathal Daly in but the defender failed to gain possession of the ball and the chance was lost but soon after McDermott was fouled and Darragh Kirwan reduced the lead to a single point 0-10 to 0-9 with 36 on the clock.
Referee then spotted a free inside and Walsh made no mistake.

A tremendous ball inside by Eoin Doyle was caught by Alex Beirne, who took a mark, his effort was short and cleared.
Alex Beirne found Sean Hanafin but his pass was cut out; just before than James Burke caught Brian Sheehy with a great shoulder right under the Hogan Stand.

Sheehy then inexplicably kicked the ball straight to Beirne but he failed to hold on to it and the chance was last.

A foul on Jack McKevitt brought no yellow card. Naas were well in control at this stage but just could not get the equaliser; a Darragh Kirwan through-ball was again cut as the frustration from the boys in blue was becoming more obvious.

Darragh Kirwan was next in the referee's book, another very harsh decision but eventually the man in the middle issued a Crokes yellow, when Shane Horan fouled Mark Maguire.

Alex Beirne missed the target before Paul McDermott reduced the lead to one on 50 minutes.

Shane Walsh replied with a free, added a point from play and when Ross O'Carroll added a point the lead was out to four.
Alex Beirne picked up a second yellow before that late, late goal from Shane Walsh.

Never a seven point game but that is little consolation to Naas as Kilmacud Crokes made it three title in a row on a score line of 1-14 to 0-10.

SCORERS
Kilmacud Crokes: Shane Walsh 1-8 (5 frees), Cian O'Connor 0-2, Paul Mannion 0-1 (free), Craig Dias 0-1, Rory Carroll 0-1, Dara Mullin 0-1.

Naas: Alex Beirne 0-4 (1 free), Darragh Kirwan 0-4 (3 frees), Dermot Hanafin 0-1, Paul McDermott 0-1.

TEAMS

Kilmacud Crokes: David Higgins; Rory Carroll, Theo Clancy, Dan O'Brien; Shane Horan, Andy McGowan, Mark O'Leary; Brian Sheehy, Craig Dias; Cian O'Connor, Shane Cunningham cpt., Hugh Kenny; Paul Mannion, Dara Mullin, Shane Walsh. Subs: Dan Murphy for Hugh Kenny (half-time); Callum Pearson for Dara Mullin (37 minutes); Luke Ward for Shane Cunningham (49 minutes); Darragh Dempsey for Cian O'Connor (50 minutes); James Murphy for Craig Dias (57 minutes).

Naas: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Brian Byrne, Mark Maguire; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle cpt., Eoghan Prizeman; Paul McDermott, James Burke; Alex Beirne, Sean Hanafin, Jack McKevitt; Conor McCarthy, Dermot Hanafin, Darragh Kirwan. Subs: Kevin Cummins for Paul McDermott (50 minutes); Tom Browne for Eoghan Prizeman (50 minutes); Neil Aherne for Dermot Hanafin (57 minutes); Sean Cullen for Jack McKevitt (60 minutes).

REFEREE: David Hickey, Carlow.