Leinster PPS 'A' final: Naas CBS make it three Bosco Cups in a row

Naas CBS brought up the magical three-in-a-row Leinster PPS Senior 'A' football titles with a well-deserved but hard-earned win over Coláiste Choilm Tullamore at the well prepared Donaghmore Ashburne grounds this afternoon.

Naas led at the break by three 0-7 to 0-4 and they fully deserved that lead, having played with the help of the breeze. Tom Kelly was the main Naas man in the opening half with five points while a worry for the Tullamore boys was the fact they failed to score from play, their four points coming from Ryan Kenny and Cian Bracken, two frees apiece.

The second half was a much more tighter game and while the opening four points were shared equally, Coláiste Choilm then upped their game hitting three points on the trot to leave it at 0-9 apiece on 49 minutes.

However Naas CBS then suddenly and effectively upped their game with points from Daire Gilmartin, Tom Kelly (free) before the vital score of the game arrived when Evan Gilmartin long ball in was toe-poked the ball over the line by wing-back Rob Murray to kill off the game, the green flag arriving on the 60 minute.

Tullamore did add a free through Ryan Kenny but it was Dara Cooke who got the final point of the game after a fine move as Naas retained the title, lifting the Br Bosco Cup for the third time in a row and their fifth title since 2018, in this their sixth final in a row (no competition in 2021).

Scorers: Naas CBS, Tom Kelly 0-6 (4 frees), Rob Murray 1-0, Daniel Hamill 0-1, Evan Gilmartin 0-1, Cian O'Reilly 0-1 (45), AJ Jordan 0-1 (free), Dara Cooke 0-1, Daire Gilmartin 0-1.

Coláiste Choilm Tullamore, Ryan Kenny 0-5 (5 frees), Cian Brcken 0-4 (2 frees), Cillian Bourke 0-1.

NAAS CBS: Charlie Carroll (Eadestown); Niall Cramer (Raheens), Brian Hoctor (Naas), Matthew Kelly (Naas); Rob Murray (Naas), Cathal McCarthy (Raheens), Jamie McGuirk Jt cpt (Naas);  Cian O’Reilly Jt Cpt (Raheens), Liam O’Connor (Naas); Alex Lenehan (Naas), Tom Kelly (Naas); Daniel Hamill (Raheens); Ferdia Ó Domhnaill (Sallins), AJ. Jordan (Kill), Evan Gilmartin (Raheens). Subs: Daire Gilmartin (Raheens) for Matthew Kelly (half-time); Dara Cooke (Raheens) for Alex Lenihan (40 minutes); Jack Kelly (Eadestown) for AJ Jordan (45 minutes); Owen Thompson (Kill) for Ferdia Ó Domhnaill (51 minutes).

COLÁISTE CHOILM TULLAMORE: Sean Kavanagh; Peter McKeagney, John Colgan, Tadgh Kelly; Aaron Rattigan, Pa Kenna, David O'Rourke; Cillian Bourke, Eoin Dunne; Dara Bates, Niall Furlong, Davin Keegan; Stephen Doran cpt., Ryan Kenny, Cian Bracken. Subs: Eoin Rouse for Dara Bates (38 minutes): Cormac Whittle for David Keegan (45 minutes); Shane Horkan for Stephen Doran (56 minutes).

REFEREE: David Sweeney.