Newbridge monopoly on Reserve A title ended as Naas power to impressive championship win

Naas 2-15

Sarsfields 0-10

Reserve A Championship final

By Robert Cribbin

Naas have ended the Newbridge monopoly on the Reserve A Football Title after impressively turning over Sarsfields in the final.

Moorefield and Sarsfields almost hold an exclusive club in this competition every year but Naas were clearly deserved winners after overturning both on the way to the title.

It was a result that was never really in doubt with first half goals from Shane Gibbons and Luke Griffin setting the County Town on the way.

The result ends a disastrous fortnight for the Sash as they exited four separate competitions with no silverware to show off.

Naas started the game brilliantly and kicked 1-2 without reply in the first few minutes with Conor Mellett and Luke Griffin kicking points before Shane Gibbons palmed in a 6th minute goal after Mellett and Sean Cullen combined to set the centre back free with the goal at his mercy.

Ross Connor eventually got Sarsfields on the board in the 7th minute with a fisted score but it was only brief respite as efforts from Griffin and Neil Farragher gave Naas a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.

Frees from Eoin O’Sullivan and Ross Connor was the reply for the Sash but playing with the breeze Naas began to take command with scores from Mellett and David Shaw.

The second goal then arrived in the 22nd minute with Luke Griffin fisting home to the net from a dropping Neil Farragher free into the square.

Griffin and Barry Murphy added further points to push Naas further clear but Sarsfields did respond with efforts from O’Sullivan, Connor and Karl Hartley that left Naas with a 2-8 to 0-7 lead at the break.

Sarsfields had the wind in the second half and they needed to use it to its full extent if they were to get the victory but that never really transpired as Griffin kicked the opening score of the half.

Hartley replied with his second free but despite emptying the bench and throwing on a trio of attacking players before the break, nothing really changed.

Naas kicked four points on the bounce at the halfway stage of the half to put the result beyond any doubt with Mellett, Shaw, Farragher and Mikey Kenny all scoring.

Brian McDonnell and Robbie Confrey then added on efforts for the Sash but they were quickly rebuffed by Farragher and substitute James Burke.

Sarsfields tried their best to even put a bit of respectability on the scoreboard but in a shot that summed up the game Naas Captain and netminder Barry Reynolds saved excellently from Cian McQuillian late on.

The final whistle went moments later as Naas portrayed the strength in depth they have at their disposal as they cruised to a 2-15 to 0-10 victory.

Naas

Barry Reynolds; Johnny Heavey, Michael McDonald, Fiachra Piggott; Cathal Daly, Shane Gibbons 1-0, Darragh Merriman; Sean Cullen, Adam Cronin; Conor Mellett 0-3 (0-3fs), David Shaw 0-2, Ben Blackburne; Luke Griffin 1-4 (0-1f), Neil Farragher 0-3, Barry Murphy 0-1.

Subs used: Sam O’Neill for Heavey (Black Card) 25 mins, James Burke 0-1 for Merriman 32 mins, Mikey Kenny 0-1 for Gibbons 46 mins, Barry Kehoe for Cullen 57 mins, Ultan McAleese for Blackburn 58 mins.

Sarsfields

John Melia; David Shalvey, Eoin Leavy, Niall O’Connor; Colm Hartnett, James Healy, Donnacha McDonnell; Conor Leavy, Eoin O’Sullivan 0-2 (0-2fs); Brian McDonnell 0-1, Ross Connor 0-4 (0-4fs), Stephen Dunne; Karl Hartley 0-2 (0-2fs), Shane Doyle, Tony Keogh.

Subs used: Robbie Confrey 0-1 for Doyle 28 mins, Cian McQuillian for Keogh 28 mins, Niall Delahunt for O’Connor 28 mins, Eoin O’Connor for Shalvey 54 mins.