Kildare SFC Final

Naas 1-12 Clane 0-6

By Ger McNally at St Conleth's Park

An injury time goal by Paddy McDermott put the seal on the win for Naas as they recorded back-to-back Kildare Senior Football Championship victories. 

It was a result that rarely, if ever, looked in doubt. Although playing with a strong wind in the first half, Clane adopted a very defensive outlook, which was contrary to the style of football that got them to their first final since 1998, and as a result they scored just one point in the first half. 

Naas dictated the game on their terms with captain Eoin Doyle controlling a lot of the play from the centre back position. 

Their goalkeeper, Luke Mullins, opened the scoring with a well struck fifth minute free kick and that was added to a minute later by Darragh Kirwan. 

With Clane retreating into a defensive set up, Naas wing back Tom Browne was another who saw a lot of the ball and it was no surprise to see him get on the scoresheet in the 15th minute. 

Eamonn Callaghan, just a few weeks short of his 40th birthday, then clipped over a close range free kick five minutes later. 

Clane finally got off the mark in the 25th minute when Brian McLoughlin spectacularly won the ball in midfield and fed the ball forward to Shane O’Sullivan and he landed an impressive point but it was a rare attack for Clane. Alex Beirne, eventually voted man of the match, scored the last point of the half to leave the champions 0-5 to 0-1 ahead at half time. 

Into the second half, Naas were always a threat going forward but Clane did appear to show signs of life midway through the half. When O’Sullivan and then full back Robbie Phillips scored in quick succession, Clane were just 0-8 to 0-5 behind and it looked like the game would spark to life. 

However, Naas quickly nullified those thoughts. Browne landed his second half of the game and then goalkeeper Luke Mullins kicked a 45 after Darragh Kirwan had been denied by a wonderful save from Cian Burke. 

Burke was back in action a minute, this time to keep out a Sean Hanafin shot, but there was only so much that Burke could do and he was finally beaten by Paddy McDermott in injury as Naas secured a well deserved win. 

After their hurlers won their fourth successive county a couple of weeks ago, it’s now a back-to-back football and hurling double for Naas and there is no doubting that they are the dominant club in Kildare GAA at the moment. 

Scorers for Naas: Paddy McDermott 1-0, Luke Mullins 0-3 (2fs, 145), Tom Browne and Alex Beirne 0-2 each, Dermot Hanafin, Darragh Kirwan, Ciaran Doyle, Jack Cleary, and Eamonn Callaghan (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clane: Shane O'Sullivan 0-4 (2fs), Sam McCormack and Robbie Philips 0-1 each.

Naas: Luke Mullins; Mark Maguire, Brian Byrne, Cathal Daly; Tom Browne, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Alex Beirne, James Burke; Paul McDermott, Dermot Hanafin, Brian Kane; Eamonn Callaghan, Darragh Kirwan, Ciaran Doyle. 

Subs: Sean Hanafin for Burke, 36; Jack Cleary for Paul McDermott, 52; Jack McKevitt for Kane, 53; Kevin Cummins for C Doyle, 57; Eoghan Prizeman for Browne, 60+3. 

**Clane: **Cian Burke; John Lynch, Chris Byrne, Harry O'Neill; Robbie Philips; Shane McCormack, Cian Shanahan, Tadhg Montgomery; Sean Christanseen, Sam McCormack; Cormac Vizzard, Sam Reilly, Adam Fanning; Brian McLoughlin, Shane O'Sullivan. 

Subs: Cathal O'Brien for Christanseen, 42; Jake Burke for Vizzard, 42; Oisin Tighe for Lynch, 49; Sean Callan for Fanning, 60; Danny Egan for McCormack, 60. 

Referee: Brendan Cawley .