Kildare SFC Final: Athy dethrone Naas

Kildare SFC Final

Athy 1-17 Naas 0-18

By Ger McNally at Cedral St Conleth's Park

Naas’ bid for a fifth successive Kildare title was stopped by a determined and hungry Athy side in Cedral St Conleths Park.

Athy’s last success was in 2020 during the Covid lockdown and was played in front of crowd of just 200, but that was in stark contrast to the scenes at the final whistle as there was an invasion of red from the stands as supporters celebrated on the pitch.

It all looked to be going to plan for Philly McMahon’s Naas early in the game when two fantastic two points by Tailteann Cup player of the year Alex Beirne helped them into a 0-8 to 0-4 lead.

At that stage of the game Athy were desperate need of a spark and it duly arrived in the form of Barry Kelly. The centre half forward was prominent for Athy and even when his team were on the back foot, he did everything in his power to drive his team forward.

Those efforts paid off when he was on hand after Darren Lawler’s shot dropped short in the 24th minute and he was on hand to smash the ball into the net.

That lit a fire under Athy and was part of a run of 1-3 without reply as they moved ahead for the first time in the game.

The excellent Ryan Sinkey ended that run of scores with the last kick of the half and there was just a point between the teams at half time, 1-7 to 0-9.

Athy came out and scored within a minute of the restart through a Niall Kelly free, but it looked like the half time break did Naas a power of good after that.

Sinkey, Jack McKevitt and Beirne scored in succession to give Naas the lead once again, but Athy answered back with the decisive spell of the game.

They rattled off seven points in a row, including two from former Tyrone star Cathal McCarron, who was another in red to have an outstanding game.

That helped them into a six point, but a two point free by Beirne with ten minutes to go after Athy were punished for not leaving three men brought Naas back into it.

Sinkey’s fourth of the game left just a goal between them before Brian Maher scored twice, either side of a Beirne free to leave four between the teams with still four of the five additional minutes to be played.

Beirne kicked his fourth two pointer in the 63rd to halve that lead and leave an increasingly nervy looking Athy side hanging.

Naas worked one last possession and got the ball into the hands of Sinkey in a good position and there were plenty of Athy hearts in mouths as he lined up an attempt at an equalising two pointer, but agonisingly for Naas, and much to Athy’s jubilation, the ball went just wide of the post to spark great celebrations.

Scorers for Athy: B Kelly 1-3, N Kelly 0-6 (5fs), C McCarron 0-3, S Moore 0-2, B Maher 0-2, K Feely 0-1.

Scorers for Naas: Alex Beirne 0-10 (2tp, 2tpf,1f), R Sinkey 0-5, K Cummins 0-1, B Stynes 0-1, J McKevitt 0-1.

Athy: Shane Jackman; Sean Moore, Michael Spillane, Darren Lawler, Padraig Spillane, Cathal McCarron, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, David Hyland; Brian Maher, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle, Ronan Kelly, Colm Moran, Niall Kelly.

Subs: Cian Keaveney for R Kelly, 45; Ben Purcell for B Kelly, 49; Mark Hyland for Moran, 57; Sean Bride for McGrath, 59; Paudi Behan for Doyle, 59.

Naas: Luke Mullins; Mark Maguire, Brian Byrne, Rob Fitzgerald, Jack McKevitt, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Fintan Quinn, Paul McDermott; Kevin Cummins, Brian Stynes, Elliott Beirne, Darragh Kirwan, Alex Beirne, Ryan Sinkey.

Subs: Cathal Daly for Quinn, 43; Neil Aherne for E Beirne, 45; Sean Hanafin for Stynes, 49; Dermot Hanafin for Cummins, 53.

Referee: Brendan Cawley.