Kildare SFC Final: Sarsfields defeat Maynooth in decider

Kildare SFC Final

Sarsfields 1-14 Maynooth 1-10

By Ger McNally at Cedral St Conleth's Park

A moment of brilliance from Con Kavanagh separated the sides as Sarsfields overcame a stubborn and fearless Maynooth challenge to capture the Joe Mallon Motors Kildare Senior Football Championship title.

In a final that remained firmly in the balance until the closing stages, Sarsfields' experience ultimately told as they bridged a seven-year gap to their last county success and secured a record-extending 26th title.

A superbly-taken 48th minute goal from Con Kavanagh proved the defining score of an engrossing contest, helping Sarsfields open up a six-point cushion and ultimately ending a seven-year wait for county glory.

Maynooth, appearing in their first senior final since 1916, arrived with enormous support and confidence after eliminating reigning the last two winners Athy and Naas on their remarkable run to the decider. They more than justified their place on the county's biggest stage and they pushed Sarsfields all the way.

The teams were level at 0-6 apiece at half-time after a closely contested opening 30 minutes.

Playing with what appeared to be a slight wind advantage, Sarsfields moved into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead through scores from eventual Man of the Match Shea Ryan, Daragh Conlon and Daragh Ryan.

However, the breeze had little effect on Maynooth captain Ciarán Flanagan, who landed a magnificent two-pointer in the 17th minute to draw his side level.

Sarsfields restored a two-point lead through Luke Mahon and a second point from Conlon, but Maynooth again responded. Goalkeeper Mark Donnellan converted a long-range two-pointer to leave the sides deadlocked at the interval.

The Newbridge men made the perfect start to the second half, rattling off three points inside the opening three minutes through Matt Byrne, Conor O'Donovan and Shea Ryan.

While Maynooth struggled to create clear-cut goal chances, their long-range shooting remained a potent weapon and Donnellan struck another two-pointer in the 38th minute.

Even so, momentum was beginning to swing towards Sarsfields.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 48th minute. Callum Bolton and Cathal White combined to work the ball into Kavanagh, but the centre-back still had plenty to do. Showing terrific composure, he stepped inside Callum McCabe, took a settling bounce and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

In a game of such fine margins, the first goal always looked likely to be decisive.

Donnellan reduced the gap with a converted 45 and Sarsfields also survived a major scare when they scrambled a Kevin Donovan effort off the goal-line.

When Ben McCormack stretched the lead back to six points in injury time, the title appeared secure. Yet Maynooth's never-say-die attitude surfaced once more as substitute Paddy Ryan blasted to the net in the third minute of stoppage time.

That set up a dramatic finale, but Karl Hartley claimed a crucial mark from the resulting kick-out and the move eventually ended with McCormack adding the final score to seal victory.

When the final whistle sounded, relief and joy swept through the Sarsfields ranks. After several near misses in recent years, they finally got their hands back on the trophy, producing the composure required to see off one of the stories of this year's championship.

Maynooth fought until the very last kick, but this proved to be Sarsfields' day as the Newbridge club ended their title drought

Sarsfields: Cathal Moore; Colm Harnett, Cian Hughes, Jimmy O'Neill; Daragh Conlon 0-2, Con Kavanagh 1-0, Cathal White; Matt Byrne 0-1, Callum Bolton 0-1; Daragh Ryan 0-1, Barry Coffey 0-1f, Shea Ryan 0-3; Karl Hartley, Luke Mahon 0-1, Conor O'Donovan 0-1.

Subs: Ryan Kearney for Conlon (45), David Shalvey for Byrne (45), Ben McCormack 0-2 for O'Donovan (48), Cian Costigan for Mahon (57), Kieran Dwyer for White (60+1).

Maynooth: Mark Donnellan 0-5 (2tpf, 1 '45); Cathal Quinn, Alex Tilly, Sean Mahon; Conor O'Grady 0-1, Niall O'Sullivan, Callum McCabe; Ciarán Flanagan 0-2 (1tp), Matthew Diamond; Fionn O'Giolláin, Sean Hever, Neil Flynn 0-1; Paddy Mahoney, Cathal McCabe, Liam McDonald 0-1.

Subs: Paul Maguire for O'Giolláin (half-time), Niall Cullen for O'Grady (45), Kevin Donovan for Hever (57), Paddy Ryan 1-0 for Mahoney (60+1).

Referee: Henry Barrett.