Kildare GAA: Sarsfields inflict first defeat on Naas in five years
Excellent display from the Newbridge boys
Sarsfields ended a five year unbeaten run by champions Naas with a top class display having no less than nine points separating the sides in the end.
It was a game dominated by Sarsfields, more or less from start to finish, hitting four impressive two-pointers in the opening half and that saw them lead at the break 0-13 to 1-3, the Naas goal coming from Darragh Kirwan.
Naas did improve somewhat in the second half cutting the lead back to four but once Sarsfields got over that initial burst they took control again and won, probably more comfortably than even the final score line suggests 0-19 to 1-7.
Scorers: Sarsfields, Ben Loakman 0-8 (1 two-pointer free, 2 frees), Karl Hartley 0-5 (1 two-pointer), Darragh Ryan 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Callum Bolton 0-2 (two-pointer), Ryan Kearney 0-1.
Naas, Darragh Kirwan 1-3 (1 two-pointer free), Elliott Beirne 0-1, Paddy McDermott 0-1, Alex Beirne 0-1 (free), Ryan Sinkey 0-1.
SARSFIELDS: Cathal Moore; Cian Costigan, Tom Aspell, Alan Scully; Jimmy O'Neill, Darragh Ryan, Daragh Conlon; Tadhg Hoey, Callum Bolton; Matty Byrne, Ryan Kearney, Shea Ryan; Conor O'Donovan, Karl Hartley, Ben Loakman. Subs: Kieran Dwyer for Daragh Conlon (24 minutes); Ben McCormack for Conor O'Donovan (47 minutes); Harry Redmond for Cian Costigan (47 minuites); David Higgins for Jimmy O'Neill (50 minutes); Barry Coffey for Jimmy O'Neill (54 minutes).
NAAS: Jack Rogers; Mark Maguire, Brian Byrne, Rob Fitzgerald; Jack McKevitt, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Fintan Quinn, Paul McDermott; Kevin Cummins, Neil Aherne, Elliott Beirne; Darragh Kirwan, Alex Beirne, Ryan Sinkey. Subs: Eoin Lawlor for Fintan Quinn (ts 20-00); Tom Kelly for Paul McDermott (30 minutes); Cathal Daly for Elliott Beinre (37 minutes); Tim Ryan for Eoin Lawlor (45 minutes); Danieel Lenihan for Dermot Aherne (53 minutes);
REFEREE: Conor Daly.