Kildare SFC: Naas dismiss Clane by a dozen points
Champions back to something like their best form
Having lost out to Sarsfields in the last group game, Naas returned to their top form dismissing Clane by no less than a dozen points at Cedral St Conleth's Park, tonight. And while Clane trailed by just four points at the break, the game was quickly put to bed early in the second half with Alex Beirne hitting top form firing over a total of nine points.
It was a good all-round display from the champions who are now through to the semi-final as they remain firmly on course.
Clane gave it their all but in the end had no answswer to the pace, power and scoring ability of the champions.
Final score: Naas 1-22 Clane 0-13.
Scorers: Naas, Alex Beirne 0-9 (1 two-pointer free, 1 two-pointer), Darragh Kirwan 0-4 (2 frees), Ryan Sinkey 0-3, Kevin Cummins 1-0, Dermot Hanifin 0-3, Jack McKevitt 0-1, Elliott Beirne 0-1, Paul McDermott 0-1.
Clane, Brian McLoughlin 0-5 (2 two-pointer frees), Shane O'Sullivan 0-5 (two-pointer, 2 frees), Sam McCormack 0-1, Adam Fanning 0-1, Hugh Prendergast 0-1.
NAAS: Luke Mullins; Mark Maguire, Brian Byrne, Rob Fitzgerald; Jack McKevitt, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Brian Stynes, Paul McDermott; Kevin Cummins, Dermot Hanifin, Elliott Beirne; Darragh Kirwan, Alex Beirne, Ryan Sinkey. Subs: Fintan Quinn for Paul McDermott (ts 44-00); Tom Kelly for Elliott Beirne (44 minutes): Cathal Daly for Brian Stynes (47 minutes); Sean Hanafin for Ryan Sinkey (57 minutes); Tim Ryan for Jack McKevitt (59 minutes); Daniel Lenihan for Mark Maguire (62 minutes).
CLANE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Sean Callan, Hugh Prendergast; Cian Shanahan, Tadgh Montgomery, Shane McCormack; Sam McCormack, James Donlon; Brian McLoughlin, Shane O'Sullivan, Adam Fitzpatrick; Adam Fanning, Sean Tighe, Oisin Tighe. Subs: Daniel Colbert for Shane McCormack (36 minutes); Killian O'Sullivan for Adam Fitzpatrick (44 minutes); Callum Doran for Cian Shanahan (56 minutes); James Behan for Oisin Tighe (59 minutes).
REFEREE: Kieran Harris.