Naas give it their all but come up just a tad short against Na Fianna

Na Fianna 2-14

Naas 0-17

It looked done and dusted around 40 minutes on the clock as Dublin champions, Na Fianna led their Kildare counterparts, Naas, by a healthy seven points, two second half goals looking like they would prove too much for the boys in blue and white.

Na Fianna had led by just two at the break but it could have been a fair bit more as they managed to find the range a lot easier than Naas who had to work their socks off to raise practically every white flag.

But work their socks off they did and no doubt manager Tom Mullally told his charges at the break that they trailed by just two points despite not reaching anywhere near the standard that they are capable of.

Na Fianna, on the other hand, must have wondered how they were not at least another three or four to the good.

Within a minute of the resumption though Na Fianna got the vital break through that put more daylight between them and their opponents.

From the throw-in Na Fianna attacked, John Tierney passed to Ciaran Stacey, who used his power and strength to pass at least two defenders before blasting to the net and when a second goal arrived seven minutes later, this time full forward AJ Murphy, from a similar type of move found the net and suddenly Naas trailed by all of six points and looking in dire trouble.

Opening Half

The sides had been level on four occasions in the opening half, Naas opened with a Cian Boran point after 30 seconds, Na Fianna replied with ace marksman, Colin Currie equalising.

Kevin Whelan regained the lead for the Kildare boys on three minutes as it became obvious very early on this was a serious clash between two teams that went at it hammer and tongs from the word go.

Na Fianna had two players 'minding' Jack Sheridan from the throw-in and while Sheridan showed flashes of what he is capable of, he was under intense pressure with space at a minimum as his fellow players time and time again sought him out but more times than not he was smothered up.

Naas hit two wides, Na Fianna went one more but in between Brian Ryan had the boys from the Capital back in front by one and that lead was doubled when Ciaran Stacey pointed.

Na Fianna were spreading the ball wide at every opportunity, especially down the right wing and were looking dangerous every time in possession.

A Jack Sheridan sideline cut was cleared for a 65 and Sheridan duly split the posts and a free from the same player on 22 minutes had the sides level again at 0-5 apiece.

Simon Leacy was on to a poor clearance like a light and edged Naas in front on 23 minutes but a brilliant long range effort from Sean Currie tied up the sides again on 25 minutes.

Colin Currie had his side back in front and that lead was pushed out to two after a wild pull was penalised and Na Fianna led at the break 0-8 to 0-6.

As said earlier, Naas, while not playing up to their high standard would have been happy to be just two adrift but that all changed directly from the restart as Na Fianna got that Stacey goal while the Naas response saw a batted effort from Kevin Aherne came off the crossbar and cleared.

Colin Currie stretched the lead to six on 35 minutes but Naas responded well with points from Simon Leacy, Kevin Aherne and a mighty effort from Brian Byrne, who somehow emerged out of a crowded area with the sliother before firing over to cut the lead back to just three points with 37 minutes on the clock.

Before the dust had settled Na Fianna had Cormac Gallagher picking the ball out of his net again, this time full forward AJ Murphy doing the damage.

Again Naas replied with two converted frees from Jack Sheridan, the second after the Naas dangerman had been man-handled that resulted in two yellow cards for Na Fianna corner backs Sean Burke and Diarmuid Clerkin.

Liam Rushe at no. 6 for the Dublin champions continued in this half where he left off in the first, in command, dominating his area with confidence.

Sean Gainey picked up a yellow, Currie (Colin) converted the free but again Naas came back with Sheridan (65) and a lovely Simon Leacy effort after Jack Sheridan made a lot of yards blocking the clearance of keeper Jonathan Tracey that Leacy capitalised on.

Naas' John McKeon was next in the book, Currie again firing over and when Jack Sheridan replied with a placed ball the lead now stood at four (2-12 to 0-14) on 55 minutes.

Naas were throwing everything at their opponents at this stage, dominating around the middle they hit three points on the trot, Cathal Dowling and two Jack Sheridan frees left a single point separating them, 64 on the clock as Na Fianna were holding on for dear life (2-12 to 0-17).

Try as they did Naas just could not get the leveler and it was Na Fianna who finished off the scoring with late points from substitute Tom Brennan and a final converted from Colin Currie as the final whistle arrived, Na Fianna through to the final on a final score line of Na Fianna 2-14 Naas 0-17.

A mighty game, not much consolation to Naas, but they certainly gave it their all, left everything out on the pitch and you can't ask for any more than that.

It could have went either way but on the overall play for the seventy plus minutes the Dublin champions probably just about deserved it but they were certainly put to the pin of their collective collars.

SCORERS

Na Fianna: Colin Currie 0-8 (7 frees), Ciaran Stacey 1-1, AJ Murphy 1-0, Sean Currie 0-2, Brian Ryan 0-1, Shane Barrett 0-1, Tom Brennan 0-1.

Naas: Jack Sheridan 0-8 (6 frees, two 65s), Simon Leacy 0-3, Brian Byrne 0-2, Cian Boran 0-1, Kevin Whelan 0-1, Kevin Aherne 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1.

TEAMS

Na Fianna: Jonathan Tracey; Sean Burke, Conor McHugh, Diarmuid Clerkin; Paul O'Dea, Liam Rushe, Kevin Burke; Brian Ryan, Peter Feeney; John Tierney, Michael Murphy, Sean Currie; Colin Currie, AJ Murphy, Ciaran Stacey. Subs: Shane Barrett for Brian Ryan (half-time); Donal Ryan for Paul O'Dea (32 minutes); Sean Baxter for John Tierney (47 minutes); Gavin King for Ciaran Stacey (55 minutes).

Naas: Cormac Gallagher; John McKeon, Ross Kelly, Peter O'Donoghue; Harry Carroll, Sean Gainey, Kevin Whelan; Rian Boran, Simon Leacy; Conan Boran, Kevin Aherne, James Burke; Brian Byrne cpt, Jack Sheridan, Cian Boran. Subs: Ferran O'Sullivan for Kevin Whelan (blood sub 26-start of second half); Cathal Dowling for Conan Boran (43 minutes); Richie Hogan for Kevin Aherne (62 minutes).

REFEREE: Patrick Murphy, Carlow.