Naas in absolute control against Sarsfields in Division 1 final

Hanlon Concrete SFL Division 1 2024 final

Naas 1-14

Sarsfields 0-9

Naas dominane of Kildare club football was well and truely on show on Sunday at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, as the double champions had eight points to spare over Naas in the SFL Division 1 final and retained the Leinster Leader Cup.

It was a game dominated by the boys from the county town, from start to finish, they were never under any pressure, never really tested and to be frank and honest about it could have won by a much bigger margin — and that without the services of Darragh Kirwan on the day.

Sarsfields were a huge disappointment. They looked completely out of sorts, were chasing the game from early on and in boxing parlance never laid a glove on their opponents as they lost their second game in their last three, that despite having an excellent league overall.

Naas dominated from the throw-in moving the ball impressively as Sarsfields struggled to get up to the pace of the game.

Alex Beirne opened the scoring after three minutes and a minute later Kevin Cummins punched over.

A foul on Shea Ryan saw Sarsfields get their first scoring opportunity but Barry Coffey failed to find the posts from 43m.

A sweeping move saw Alex Beirne bear down on goal but his effort skimmed just over the crossbar to increase the lead to 0-3 to 0-1.

Callum Bolton expertly fired over a 45 for his side's opening score of the game after nine minutes but a few minutes later, following a foul on Shea Ryan, the usually reliable Barry Coffey inexplicitly missed the target.

Kevin Cummins hit a beauty to extend the Naas lead and added another two minutes later as Naas were in total control.

Elliot Beirne got his first of the game, Neil Aherne added a fine effort and on 24 minutes, after Shea Ryan was dispossessed in the opposition's square, and from the turnover Naas attacked with pace ending with Alex Beirne making it 0-8 to 0-2 with 24 minutes on the clock.

Barry Coffey finally found the range converting a free on 26 minutes and before the break Sarsfields added their fourth — and their first from open play — when Ben McCormack brilliantly gained possession before splitting the posts to leave the half time scorer reading Naas 0-8 Sarsfields 0-4.

Sarsfields may have been only four adrift at the break but in truth they were so far off the pace one felt unless they showed a major improvement their struggles would continue in the second half.

Naas, on the other hand were no doubt aware that a similar display on the resumption would be more than enough to seen them win back-to-back league titles, and that is how it turned out.

If anything it got worse for the Newbridge boys as Naas added 1-2 before Sarsfields even raised a white flag.

Niall Aherne hit a brilliant opening point of the second half; Ethan Mountaine picked up a yellow; Naas hit two long range frees wide before Elliot Beirne found the range to increase the lead to six on 38 minutes.

A minute Sarsfields were on the attack but a miss-place foot pass went to Alex Beirne Naas attacked with pace, Eoin Doyle leading the charge putting Paul McDermott through and the midfielder gave Mark Courtney Byrne no chance as Naas now led 1-10 to 0-4 with just 39 minutes on the clock and Sarsfields still to score in the half.

At this stage Sarsfields had rung the changes with a couple of changes. Ryan Kearney converted a free on 40 minutes but Ryan Sinkey replied for Naas.

Shane Doyle converted a free; Daragh Ryan picked up a yellow for a high tackle and Alex Beirne converted the resultant free.

Callum Bolton and Shane Doyle pointed for The Sash but a few minutes later they were reduced to 14 when Daragh Conlon was shown a straight red, following the intervention of a linesman.

Daragh Ryan reduced the lead but it was Naas who finished the scoring with points from Paul McDermott and another fine score from Ryan Sinkey as Naas won as they liked in a final score line of Naas 1-14 Sarsfields 0-9

Scorers: Naas, Alex Beirne 0-4 (1 free), Kevin Cummins 0-3 (1 free), Paul McDermott 1-1, Elliot Beirne 0-2, Neil Aherne 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-2.

Sarsfields, Barry Coffey 0-2 (2 frees), Callum Bolton 0-2 (45), Shane Doyle 0-2 (1 free), Ben McCormack 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-1, Ryan Kearney 0-1 (free),

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Eoin Doyle cpt, Rob Fitzgerald; Paddy McDermott, Brian Byrne, Eoghan Prizeman; Brian Kane, Paul McDermott; Alex Beirne, Kevin Cummins, Elliot Beirne; Neil Aherne, Dermot Hanafin, Ryan Sinkey. Subs: Jack McKevitt for Neil Aherne (54 minutes); Fintan Quinn for Kevin Cummins (58 minutes); Tim Ryan for Brian Kane (58 minutes):

SARSFIELDS: Mark Courtney-Byrne; Daragh Conlon, Tom Aspell, Ethan Mountaine; David Shalvey, Con Kavanagh, Colm Harnett; Shea Ryan, Sean Campbell; Conor Hartley, Daragh Ryan, Callum Bolton; Barry Coffey, Ben McCormack cpt, Ryan Kearney. Subs: Cian Hughes for Conor Hartley (36 minutes); Karl Hartley for Barry Coffey (36 minutes); Jake Loakman for Ryan Kearney (44 minutes); Shane Doyle for Sean Campbell (36 minutes); Jimmy O'Neill for Colm Harnett (56 minutes).

REFEREE: Conor Daly.