Below par Naas, still had too much for disappointing Sash

Naas 0-12

Sarsfields 0-7

Naas had their expected win over Sarsfieleds in the third game at Manguard Park on Sunday evening and while there was only five points separating the sides in the end, it was game that Naas never looked like losing, despite being far from their best.

Sarsfilds were chasing this one from the very start, rarely looked like they would get anything out of it and the fact they scored just seven points in total, and just one of those from open play, says it all.

Naas certainly had most of the possession in the opening half but still only led by five at the break.

Alex Beirne opened the scoring for the champions inside a minute before Luke Cummins left his goal-keeping duties to come forward to point a free on five minutes.

Naas dominated in the early stages and Darragh Kirwan got the first of his total with a fine point on nine minutes; Ryan Sinkey added a mark and when Darragh Kirwan converted a free Naas now led 0-5 to 0-1 with 24 minutes on the clock.

Ben McCormack was introduced off the bench for Sarsfields on 22 minutes but he returned to the bench just three minutes later after receiving a black card after impeding Sean Hanafin.

Matty Byrne was the next player to find his way into referee Billy O'Connell's book after fouling Mark Maguire with Alex Beirne pointing the resulting free.

Sarsfields got their second point of the half on 30 minutes when Barry Coffey converted a free but it was Naas who had one more point before the break, Darragh Kirwan firing over on the run to leave the half-time score reading Naas 0-7 Sarsfields 0-2.

On the resumption, just as he did from the opening half throw-in, Alex Beirne fired over to stretch the lead but as you would expect Sarsfields did step it up with points from Shane Doyle, free, after Karl Hartley was fouled and a similar score after Matty Byrne was fouled left just four between them.

Ben McCormack returned from the sin bin as Darragh Kirwan converted a free to leave it 0-9 to 0-4 after 38 minutes.

Shane Doyle got Sarsfields first, and only point from play on 40 minutes; Alex Beirne pushed the lead back to five.

A big run by Ethan Mountaine, saw him being fouled and Shane Doyle made no mistake from the resultant free.

But again Naas responded, ,this time Ryan Sinkey getting his second of the game.

Things were getting hot and heavy as Chilly Byrne hit Sean Hanafin with a mother-and-father of a (fair) shoulder.

A strong tackle on Shane Doyle saw Conor McCarthy shown yellow.

Neil Aherne put six between them again on 54 minutes.

Sarsfields then hit four wides on the trot, one free, as Chilly Byrne picked up a yellow.

Two scuffles broke out one in each corner of the town goal. Karl Hartley (Sarsfields) and Rob Fitzgerald (Naas) were shown yellow before the match official trotted over to the opposite corner where he dished a straight red to Sarsfields' Tadhg Hoey, for an alleged striking offence.

In time added on Barry Coffey found his scoring touch converting a free as the full time whistle arrived, Naas winning 0-12 to 0-7.

Scorers: Naas, Darragh Kirwan 0-4 (2 frees), Alex Beirne 0-4 (free), Ryan Sinkey 0-2 (mark), Luke Mullins 0-1 (free), Neil Aherne 0-1.

Sarsfields, Shane Doyle 0-4 (3 frees), Barry Coffey 0-2 (2 frees), Callum Bolton 0-1 (free).

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney-Byrne; Alan Scully, Tom Aspell, Sean Campbell; David Shalvey, Daragh Ryan, Colm Harnett; Callum Bolton, Matty Byrne; Con Kavanagh, Ethan Mountaine, Shea Ryan; Karl Hartley, Shane Doyle, Barry Coffey. Subs: Ben McCormack for Colm Harnett (22 minutes); Cian Byrne for Sean Campbell (46 minutes); Tadhg Hoey for Tom Aspell (52 minutes); Ben Loakman for Shane Doyle (54 minutes); Conor Hartley for Daragh Ryan (56 minutes)

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Mark Maguire, Robert Fitzgerald; Brian Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Eoin Lawlor; Ryan Sinkey, Sean Hanafin; Alex Beirne, Tom Browne, Paddy McDermott; Darragh Kirwan, Dermot Hanafin, Neil Aherne. Subs: Cathal Daly for Eoin Doyle (22 minutes); Tim Ryan for Eoin Lawlor (52 minutes); Kevin Cummins for Neil Aherne (54 minutes); Brian Kane for Paddy McDermott (58 minutes); Fintan Quinn for Tom Browne (62 minutes).

REFEREE: Billy O'Connell.