Fintan Quinn hat-trick helps Naas beat Sarsfields by staggering 19 points

A hat-trick from towering Naas forward Fintan Quinn helped his side to a huge 4-20 to 0-13 win over Sarsfields in Kildare Senior Football League Division 1.

The visitors got the game’s opening two points within three minutes against the breeze but failed to score again until the 15-minute mark, conceding 2-7 in the meantime.

Luke Mullins levelled things with a fine two-point free before points from Kevin Cummins, Dermot Hanifin and Ciaran Doyle put Naas three clear. That advantage was doubled when a long ball into Doyle was handed off to Elliot Beirne who found Fintan Quinn who in turn found the top right corner in convincing style.

There were two more Naas points before Doyle raised his own green flag when he rounded the goalkeeper to score after being sent through by Drew Costello.

Sarsfields couldn’t get hold of the ball in that dire spell and were being punished with clinical precision, but they responded to Naas’ ruthless surge by finishing the half strongest of the two sides. Two Ryan Kearney points and one each from Daragh Conlon and Gavin Anderson were separated by thundering two-pointer from Paul McDermott. The sides entered the break with Naas holding a 2-9 to 0-6 advantage.

A response was expected from the visitors and one never really came, even with the significant breeze now at their backs. Two quick-fire Neil Aherne points set the tone alongside two more points from each side before the game’s next goal.

It was Kevin Cummins aiming for the net this time with his effort being lazily blocked by a trailing Sarsfields leg. The resulting ball popped up and Fintan Quinn reacted first and found the net off his laces after gathering possession. Quinn’s second goal made this game 3-14 to 0-8 after 39 minutes of action.

There was no whiff of a comeback in this game as the following minutes plodded along in the wind and the rain. There was however time for Fintan Quinn to turn his great attacking performance into a truly memorable one when he found the net for the third time in the 52nd minute.

After a final Sarsfields' score from Karl Hartley, Naas knocked over two more to complete a dominant win by 4-20 to 0-13.

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Naas, Fintan Quinn 3-1, Ciaran Doyle 1-1, Neil Aherne 0-4, Luke Mullins 0-3 (0-2 frees, 1 x 2ptf, 1 x '45), Dermot Hanifin 0-2, Paul McDermott 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Kevin Cummins 0-2, Liam O'Connor 0-2, Elliot Beirne 0-2, Drew Costello 0-1.

Sarsfields, Shane Doyle 0-4 (0-1 frees), Karl Hartley 0-2, Ryan Kearney 0-2, Gavin Anderson 0-2, Luke Mahon 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Daragh Conlon 0-1.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Mark Maguire, Daniel Lenehan; Tim Ryan, Tom Browne, Paddy McDermott; Drew Costello, Paul McDermott; Liam O'Connor, Kevin Cummins, Elliot Beirne; Ciaran Doyle, Fintan Quinn, Dermot Hanifin. Subs: Neil Aherne for Ciaran Doyle (22 minutes), Tom McGrane for Tom Browne (50 minutes), Jack Rodgers for Drew Costello (50 minutes), Conor Donoghue for Elliot Beirne (58 minutes).

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney Byrne; Alan Scully, Ethan Mountaine, Cian Byrne; James Aspell, Daragh Conlon, Jimmy O'Neill; Gavin Anderson, Cathal White; Cian Costigan, Karl Hartley, Shane Higgins; Conor O'Donovan, Shane Doyle, Ryan Kearney. Subs: Cian McHugh for James Aspell (28 minutes), Luke Mahon for Cathal White (42 minutes), Niall Costigan for Cian McHugh (46 minutes), Daithí Dowling for Shane Higgins (50 minutes), Donal O'Brien for Jimmy O'Neill (58 minutes).

Referee: Billy O’Connell