Leinster Club SFC final: Naas come up just short against Crokes

Kilmad Crokes made it three Leinster Club SFC titles in a row at Croke Park this afternoon following a seven point win over Naas in a dramatic game that went right down to the wire.

Leading by two at the break (0-9 to 0-7) Naas threw everything at their opponents in the second half, got it back to one within 36 minutes but it was that man Shane Walsh that proved the difference, the Galway import hit 1-8 (four frees), the goal coming in time added on when a Naas short free went astray, the ball was booted forward, Walsh with a brilliant pick-up on the run, out ran all defenders and with Luke Mullins up the field, Walsh fired to the empty net from some 30m or so.

It is a game Naas will probably feel they left behind them, a few poor decisions, at vitall times; along with losing possession, finding the upright on a few occasions rather than splitting the posts.

These are the small margins.

Far from a seven point game but that will be little consolation to Naas.

Final score: Kilmacud Crokes 1-14 Naas 0-10.

Scorers: Kilmacud Crokes, Shane Walsh 1-8 (5 frees), Paul Mannion 0-1 (free), Cian O'Connor 0-2, Craig Dias 0-1, Rory Carroll 0-1, Dara Mulliln 0-1.

Naas, Alex Beirne 0-4 (1 free), Darrgh Kirwan 0-4 (3 frees), Dermot Hanafin 0-1, Paul McDermott 0-1.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Brian Byrne, Mark Maguire; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle cpt., Eoghan Prizeman; Paul McDermott, James Burke; Alex Beirne, Sean Hanafin, Jack McKevitt; Conor McCarthy, Dermot Hanafin, Darragh Kirwan. Subs: Kevin Cudmmins for Paul McDermott (50 minutes); Tom Browne for Eoghan Prizeman (50 minutes); Neil Aherne for Dermot Hanafsin (57 minutes); Sean Cullen for Jack McKevitt (60 minutes);

Kilmacud Crokes: David Higgins; Rory Carroll, Theo Clancy, Dan O'Brien; Shane Horan, Andy McGowan, Mark O'Leary; Brian Sheehy, Craig Dias; Cian O'Connor, Shane Cunningham cpt., Hugh Kenny; Paul Mannion, Dara Mullin, Shane Walsh. Subs: Dan Murphy for Hugh Kenny (half-time); Callum Pearson for Dara Mullin (37 minutes); Luke Ward for Shane Cunningham (49 minutes); Darragh Dempsey for Cian O'Connor (50 minutes); James Murphy for Craig Dias (57 minuts);

REFEREE: David Hickey.