Kirwan propels Naas to Kildare glory at new St Conleth's Park

It's four in a row of Kildare titles for Naas.

Eoin Doyle of Naas lifts the cup. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Kildare SFC final, Naas 1-7 Celbridge 1-6 

A Man of the Match performance from county man Darragh Kirwan propelled Naas to a doubly historic four-in-a-row of Kildare SFC titles.

All conquering Naas had never achieved that feat before and they captured this latest title, their 12th, on the day that county ground Cedral St Conleth's Park was reopened following a multi-million euro overhaul.

A crowd of 5,426 were on hand in Newbridge for the occasion though they were treated to more of an arm wrestle in wet and windy conditions than the scoring extravaganza they may have hoped for.

Kirwan was the difference on the day with five points, four from play, including what proved to be the winning score in the 60th minute.

Dermot Hanafin's excellent solo goal in the eighth minute, the first in the new look 15,000 capacity stadium, was significant too.

But Celbridge, who led by a point with 11 minutes remaining, gave Naas a giant helping hand with the sending off of ex-county man Paddy Brophy.

Former AFL player Brophy was only on the pitch a matter of 60 or so seconds when he was dismissed for an off the ball offence in the 52nd minute.

Celbridge still had their opportunities to at least finish with a draw, and to secure a replay, but Alex Beirne tied it up for Naas at 1-6 apiece in the 54th minute and Kirwan curled over the winner.

Naas could yet make it a double of county crowns as their hurlers will contest the county final next weekend.

The following Saturday evening, November 9, the Naas footballers will host Cuala of Dublin in a Leinster club SFC quarter-final tie.

Celbridge, who won their one and only title in 2008, were desperate to avoid another reversal having lost by two points to Naas last year when the final was played in Carlow.

They came armed with a clear strategy to frustrate Naas and to punish them on the break, effectively conceding the first-half Naas kick-outs as they focused on setting themselves up defensively.

The side managed by the much travelled Micheal McDermott will be frustrated that they didn't take more of their early chances.

They dominated the first few minutes but wasted a series of openings with three point attempts dropping short and another wide.

Naas, as Naas do, took it on all on the chin and took their chance when it materialised in the eighth minute, Hanafin dashing clear through the centre after a turnover and planting the ball in Celbridge's net.

It was a fitting first ever score on the new pitch and in the redesigned stadium.

It was poor fare overall for neutrals, partly because of the difficult conditions with a stiff wind, slippery ball and greasy surface. The high stakes for both teams only added to the nervousness.

That Hanafin goal ended up being the only score in the opening 16 minutes though when Naas tagged on three points in quick succession between the 19th and 21st minutes, to lead 1-3 to 0-2, it looked like they might go on to really impose themselves.

Kirwan scored two of those Naas points but it was a frustrating half for his county colleague Beirne. The number 10, who started at midfield, kicked two first-half wides, dropped two more attempts short and also hit the butt of the post with a goal chance in the 22nd minute. To add to Beirne's woes, he had to go off for five minutes to have a head injury treated and returned wearing heavy strapping.

Celbridge took advantage of the Naas profligacy with a Tony Archbold point and one from Killian Browne late in the half, leaving Naas with a narrow 1-3 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Beirne kicked another wide after the restart and Celbridge once again punished at the other end, McGrillen this time pouncing for their goal.

Archbold did great work up the left with a soccer style dribble before picking the ball up and passing across the goalmouth for the onrushing McGrillen to palm in.

The sides were tied twice at 1-4 and then 1-5 apiece and Celbridge moved ahead briefly through sub Davy Hughes before Naas took control in the closing minutes, helped in no small way by the Brophy dismissal.

Naas scorers: D Kirwan (0-5, 1 free); D Hanafin (1-0); A Beirne (1 free), N Aherne (0-1 each).

Celbridge scorers: H McGrillen (1-0); K Browne (0-2); T Archbold, S McNamara (1 free), D Hughes (1 free), F Conway (0-1 each).

NAAS: L Mullins; M Maguire, R Fitzgerald, C McCarthy; E Lawlor, E Doyle, B Byrne; A Beirne, J Burke; R Sinkey, T Browne, Paddy McDermott; D Hanafin, D Kirwan, N Aherne.

Subs: Paul McDermott for Beirne (11-16, blood); C Daly for Fitzgerald (49); Paul McDermott for Sinkey (50); K Cummins for Aherne (55); S Hanafin for T Browne (58).

CELBRIDGE: S McNamara; J Clarke, C Powell, M Konstantin; D O'Donoghue, F Conway, L O'Flynn; H McGrillen, M O'Grady; N O'Regan, K O'Callaghan, T Archbold; K Flynn, K Browne, A Browne.

Subs: D Hughes for Flynn (46); P Brophy for A Browne (50).

Ref: B Cawley (Sarsfields).