Athy end Naas reign to claim first Kildare SFC title since 2020
Former Tyrone star Cathal McCarron scored three points for Athy in their Kildare SFC final victory over Naas. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Philly McMahon's Naas have come up short in their bid for a five-in-a-row of Kildare SFC titles, the powerhouse outfit undone by a terrific Athy effort.
Fresh off the club's hurlers completing a seven-in-a-row of SHC successes, the Naas footballers were strong favourites to follow suit and lift silverware in Newbridge.
But an Athy side led by former Tyrone star Cathal McCarron, Kildare captain Kevin Feely and veteran county forward Niall Kelly turned in a terrific effort and were deserved winners.
Barry Kelly led the scoring with 1-3 before going off with cramp while centre-back McCarron drilled three crucial points to help Athy claim an eighth title and their first since 2020.
It's the first time Naas have failed to claim the title since that Athy win in 2020 with the club going on a 31-game unbeaten run at one stage before losing to Sarsfields in the group stage of this year's championship.
Athy reeled off seven points in a row in the second-half to lead by six with 50 minutes on the clock though Naas, to their credit, pushed them all the way.
Alex Beirne's fourth two-pointer of the day, in the 63rd minute, left just two in it and when Naas won a free about 55 metres out beneath the main stand, Beirne looked set to try for another two-pointer to level it, and force a replay.
But Dublin great McMahon appeared to gesture to Beirne to go short and the chance came to nothing with Ryan Sinkey then blasting a separate two-point effort wide in the last action of the game.
Naas contested Leinster club finals in 2021 and 2023 but it's Athy that will progress to a November 2 provincial opener against Wicklow side Baltinglass in Aughrim.
Naas came in as strong favourites but while they opened up a 0-7 to 0-3 lead, and then a double scores 0-8 to 0-4 advantage, they never really got going.
Their defence was consistently opened up in the first-half by a direct and hard-running Athy side that was only let down by poor finishing.
Niall Kelly, who finished with 0-6, got on the end of a clever Athy move down the left in the sixth minute but his snapshot at goal struck the wrong side of the upright.
McCarron drilled an early wide too, one of seven first-half misses that Athy racked up, along with two score attempts that dropped short.
Mind you, the second of those shots that dropped short ended with Naas failing to clear their lines and Barry Kelly pouncing to blast home Athy's goal.
That came in the 25th minute and prompted their best period of play with McCarron and Niall Kelly both following up with points.
Suddenly, Athy found themselves in the lead and hit the interval with a 1-7 to 0-9 advantage.
Crucially, they had momentum on their side with Tailteann Cup All-Star James McGrath bursting forward with real intent.
Naas, in turn, lived off their star studded full-forward line with Beirne blasting two early two-pointers and Ryan Sinkey delivering three first-half points.
Darragh Kirwan was less influential but did get on the end of a 17th minute goal chance which hit the woodwork.
Athy doubled their advantage immediately after the restart, winning the throw-up and working the ball forward to Ronan Kelly who won a free that Niall Kelly converted.
It seemed to light a fire under Naas who burst to life, reeling off three points from Sinkey, Jack McKevitt and Beirne to lead again, 0-12 to 1-8.
But Naas then paid a high price for two big mistakes. Firstly, Beirne was stripped of possession in the Naas attack, allowing Athy to break away and snipe a point through McCarron.
From the kick-out, Naas coughed up a free for not getting the ball away outside the arc, allowing Niall Kelly to tap over and restore Athy's lead, 1-10 to 0-12.
Athy were flying now and their purple patch yielded seven points without response as Naas floundered, leaving the men in red 1-15 to 0-12 clear.
Naas dug in late on and got the margin down to just two points by the third minute of the five allotted for stoppage time.
They had their chances to level it too, albeit long-range efforts, but Athy held on for a landmark win.
B Kelly 1-3; N Kelly 0-6 (5 frees); C McCarron 0-3; S Moore, B Maher 0-2 each; K Feely 0-1.
A Beirne 0-10 (2 tp, 2 tpf, 1 free); R Sinkey 0-5; K Cummins, B Stynes, J McKevitt 0-1 each.
S Jackman; S Moore, M Spillane, D Lawler; P Spillane, C McCarron, J McGrath; K Feely, D Hyland; B Maher, B Kelly, C Doyle; R Kelly, C Moran, N Kelly.
C Keaveney for R Kelly (46); B Purcell for B Kelly (50); M Hyland for Moran (57); S Bride for McGrath & P Behan for Doyle (59).
L Mullins; M Maguire, B Byrne, R Fitzgerald; J McKevitt, E Doyle, B Stynes; Paddy McDermott, Paul McDermott; E Beirne, F Quinn, K Cummins; D Kirwan, A Beirne, R Sinkey.
C Daly for Quinn (43); N Aherne for E Beirne (46); S Hanifin for Stynes (49); D Hanifin for Cummins (53).
B Cawley (Sarsfields).
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