Naas stunned in Kildare as Maynooth reach first football final in 110 years

Kildare SFC semi-final: Maynooth 1-16 Naas 0-15 AET

Maynooth caused the biggest upset in many years in the Joe Mallon Motors Kildare SFC as they beat Naas to qualify for their first final in 110 years.

After knocking champions Athy out in extra-time in the previous round, Maynooth again went the long route with Cathal McCabe’s 66th minute goal proving crucial.

As big an upset as it was, there could be no doubting that it deserved as Maynooth took advantage of a strangely below par Naas to claim a famous scalp.

Although Naas led 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time, their shooting left a lot to be desired. They had dropped four shots short inside the opening seven minutes and apart from contributions from Euan Cowzer, midfielder Paul McDermott and substitute Neil Aherne rarely improved from that.

Maynooth wiped out the half-time advantage with four points early in the second half.

Naas managed to get their noses in front late in the game but Mahoney’s two-pointer in the 57th minute sent the tie to extra-time.

McCabe’s goal separated the sides at half time, and although Naas cut that lead back to a point midway through the half, Niall O’Sullivan, Neil Flynn and Kevin Donovan scored to spark massive scenes of celebration as they laid down a marker ahead of the two clubs meeting again in next week’s Senior Hurling Final.

MAYNOOTH: Mark Donnellan; Cathal Quinn, Alex Tilly, Sean Mahon, Conor O’Grady, Niall O’Sullivan 0-1, Callum McCabe; Ciaran Flanagan, Matthew Diamond 0-2 (1f); Cathal McCabe 1-1, Sean Hever 0-2, Paul O’Dea, Paddy Mahoney 0-4 (1tp, 1f), Liam McDonald 0-1, Paddy Ryan 0-1. 

Subs: Paul Maguire for O’Dea, 23. Subs: Paul Maguire for O’Dea, 23; Kevin Donovan 0-1 for Ryan, 46; Niall Cullen for O’Grady, 57; Neil Flynn 0-2 (1f) for Donovan, start of e/t; Kevin Donovan for Cathal McCabe, 76; Cillian Geraghty for Maguire, 79; Sean Higgins for Mahoney, 80+1.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Mark Maguire, Brian Byrne, Jack McKevitt, Rob Murray, Cathal Daly, Paddy McDermott; Paul McDermott 0-3, James Burke; Dermot Hanafin 0-1, Alex Beirne 0-3 (1tp), Kevin Cummins 0-1, Euan Cowzer 0-3, Ciaran Doyle, Ryan Sinkey 0-1. 

Subs: Liam O’Connor for Cummins, h/t; Fintan Quinn for Doyle, 38; Neil Aherne 0-3 for Hanafin, 46; Brian Stynes for Murray, 54; Sean Hanafin 0-1 for Burke, 60; James Burke for O’Connor, 75; Eoin Doyle for Daly, 76.

REFEREE: Niall Colgan