Naas 1-07 Cellbridge 1-06
Naas are four-in-a-row Kildare SFC champions, county man Darragh Kirwan leading the line again with five points, but boy did the favourites have to scrap for this one.
Almost 5,500 turned out for this decider which marked the official opening of the redeveloped Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge.
But they were treated to more of an arm wrestle in wet and windy conditions than the scoring extravaganza they may have hoped for on the landmark occasion.
Man of the Match 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 1-06 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 1-03 to 0-02, 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 1-03 to 0-04 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 1-04 and then 1-05 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: Luke Mullins; Mark Maguire, Robert Fitzgerald, Conor McCarthy; Eoin Lawlor, Eoin Doyle, Brian Byrne; Alex Beirne (0-01f), James Burke; Ryan Sinkey, Tom Browne, Paddy McDermott; Dermot Hanafin (1-00), Darragh Kirwan (0-05, 1f), Neil Aherne (0-01).
Subs: Paul McDermott for Beirne 11-16 blood, Cathal Daly for Fitzgerald 49, Paul McDermott for Sinkey 50, Kevin Cummins for Aherne 55, Sean Hanafin for Tom Browne 58.
Celbridge: Shane McNamara (0-01f); John Clarke, Cian Powell, Mick Konstantin; Dean O'Donoghue, Fergal Conway (0-01), Liam O'Flynn; Hugh McGrillen (1-00), Mick O'Grady; Niall O'Regan, Kevin O'Callaghan, Tony Archbold (0-01); Kevin Flynn, Killian Browne (0-02), Aaron Browne.
Subs: Davy Hughes (0-01f) for Flynn 46, Paddy Brophy for Aaron Browne 50.
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Sarsfields).
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
