Naas remain firmly on course with Moorefield win

Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals

Naas 1-12

Moorefield 0-8

With the three other Senior Football Championship quarter-finals all done and dusted with no major upsets we wondered as the final game of the four — played at what many believed to be a very unfair time for players of 6 pm on a Sunday evening — would Moorefield provide an upset against the three-in-a-row seeking champions of Naas on an evening that saw high winds, lashing rain making conditions extremely difficult for one and all.

However we did not have to wait overly long to realise that the champions were in fine fettle as they dominated early on against a Moorefield side that came into this one as big outsiders.

And not for the first time the layers did not get it wrong as Joe Murphy's side opened in impressive fashion albeit playing with the aid of the wind and the rain on their backs,

And while it took all of eight minutes before first white flag was raised from its position at the butt of the post at the town goal it was county man, Alex Beirne, who split the posts.

Moorefield, not unexpectedly, had a lot of bodies back and were relying on fast breaks but with the Naas defence strong and firm it proved very difficult for the Newbridge side to make headway.
Eamonn Callaghan (free) and Beirne again, made it 0-3 to 0-0 after fourteen minutes.

In a rare Moorefield attack there was a squeak of a goal but while that was prevented a handling offence saw Adam Tyrrell opened the Moorefield account with a close-in free.

Jack McKevitt, Brian Byrne (excellent effort) saw Naas lead 0-5 to 0-1.
The big break-through came two minutes later when a brilliant inch-perfect kick pass over the bop by Brian Byrne put Alex Byrne in on goal.

Tom Harrington, did his utmost to get back, but Beirne turned inside giving Tom Kinsella no chance to put his side firmly on the road to the last four.

Another goal looked on when a long ball in on its way to Dermot Hanafin was punched clear by Kevin Murnaghan but Naas keeper, Luke Mullins, fired over the resultant 45 with consummate ease and with Eamonn Callaghan converting a free it left the half-time score reading Naas 1-7 Moorefield 0-1.

As the rain eased the wind died down the second half got underway with two points from Eamonn Callaghan (free) and Kevin Cummins, his first of the game to extend the lead to nine points.

Ciaran Kelly and Cummins again, exchanged points before Moorefield got a firm grip on affairs beginning with Jason Philips splitting the posts; Aaron Masterson converting a 45 and Mark Dempsey getting in behind the Naas defence only to see his blistering shot rise high and over to make it Naas 1-10 Moorefield 0-5.

Masterson converted his second 45 and followed up with a free as The Moores made it five points on the trot.
Alex Beirne converted a free; Adam Tyrrell replied with a similar score before Alex Beirne fired over the last score of the game as Naas marched on to the semi-final and a meeting with Clane in two weeks time on a final score line of Naas 1-12 Moorefield 1-12.

Comfortable enough for the champions, yet not wholly convincing it has to be said, they have certainly not reached their peak at this stage, which from their point of view is probably a good thing but they are still the hot favs (4/7) to complete that three-in-a-row sequence which would be one hell of ah achievement.
Still, a lot of football to be played just yet.

MAIN MAN
ALEX BEIRNE
In a game where man-of-the-match displays were somewhat scarce, county man Alex Beirne, was probably the best of the bunch. Hitting the opening point, the final point of the game and in between finding the Moorefield net, he was a long way ahead of many of his own team mates.

TURNING POINT
As usual a goal, especially in conditions like we had on Sunday evening, is huge and this one certainly was but it was also an excellent bit of skill initially from Brian Byrne whose kick pass on to the chest of Beirne was absolutely inch perfect, while the wing forward still had a bit of work to do he do so, calmly, effectively and impressively.

TALKING POINT
With the game all but over at the break one expected Naas to push on and while they certainly never looked like they were in trouble, nevertheless that second half display leaves a few questions unanswered still.

WHAT NOW?
Naas to semi-final; Moorefield season is over.

Scorers: Naas, Alex Beirne 1-4 (1 free), Eamonn Callaghan 0-3 (3 frees), Kevin Cummins 0-2, Jack McKevitt 0-1, Luke Mullins 0-1 (45), Brian Byrne 0-1,

Moorefield, Aaron Masterson 0-3 (two 45s, free), Adam Tyrrell 0-2 (2 frees), Jason Philips 0-1, Mark Dempsey 0-1, Ciaran Kelly 0-1.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Cathal Daly, Brian Byrne, Mark Maguire; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle, Eoghan Prizeman; Conor McCarthy, James Burke; Alex Beirne, Eamonn Callaghan, Jack McKevitt; Kevin Cummins, Dermot Hanafin, Sean Hanafin. Subs: Neil Aherne for Dermot Hanafin (42 minutes); Brian Kane for Jack McKevitt (54 minutes); Sean Cullen for Eamonn Callaghan (56 minutes);

MOOREFIELD: Tom Kinsella; Ryan Houlihan, Mark Dempsey, Liam Callaghan; Kevin Murnaghan, James Murray, Tom Harrington; Aaron Masterson, Ryan Moore; Liam Healy, Ian Meehan, Adam Sweeney; Evan O'Brien, Jason Philips, Adam Tyrrell. Subs: Ciaran Kelly for Adam Sweeney (35 minutes); Mark Murray for Ryan Moore (39 minutes); Luke Sweeney for Ian Meehan (39 minutes); Eoin Meehan for Evan O'Brien (46 minutes); Tommy McGrath for Kevin Murnaghan (52 minutes);

REFEREE: Paddy McDermott.