Naas surge past Raheens late on to reach another Kildare Division 1 league final
Jimmy Higgins’ side hit the game’s final six scores as they pushed clear of Raheens to reach the 2026 Hanlon Concrete LTD Senior Football League Division 1 final
Naas are into the Hanlon Concrete Kildare Senior Football League Division 1 final after they finished six points the better of Raheens in their semi-final showdown in Hawkfield. The scoreline (0-19 to 1-10) flatters the eventual winners to say the least with Raheens leading by a point with a man advantage with 10 minutes to go before folding.
It was far from fantastic final four stuff early on with just three white flags raised in the opening 10 minutes. They were all waved in favour of Anthony Rainbow’s Raheens who first took the lead through Jack Taafe.
Paddy Woodgate doubled their advantage with a simple set-piece before Daniel Hamill latched onto an effort which was initially blocked down by Daire Guerin to score his side’s third.
Kevin Cummins opened the Naas account with his skyward effort dropping over the bar. The centre-forward then turned provider for Dermot Hanifin less than a minute later.
Fionn Tully fisted over for Raheens and they led 0-4 to 0-2 at the midway point of the first half. It was 4-2 in points and 5-2 in wides, both in Raheens’ favour.
Liam O’Connor narrowed the gap after he bounced off a yellow and blue shirt before firing over. Naas were level for the first time since throw-in when Drew Costello won the resulting kick-out before scoring.
Raheens midfielder Dara Crowley then injected some much-needed quality into the rather tame proceedings when he struck a superb two-pointer from 45m range. Crowley followed that score up with a super burst forward where he set up Jack Taafe for his second point.
There was still time before the break for Naas to claw back within touching distance and they did so firstly with a Kevin Cummins free and then with Drew Costello’s second of the evening.
Regardless of a mild scuffle while heading into the dressing rooms, Raheens led 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval.
Costello was first to score after the break too, levelling the tie with his fisted point. Back-to-back scores from Paddy McDermott and Ciaran Doyle then had Naas two clear five minutes after the restart.
Dara Crowley helped shoot his side back in front when he burst forward yet again and took aim at Luke Mullins’ goal. Crowley’s effort bobbled across the face of goal heading wide but was swept home at the back post striker-style by Gavin Thompson.
Naas responded well to the concession of the game’s only goal and Ciaran Doyle hit his second to level this game at 1-7 to 0-10 after 38 minutes.
Dermot Hanifin’s second and Dara Crowley’s third maintained parity before Kevin Cummins curled Naas ahead with 15 minutes to go.
Raheens levelled again through second half substitute Niall Dolan before being given a boost when Conor McCarthy was black-carded for a clumsy challenge on his opposite number with 10 minutes remaining.
Jimmy Higgins responded on the sideline with the introduction of Alex Beirne for the home stretch but Dolan notched his side ahead moments later nonetheless.
Cummins levelled for Naas before Raheens shot themselves in the foot and shot Naas ahead when they breached the 3v3 rule while in possession of the ball. Alex Beirne tapped over the 14m free to give Naas a single point advantage with two minutes to go.
Whether Naas took over from here or Raheens were deflated by their own errors, the leading side surged clear late on to reach the Division 1 decider. Dermot Hanifin, Brian Stynes and Alex Beirne got in on the act with Ciaran Doyle notching a two-pointer during a closing minutes blitz.
Naas reached the league’s top-tier decider with an 0-19 to 1-10 win over Raheens.
Naas: Kevin Cummins 0-4 (0-1 frees), Ciaran Doyle 0-4 (1 x 2pt), Drew Costello 0-3, Dermot Hanifin 0-3, Alex Beirne 0-2 (0-2 frees), Liam O'Connor 0-1, Paddy McDermott 0-1, Brian Stynes 0-1.
Raheens: Gavin Thompson 1-0, Dara Crowley 0-3 (1 x 2pt), Jack Taafe 0-2, Niall Dolan 0-2, Paddy Woodgate 0-1 (0-1 frees), Daniel Hamill 0-1, Fionn Tully 0-1.
NAAS: Luke Mullins; Mark Maguire, Eoin Doyle, Tim Ryan; Rob Murray, Cathal Daly, Paddy McDermott; Daire Guerin, Conor McCarthy; Dermot Hanifin, Kevin Cummins, Liam O'Connor; Joe Murphy, Drew Costello, Ciaran Doyle. Subs: Tom Kelly for Joe Murphy (Half-time), Alex Beirne for Drew Costello (50 minutes), Brian Stynes for Rob Murray (50 minutes), Brian Byrne for Tim Ryan (54 minutes), Tom McGrane for Liam O'Connor (60 minutes).
RAHEENS: Declan Campbell; Niall Cramer, Jack Hamill, Shane Crowley; Conor Earley, Fionn Tully, Graham Waters; Dara Crowley, Jason Earley; Conor Kelly, Daniel Hamill, Paddy Woodgate; Rob Thompson, Jack Taafe, Gavin Thompson. Subs: Niall Dolan for Jason Earley (34 minutes), David Malone for Gavin Thompson (50 minutes).
Referee: Colm Kearney