Naas make it Kildare SFC three-in-a-row with victory over Celbridge

Naas 0-13 Celbridge 0-11

Naas became the first Kildare club to win a three-in-a-row in over 70 years after beating Celbridge in Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow on Sunday.

Sarsfields were the last club to complete such a treble back in 1952 and Naas have now gone where no team has since. Such is the competitive nature of Kildare football, it was just the fifth time that a team even made it back to a final after winning consecutive titles and they were made to work hard for this win by Celbridge in a frantic finale.

Although Celbridge made a flying start with a Kevin Flynn point inside the opening 30 seconds, Naas dictated the first half and played the game on their terms.

Points in quick succession by Alex Beirne and Darragh Kirwan gave them a 0-03 to 0-01 lead after nine minutes.

They extended that lead to 0-07 to 0-02 by the 26th minute and although Davy Hughes and Kevin O'Callaghan scored the last two points of the half for Celbridge, there was no doubt who was the happier dressing room at half time.

There was a noticeable step up in intensity in the second half and two Hughes points brought Celbridge back to within a score but Naas responded like champions and hit back with two of their own through the Hanafin brothers, Sean and Dermot.

Play was held then held up for lengthy treatment to Tony Archbold and after he left on a stretcher, his replacement Conor Plunkett was also forced off through injury without even touching the ball. Those stoppages would have a big impact later in the game as there was nine minutes added on.

When play resumed, Niall O’Regan scored with his first touch but Celbridge were frustrated when the referee held up play to show Eoin Doyle a black card in the 50th minute for a foul on John Clarke when