GAELIC GAMES: LEINSTER SENIOR ‘A’ FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
AIDAN’S FALL TO DEADLY NAAS IN THE PACK
Defending Leinster champions remain in driving seat
ST AIDAN’S CBS 4-18
NAAS CBS 1-10
Daire Walsh
ST AIDAN’S CBS suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Naas CBS in their opening game of the Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship group stages at Collins Avenue yesterday afternoon.
Despite the best efforts of full-forward John Foley – who finished the contest with a personal haul of 1-5 – they struggled to match the pace and power of the reigning champions. Encounters against Maynooth SS and St Benildus College remain on the horizon, but this is undoubtedly a set-back for Aidan’s in their search for a fourth consecutive quarter-final spot.
Eager to remain at the summit of the provincial ladder, Naas stormed into the game with four points in quick succession. Liam Broderick, wing-back Kevin Quinn and Alex Beirne (two) all found the target, before John Foley’s close-range free opened the Aidan’s account.
This only acted as a temporary release for the north Dublin outfit, as Naas responded through the reliable boots of Paddy McDermott and Mikey McGovern. A speculative Beirne strike resulted in the opening goal of the action on 14 minutes and McGovern also rattled the Aidan’s net at the end of an intricate team move.
Although Foley’s second point brought this latest sequence to an end, Naas’ relentless pursuit of scores continued for the remainder of the half. After Quinn, Beirne and Adam Byrne split the posts for the rampant Kildare outfit, McGovern and inside partner Dermot Hanifin added their third and fourth goals respectively.
Foley and Kerrie Hannon points provided Aidan’s with some degree of solace, but they faced into an unassailable deficit of 4-11 to 0-4 at the break. Score difference could come into play before Group A comes to an end, meaning the hosts had a great deal of motivation on the resumption.
A foul on Eddie Moran presented Foley with an opportunity to raise a green flag for his side, and his coolly dispatched his spot-kick beyond the reach of Naas custodian Dave Morrissey. In an improved third-quarter showing, Aidan’s midfielder Ciaran McManus cancelled out a McGovern score when he nonchalantly converted a ’45’.
The excellent Morrissey turned away a Hannon shot in the same juncture and Aidan’s were beginning to create a number of chances. Naas were always the more potent attacking threat, though, and back-to-back contributions by McGovern and Drew Costello ensured they were 18 points in front moving into the final-quarter.
A sustained Aidan’s purple patch produced three points without reply courtesy of Foley, Sean Giles and Sean Lowry – only for Naas to hit back with a similar haul. While the outcome was beyond doubt well before the end, substitute Niall Carroll and the dependable Foley found the range for Aidan’s in a spirited conclusion to the proceedings.
Scorers – Naas CBS: M McGovern 2-3 (0-2f), A Bernie 1-3, D Hanifin 1-0, E Doyle (2f), D Costello (f), K Quinn, P McDermott, A Byrne 0-2 each, L Broderick, J Cleary 0-1 each. St Aidan’s CBS: J Foley 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-5f), C McManus (’45’), S Lowry, K Hannon, S Giles, N Carroll 0-1 each.
ST AIDAN’S CBS: D Duffy; K Doran, R Cooper, J Byrne; J Thorpe, E Hill, T Kellett; C McManus, A McNally; S Lowry, E Flaherty, K Hannon; E Moran, J Foley, S Giles. Subs: N Carroll for Hannon (43), K O’Sullivan for Flaherty (53), D Daly for McNally (63).
NAAS CBS: D Morrissey; J Lawler, C O Gallachobhair, J Hamill; K Quinn, E Archbold, P McDermott; L Broderick, D Costello; J Cleary, T O’Connor, A Beirne; D Hannifin, M McGovern, A Byrne. Subs: H Carroll for O’Connor (20), E Doyle for McGovern, C Boran for Hamill (both 50), S Murphy for Hanifin, A Dunlea for Archbold (both 55).
Referee: B Brady (Louth).