Burke bags a brace as Naas canter to a comfortable win

Naas 3-16 Confey 0-5

Naas picked up win number two of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championships and the first in this Group A encounter when they had 20 points to spare over Confey in a blustery Manguard Park earlier this afternoon. Goals either side of half time from Tom Browne and James Burke with two laid the foundation for the comfortable win.

Naas played against a stiff breeze in the opening half but they set out their stall from the throw in. James Burke won possession, soled right through the Confey defence before offloading to Tom Browne and with 17 seconds on the clock he put Naas three up.

Alex Beirne added the first of his three first half scores before centre back Ciaran Lyons got Confey up and running. Despite the strong wind advantage tgey could only ad two further points before the break.Conor Jennings from play and an Ian Devane mark.

Naas tagged on seven before the break as they assumed total control. Alex Beirne with two, Tom Browne, Paddy McDermott with two, Ryan Sinkey and Eoghan Prizeman all on the scoreboard to leave it 1-8 to 0-3 after 30 minutes Naas continued to score at will after the break and it was Alex Beirne who brought his personal tally to six scoring two frees and one from play. James Burke and Imad Mirza swapped scores but Naas struck for their second goal on 47. Alex Beirne won a ball behind the Confey defence before offloading to James Burke who palmed home.Burke added a second before the end as he fielded a high ball before shooting past Colin Heeney.

All to easy for Naas in a 3-16 to 0-5 win.

NAAS: Luke Mullins 0-1 (1'45), Elliott Beirne, Conor McCarthy, Rob Fitzgerald 0-1, Brian Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Eoghan Prizeman 0-1, Paddy McDermott 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-1 Alex Beirne 0-7 (3 frees), Tom Browne 1-1, Kevin Cummins, Dermot Hanafin, James Burke 2-1, Neil Aherne. Subs: Tim Ryan for E Beirne, 40; Darragh Kirwan for Neil Aherne, 43; Fintan Quinn 0-1 for Hanafin, 50; Daniel Lenehan for Byrne, 50; Brian Kane for Browne, 54.

CONFEY: Colin Heeney, Andrew Breslin, Colm Chan, Conor Denehy, Brian Grimes, Ciaran Lyons 0-2 (1 free), Imad Mirza 0-1, Paul Divilly, Kieran Kilbane, Conor Jennings 0-1, Cathal Jennings, Aidan Crean, Niall Carney, Ian Devane 0-1 (1 mark), Ben Hourihane. SUBS Robin Breslin for Divilly, 51; Oisin Lynch for Hourihane, 51; Aidan Ryan for Crean, 54; Neil Ryan for Carney, 58.

REFEREE: Niall Colgan