Naas battle past Balyna to win U23 title
The Naas team that won the 2025 Kildare U23 'A' Football Championship. Photo: Sean Brilly
Naas are the U23 'A' football champions and the holders of the coveted Jack Higgins Cup after they defeated Balyna by three points on a cold and blustery Manguard Park on Saturday evening.
There wasn't much between the sides throughout, but three decisive points from Naas over the last eight minutes was enough to see them over the line.
Balyna played their part in a tight battle, none more so than Josh O'Donoghue who contributed ten points in a brilliant individual performance.
Balyna started the brighter and it was O'Donoghue from a free and a Shane Flynn score from play that had them two up inside six minutes.
The Naas side lined out completely differently to the match programme and the inclusion of Ryan Sinkey at corner forward was to play a pivotal part in the opening quarter.
12 minutes had elapsed before Sinkey opened the Naas account when he fisted over after a powerful run coming in off the left, and he quickly levelled matters with his second score two minutes later.
Naas were starting to assert their dominance with Sean Hanafin and Rob Murray on top around the middle and after Fintan Quinn eased them ahead at the end of the opening quarter they looked like they might increase their advantage.
But Balyna did level matters through a second O'Donoghue free not long after. Sinkey added his third before leaving the field through what looked like a tactical substitution.
With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Fintan Quinn found space behind the Balyna rear guard and he added his second as Naas were back to two points ahead again.
Josh O'Donoghue was part of the Barcelona Gaels side in Manguard Park two weeks ago but on this occasion he had better luck than was afforded by the Grangenolvin defence.
Two further frees and a point from play brought his tally to five before the break but Sean Hanafin and a third Fintan Quinn point had Naas 0-7 to 0-6 ahead after an entertaining opening 30 minutes.
Naas moved two ahead through Tom Kelly two minutes into the second half but whatever Naas threw at Balyna they responded and when David Hill played in O'Donoghue he tapped over for his sixth.
Six minutes into the half O'Donoghue was on the end of a Jimmy Lynch pass and with the goal at his mercy his shot rose high off the post for the equaliser.
The sides would be level eight times over the hour, with four of those coming over the third and fourth quarters.
Ruairi Waldron and Jimmy Lynch swapped points before Fintan Quinn, with his fourth and Josh O'Donoghue repeated the scoring for their respective sides.
As we moved to the closing quarter Naas reintroduced county star Ryan Sinkey and while he didn't ad to his three points he did win a converted free and kept the Balyna defence on their toes.
Tom McGrane and a fine score from centre back Tim Ryan were matched by the ninth and tenth for O'Donoghue and again the sides were level at 0-12 a piece. It was set up for a tight closing eight minutes.
Hanafin was having a fine game at midfield that earned him Man of the Match and he added his second point to edge the men in blue and white ahead again.
A long clearance from Rob Murray saw Sinkey win possession but he was fouled and Neil Aherne applied the finish. On the stroke of 60 minutes Aherne added his second from play and Naas were three in front.
The two added minutes wasn't enough to force a Balyna goal and Naas held out for the win.
An excellent contest between two sides, who despite the weather and underfoot conditions went at it from the start. It was in the balance until those closing minutes and although Naas picked up the titles Balyna will return with much the same outfit next year should the competition still exist.
Mark Halligan; Conor Breen, Mark Maguire, Jamie McGuirk; Daniel Lenehan, Tim Ryan 0-1, Rob Fitzgerald; Rob Murray, Sean Hanafin 0-2; Tom McGrane 0-1, Neil Aherne 0-2 (1f), Tom Kelly 0-2; Evan Lenehan, Fintan Quinn 0-4, Ryan Sinkey 0-3.
Ruairi Waldron 0-1 for R Sinkey (21), Ryan Sinkey for R Waldron (45).
Ryan Comeau; Sean McKeon, Tomas Von Engelbrechten, David Hill; Fionn O'Grady, Aaron McNally, Andrew Hill; Shane Flynn 0-1, Darragh Sloane; Ronan Scanlon, Conor Flynn, Aedan Boyle; Jimmy Lynch 0-1, Josh O'Donoghue 0-10 (6f), Luke O Connor.
Adam Quinn for R Scanlon and Kieran Ryan for L O'Connor (both 49).
Ryan Moran.
