Athy can make things very difficult for Naas

With ATHY attempting to take down all-conquering NAAS and in doing so denying the county town team a fifth successive football and hurling double, RICHARD COMMINS looks ahead to an intriguing, and surprisingly novel, Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Final next Sunday.

CONSIDERING the competing clubs have contested 33 county finals between them, it is remarkable to think that Athy and Naas have not met in a decider for over 101 years, not since their delayed 1923 clash, which was played in May of 1924.

Athy will be hoping for a better day out in St Conleth’s than they had at the Dominican College grounds in Newbridge all those years ago, when they failed to score as a Naas team stocked with Kildare legends triumphed by 2-5 to 0-0, though it was not as straight-forward as the scoreline suggests by all accounts.

Those were the days of the Higgins clan, Jack, Christy (“Lager”), Theo and George, who lined up alongside goalkeeper Jack Ward, Gus Fitzpatrick, Dan Ryan and Joe Curtis, all current or future county players of that famous era for the Lilywhites.

Athy’s most well-known star in those days was probably Edward “Sapper” O’Neill, their captain, while Paddy Hayden and the Moore’s, Tom and John, were others who didn’t go down fighting on the day.

Despite such a long wait for a final, the sides have plenty of recent history, having played each other in each of the last four championships. Naas may be unbeaten in those four games and you have to go back to 2015 for an Athy win in the rivalry, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that the sides drew in a group game in 2023 (just 0-6 apiece) and last year Naas required extra time to eventually overcome the sternest of challenges by nine points in an at times fractious semi-final.

Can Athy end the Naas hegemony and bring the Dermot Bourke Cup back to Geraldine Park for the first time since the “covid” final of 2020?

There’s certainly an argument that to beat Naas you need to be able to go “toe to toe” with them physically and Athy showed in their semi-final with Sarsfields that they are not wanting in that regard.

With the growing maturity of the Spillanes in the backline allied to the experience and physicality of Cathal McCarron, not to mention the potential return from injury of James McGrath, they have a defence that has actually conceded seven points fewer than Naas in their six games to date.

Behind them, rookie goalkeeper Shane Jackman hasn’t been found wanting but you’d expect James Roycroft to start if he’s fit. Luke Mullins hasn’t had the easiest championship for Naas but was solid in the semi-final.

You’ll go a long way to find a better midfield partnership at club level than David Hyland and Kevin Feely, both still key members of Brian Flanagan’s Kildare set-up. They handled Sarsfields’ Tadhg Hoey as well as anyone this year in the semi-final while pitching in with a crucial two-pointer each to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the first half.

Naas might be seen to be weaker at midfield this year without James Burke, but Fintan Quinn is a young man manager Philly McMahon has placed a lot of faith in while Paul McDermott is among the most underrated mobile centre field players in the county. If Athy can wrestle control of this vital area and curtail the runs of the two McDermotts from deep, it will serve them well.

Attacking wise, there’s little between the sides to date with Naas slightly ahead by four points and they have the two top scorers in the county, in county star Alex Beirne, having the best season of his career, and prodigious young talent Colm Moran, who has probably been the breakout star of this championship across all grades. One for Flanagan’s panel this winter surely?

Naas know all about Niall Kelly and have the man-markers to nullify him but Athy’s hard-running half-forward trio of Moran, Barry Kelly and Conor Doyle will certainly ask plenty of questions.

If Naas have an edge, perhaps it is in the breadth of their forward talent. Kevin Cummins’ probing went under the radar a little against Celbridge while neither Darragh Kirwan nor Ryan Sinkey in that one, particularly the latter who was a little isolated on the lesser-used right wing.

They also have the greater overall panel strength, with the likes of Dermot Hanafin not risked the last day and brother Sean available to bolster midfield. Cathal Daly, Tom Browne and Neil Aherne are serious options from the bench as well.

Both sides have relatively untried managements at this level. Philly McMahon is in his first club management role while it’s a big step up from reserve football for Athy’s Conor Ronan and Ross Bell.

There is certainly nothing ordinary about Philly’s playing experience, though, and while he wouldn’t always have been a favourite of Kildare fans, he has shown an assuredness so far with Naas.

He portrays himself as a Gavin-esque facilitator of what is an experienced group of players, but there’s no doubt he is the man in charge and his decision to concede the kick outs to Celbridge, a rare enough tactic these days, showed a man willing to make a big call and trust his instincts.

On the whole, it is hard to go against Naas, but the holders should expect a sterner challenge from Athy than they experienced in the semi-finals. Expect it to go down to the wire.