Kildare SHC Final: Naas make it eight in a row

UPMC Kildare SHC Final

NAAS 3-13 MAYNOOTH 0-11

By Ger McNally

Naas secured a historic eighth successive UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship title, but the final scoreline was not a true reflection of a contest that hung in the balance until the closing moments.

It took two goals in the space of 30 seconds in the final minute of normal time from Brian Byrne and substitute Fionn Maher to put genuine daylight between the sides and ensure the county town outfit retained their crown.

Managed by Clare hurling legend Ollie Baker, Maynooth were appearing in their fourth final in five years and showed from the outset that they were determined to make it their day.

The challengers struck the first five points of the match inside the opening five minutes, but they were unable to maintain that blistering scoring rate.

Both teams struggled for accuracy throughout, combining for 30 wides, while Maynooth endured a scoreless spell of more than 15 minutes during the first half.

Despite that, Baker's men held a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.

Naas wiped out that deficit early in the second half through two Jack Sheridan points before Maynooth edged back in front in the 37th minute courtesy of an excellent Tom Power effort from near the left touchline.

The game's defining moment arrived a minute later when Naas struck for their first goal.

Maynooth goalkeeper Sean Bean initially appeared to have dealt with the danger, but he was dispossessed by Cathal Dowling as he attempted to play his way out of defence. Dowling gathered possession and, despite operating from a tight angle, found the net with a clinical finish.

The goal put Naas ahead for the first time and they never relinquished that advantage.

With Maynooth chasing an equaliser, Naas delivered the decisive blows late on. Byrne blasted home their second goal in the 60th minute, firing low beyond Bean, and moments later substitute Fionn Maher made an instant impact. Introduced just beforehand, he found the net with his first touch to complete the scoring.

While the margin ultimately stretched to 12 points, Maynooth's performance merited much more reward after a committed display against the county's dominant force.

Naas, however, continue to rewrite the record books. An eight-in-a-row has not been achieved in Kildare since the early 1900s and this latest triumph further underlines their status as the county's standard-bearers.

Their attention will now quickly switch to the Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship as they seek to carry that dominance onto the provincial stage.

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Evan O'Brian, Daire Guerin, Conan Boran, Harry Carroll; Peter O'Donoghue 0-1, Simon Leacy 0-4; Oisin O'Neill, Cathal Dowling 1-0, Brian Byrne 1-0, Charlie Sheridan 0-1, James Burke 0-1, Jack Sheridan 0-6 (5fs). Subs: Cian Boran for C. Sheridan (black card, 17-20 mins); Cian Boran for Dowling, 45; Fionn Maher 1-0 for O'Neill, 60.

MAYNOOTH: Sean Bean; Cian Brody, Matt Eustace, Conor O'Grady, Cian Forde, Cathal McCabe 0-2 (1f), Cormac Nolan; Ronan Dunne, Dan O'Meara; Oran Byrne, Martin Quilty 0-1, Harry Dunne 0-1, Tom Power 0-5 (3fs), Ciaran Dunne 0-1, Tadhg Forde. Subs: Kevin Dunne 0-1 for Byrne, 50; Conall Knox for Quilty, 57; Kevin Carroll for R. Dunne, 59; Luke Murnane for T. Forde, 60+1.

REFEREE: Brian Kearney.