Naas extend Kildare SHC dominance with convincing win over Maynooth
Naas reinforced their hold on the Kildare Senior Hurling Championship with a 3-15 to 0-16 victory over Maynooth at Cedral St Conleths Park. The result marks Naas’s seventh consecutive county title, underscoring a period of sustained success that has become a defining feature of the club’s hurling fortunes.
From the opening minutes, Naas looked the more composed side, using precise build‑ups and intelligent movement to pressure Maynooth. The early goal when Killian Harrington was found by Liam O’Reilly, cutting through the Maynooth defense, signaled Naas’s intent and set the tone for what would be a standout performance. Although Maynooth, a younger outfit, battled to stay in touch, Naas’s experience and clinical finishing proved decisive.
Key moments shape the scoreline
Maynooth registered the day’s only lead when Oran Byrne opened the scoring, but Jack Sheridan’s free near the 45—after a earlier exchange—levelled the tie and showed the leadership Naas would rely on in the pressure moments. Sheridan finished with eight points, including some spectacular long-range efforts, before leaving the field with a second yellow in injury time after a clash with Ciaran Dunne.
At 27 minutes, Ferran O’Sullivan’s goal helped Naas pull clear, with the halftime score reading 2-09 to 0-06. Maynooth’s resolve was evident as 18-year-old free taker Tom Power kept converting from placed balls, keeping the gap closer than the last meeting between the sides. Yet the challenge kept coming undone under Naas’s forward pressure and reliability in front of goal.
Second half: Naas’s control confirms title pedigree
After the restart, Naas had a moment disallowed as Cathal Dowling’s effort was ruled out for a square ball, a reminder of the fine margins that can influence wide-open games. The breakthrough for Naas came again in the 39th minute when Cian Boran fired home a third goal, effectively sealing the result and showcasing Naas’s attacking depth. Maynooth continued to push for a late goal, but a square-ball decision also nullified Cormac Nolan’s late strike, ensuring the final scoreline remained in Naas’s favor.
Beyond the scoreline, the performance illustrated Naas’s sustained dominance in Kildare hurling. The club’s camogie team had already secured their fourth successive senior title that weekend, and with the footballers looming on the edge of a fifth straight crown, the Naas juggernaut showed no sign of slowing down as they head into Leinster duty.
What’s next for Naas?
With the Leinster Championship looming, Naas prepare to meet Mount Leinster Rangers, the Carlow champions, in the opening round. The challenge will be a test of whether Naas can translate their county form to the broader provincial stage. Tom Mullally, who has guided Naas to success and previously led a team to an All-Ireland senior final in 2013-14, will hope to extend this spell of dominance and pounce on any opportunities to advance further in 2025.
Naas: Cormac Gallagher; Liam O’Reilly, Peter O’Donoghue, Simon Leacy (0-01), Rian Boran, Ross Kelly, Daire Guerin; Cian Boran (1-00), Evan O’Briain; Cathal Dowling (0-01), Brian Byrne (0-02), Liam Walsh, Killian Harrington (1-01), Jack Sheridan (0-08, 5f, 1 ’65), Ferran O’Sullivan (1-01). Subs: Mac Dara Moore for Harrington (47); Fionn Maher for Walsh (53); Kevin Whelan for O’Briain (59); Charlie Sheridan (0-01, 1f) for Byrne (60); Richie Hogan for O’Sullivan (60+4).
Maynooth: Sean Bean; Matt Eustace, Martin Quilty, Conor O’Grady, Ronan Dunne, Cian Forde, Daniel O’Meara; Cathal McCabe (0-01), Oran Byrne (0-02); Ciaran Dunne (0-01), Ciaran Flanagan (0-01), Kevin Dunne, Tom Power (0-08, 8f), Tadhg Forde, Cormac Nolan (0-02). Subs: Adam Jordan (0-01) for T Forde (39); Conall Knox for O’Grady (44); Kevin Carroll for C Forde (46).
