Naas Extend Their SHC Supremacy With Defiant Win Over Maynooth
Naas continued their stranglehold on the Kildare Senior Hurling Championship, clinching a 3-15 to 0-16 victory over Maynooth at Cedral St Conleths Park. The win marks Naas’s seventh consecutive SHC title, underscoring a period of sustained dominance that has defined Kildare hurling over much of the last decade.
The match ball was in Naas’s court from the opening whistle. A young Maynooth side showed flashes of grit and belief, but Naas’ quality and game-management were evident throughout, ensuring there was never a moment when victory looked anything other than likely for the reigning champions.
Maynooth opened the scoring through Oran Byrne, only for Naas to respond quickly as Jack Sheridan converted a free from near his own 45 to level matters. The tone of the afternoon was set when Killian Harrington netted for Naas after a pinpoint pass from Liam O’Reilly, signaling the visitors’ intent that this would be another day of hurdle-clearing for the champions.
Maynooth showed resilience, with 18-year-old Tom Power proving an accurate free-taker and keeping the scoreboard pressure on Naas at various stages. Yet the defining moments arrived in a burst of Naas goals that left Maynooth with too much ground to bridge by the interval. Ferran O’Sullivan’s goal in the 27th minute contributed to a 2-09 to 0-06 lead as the teams headed for the dressing rooms.
Naas briefly flirted with a third goal just after the restart when Cathal Dowling’s shot hit the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for a square ball. The real moment of magic, however, came when Cian Boran, named man of the match, delivered the decisive strike in the 39th minute, driving home Naas’s third goal and effectively sealing the result.
Maynooth did muster a late push, with threats in and around the Naas goal, but a square ball call ruled out Cormac Nolan’s effort and kept the scoreboard untroubled for long enough for Naas to maintain control. Jack Sheridan left nothing on the field but paid a heavy price late on, receiving a second yellow in injury time after a clash with Maynooth’s Ciaran Dunne. By then, however, Naas had already done the damage on the scoresheet, finishing with eight points for Sheridan, including several long-range efforts that exemplified his attacking threat.
As Naas prepare for the next round of Leinster, the victory adds a new layer to a weekend of triumphs for the club. On Friday, the Naas camogie team claimed their fourth senior title in a row, and next week their footballers aim to defend their crown. The current momentum is undeniable: Naas are, for the moment, the team to beat in Kildare hurling.
Looking ahead, Naas will travel to face Mount Leinster Rangers, the Carlow champions, in the opening round of Leinster. It’s a cross-border challenge that will test the depth of Naas’s squad, but with manager Tom Mullally’s proven track record — including guiding a side to an All-Ireland senior final in 2013-14 — the club will be hopeful of maintaining their winning trend on the provincial stage as well.
Key Performances and Turning Points
– Jack Sheridan contributed 0-8 from play and frees, ending the game with a brace of long-range efforts that showcased his range and accuracy. His late temperament issue aside, his influence on the scoreboard was decisive.
– Killian Harrington’s early goal set the tone, providing Naas with a series of scoring opportunities that Maynooth struggled to fully close out. Harrington’s contribution was complemented by Ferran O’Sullivan’s 27th-minute goal, which further widened the gap before the interval.
– Cian Boran’s 39th-minute strike sealed the result in style, earning him the man-of-the-match accolade for his overall influence in attack and link play. Maynooth’s defensive structure did stave off a complete collapse, but Naas’s cutting edge proved too much on the day.
Looking Ahead
With the Leinster championship looming, Naas will aim to translate their domestic form to the provincial stage. The club’s breadth of talent across departments — with camogie and football teams also enjoying success — signals a period of sustained excellence. For supporters, the Naas juggernaut remains a source of pride and expectation as they pursue further honours on multiple fronts.
