Naas book final spot in Senior B with Broadford win

UPMC Senior B Hurling Championship 

Naas 0-14

Broadford 0-9

It was Naas who secured their spot in the UPMC Senior B Hurling Championship final with a win over Broadford in Manguard Park.

The Naas attack was almost as relentless as the rain on what was truly a dire day for hurling.

Despite the defeat, Broadford showed early promise and got the first score of the afternoon with a Josh O’Donoghue free.

Naas would respond through their outstanding performer in the early part of this semi-final, CJ Boran. The corner-forward was bright in possession and clinical when chances came to him early on.

A big feature of Broadford's first half display was wides, finishing the opening 30 minutes with seven.

The lethal finishing of Naas’in front of the posts was undoubtedly the difference in this game.

That extra quality up top made the difference as Broadford competed well in general play, but failed to convert their chances when they got them.

CJ Boran would get the second score of the game too. Boran would also set up the third as he created space with a burst of acceleration before offloading to Shane Ryan who slotted his effort between the posts.

Ryan, who himself looked a cut above at this grade, got Naas’ fourth of the game as they moved into a two-point lead with 15 minutes on the clock.

The leading side would put their foot down towards the end of the first half as they took complete control of this game.

Shane Ryan was the leading man as Naas charged into the lead, but he certainly had help from the likes of Eoin Ó’Hehir and CJ Boran.

Ó’Hehir’s contribution was mainly from set-pieces and it was a free from him just before half-time that sent Naas in at the break ahead at 0-10 to 0-3.

The lead would be too much for Broadford to claw back, but the trailing side gave a great account of themselves in the second half. Led by their scorer-in-chief Josh O’Donoghue, Broadford edged the second half 0-6 to 0-5.

It would be well short of the necessary scoring but heavy-favourites Naas weren’t given anything easy in this semi-final clash.

Scorers: Naas, Shane Ryan 0-5, Eoin Ó'Hehir 0-5 (0-4 frees), CJ Boran 0-3, Enda O'Neill 0-1.

Broadford, Josh O'Donoghue 0-8 (0-7 frees), Aaron Smyth 0-1.

NAAS: Seán Burke; Kevin Kelleher, Rob Byrne, Rian Redfern; Liam O'Reilly, Darach MacDonncha, Evan O'Brian; Eoin Ó'Hehir, Daire Guerin; Mac Dara Moore, Enda O'Neill, Al Bergin; CJ Boran, Seamus Kelleher, Shane Ryan. Subs: Fionn Maher for Daire Guerin (36 minutes), Daire Guerin for Fionn Maher 45 minutes), Fionn Maher for Seamus Kelleher (51 minutes).

BROADFORD: Thomas Reilly; Jamie Boyle, Shane Flanagan, Sean McKeon; Conor Flynn, Killian Galligan, Eoin Sheehan; Gavin Scanlon, Aedan Boyle; Dean Hanley, Jack Sutton, Sean O'Haire; Josh O'Donoghue, Elian Scanlon, Aaron Smyth. Subs: Ultan McIntyre for Killian Galligan (14 mins), Killian Galligan for Sean McKeon (43 minutes), Rory Gorry for Killian Galligan (62 minutes), Jack Dempsey for Aaron Smyth (62 minutes).

Referee: Owen Murphy