Naas make it six Kildare senior hurling titles in a row
Hot favourites come through with ease against Maynooth
For the sixth time in six years, Naas were crowned senior hurling champions of Kildare following a comprehensive 17 point victory over Maynooth at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge this afternoon.
While Maynooth opened the scoring after two minutes, Naas hit back immediately with Jack Sheridan firing to the net.
Maynooth certainly gave it their all but in truth they were out-classed and out-played, throughout.
Naas led by 1-13 to 0-7 at half-time.
And it did not get any better for Maynooth in the second half, the champions added two goals, one from Brian Byrne and a brilliant effort from Cathal Dowling, along with a further seven points.
David Qualter was the Maynooth top scorer but there was simply no stopping Naas who went on to clinch and retain the title on a final score line of Naas 3-20 Maynooth 0-12.
Scorers: Naas, Jack Sheridan 1-7 (6 frees), Brian Byrne 1-3, Cathal Dowling 1-1, Cian Boran 0-3, Simon Leacy 0-2, Ferran O'Sullivan 0-2, Rian Boran 0-1, Killian Harrington 0-1,
Maynooth, David Qualter 0-8 (5 frees, 65), Cathal McCabe 0-2, Dan O'Meara 0-1, Cormac Nolan 0-1.
NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Liam Walsh, Richard Hogan, Kevin Kelleher; Harry Carroll, Conan Boran, Kevin Whelan; Simon Leacy, Rian Boran; Cathal Dowling, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Brian Byrne cpt, Jack Sheridan, Ferran O'Sullivan. Subs: Ross Kelly for Kevin Whelan (49 minutes); James Burke for Ferran O'Sullivan (54 minutes); Killian Harrington for Conan Boran (56 minutes); Ciarán Tobin for Cian Boran (59 minutes).
MAYNOOTH: Sean Bean cpt; Mark Butler, Matt Eustace, Ronan Dunne; David Eustace, Cian Forde, Dan O'Meara; Ciaran Flanagan, Harry Dunne; Cathal McCabe, Conor O'Grady, Graham Kenny; David Qualter, Kevin Dunne, Eoin Kelliher. Subs: Cormmac Nolan for Mark Butler (half-time); Luke Murnane for Harry Dunne (42 minutes); Michael Hogan for Eoin Kelliher (51 minutes); Michael Gillick for Conor O'Grady (54 minutes); Kevin Carroll for Graham Kenny (54 minutes).
REFEREE: Billy O'Connell.