Naas minors hit six goals to claim Division 1 hurling title
The title winners ran out 6-14 to 2-12 winners in Manguard Park
2024 Future Ticketing Minor Hurling League Division One Final
Naas 6-14
Clane 2-12
With Naas racking up five goals in the opening half, there was really no way back for Clane in Sunday’s 2024 Future Ticketing Minor Hurling League Division One Final in Manguard Park.
Patrick Stewart accounted for three of those majors as he tormented the Clane defence with his speed, agility and devastating finishing in the open half hour.
And while Clane gave a far better account of themselves in the second half, outscoring their opponents by three points, it was not nearly enough to really threaten Naas’ hold on this match.
Naas had a goal and three points on the board by the time Clane opened their own account after ten minutes when Neil Vizzard managed the scramble home a goal after James O’Donoghue’s sideline ball had cause all sorts of trouble for the opposing rearguard.
Luke Connolly had got Naas off the mark with a point three minutes in before Noah Farrell latched on to James Bedford’s crossfield delivery and despatched the first of his side’s six goals on the day.
Connolly and Lennon Doheny then both struck over the bar before Stewart assumed centre stage with the first of his hat-trick of goals 12 minutes in.
A brilliant take by Joe Corrigan saw him off-load to the pacey corner forward and he fired home.
He had the ball in the back of the net a further two times over the course of the next eight minutes, sending both of his attempts to the target with great conviction.
Interspersed with those goals were several superb points from Sean Gavigan, before Corrigan, himself, located the back of the net on 28 minutes to help leave Naas well in control at 5-9 to 1-4 by the halftime break.
It was a long way back for Clane, but they started the second half on the front foot with Callum Durnin converting a free before James O’Donoghue forced a stunning save out of Naas goalkeeper, Fionn Fleming - Durnin converting the resulting 65.
It was not until 10 minutes into the half that Naas got their scoreboard ticking again, Luke Connolly firing over a free.
Substitute Daragh Mullahy split the posts for Clane, as did Daniel Colbert with a monster free, after which Vizzard lifted the ball to the back of the net for his and Clane’s second goal of the day.
Shane Henry and Durnin followed that up with a further two points apiece, but it was still not enough to unhinge Naas, who remained well out of reach with points from Stewart, Connolly and substitute, Cathal Murnane, together with a late goal from fellow reserve, Conor Cullen.
“We were very clinical in that first half” said Naas manager, Conal Boran.
“Patrick Stewart was a real handful. Once you get decent ball into him, there’s really no way you can stop him, and in fairness to Clane, they weren’t fouling him, but he did the damage.
“But I have to commend Clane. They’re playing some good hurling and really working hard. Hat’s off to them, they put in a great second half” he said.
CLANE: Jack O’Dea, Dylan McBride, Diarmuid Finn, Ben O’Dea, Eoghan Little, Daniel Colbert (0-1), Joseph Finn, James O’Donoghue (0-1), Aidan Maddock, TJ Dillion, Shane Henry (0-2), Callum Durnin (0-6), Riann O’Neill, Neil Vizzard (2-1), Oisín Coll. SUBS: Daragh Mullahy (0-1) for Coll and Harry Reid for O’Dea (both HT), Adam Corbett for Dillion (52 mins) and Conor Tighe for McBride (57 mins).
NAAS: Fionn Fleming, Seamus Redmond, Peter Fitzgerald, Brian Shaughnessy, Shane Kelly, James Bedford, Cormac Geissel, Oisin Loughran, Sean Gavigan (0-3), Luke Connolly (0-6), Ciaran O’Neill, Lennon Doheny (0-1), Patrick Stewart (3-1), Noah Farrell (1-0), Joe Corrigan (1-2). SUBS: Cathal Murnane (0-1) for Farrell (40 mins), Paul L’Estrange for Kelly (41 mins), Ben Nichol for O’Neill (52 mins), Conor Cullen (1-0) for Connolly and Liam Mac Conchradha for Doheny (both 58 mins).
Referee: Ken Doyle