Naas off to flying start in 2024 with Johnstownbridge win

Naas 2-13

Johnstownbridge 1-9

Naas had seven points to spare over Johnstownbridge in this Aldridge Cup opener at Johnstown on Thursday last.

Naas started strongly with points from Fintan Quinn, Sean Hannifin, Sean Cullen and a second Fintan Quinn to lead 0-4 to nil after seven minutes. Dan Farrell and Sean Cullen swapped points as did Kevin Cummins Fionn O’Grady.

Johnstown were on top now and points from Cathal McNally and Shane Flynn followed by a Dan Farrell goal and two more McNally points gave them a 1-6 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Naas started strongly in the second half with an Elliott Beirne point and a Sean Cullen free followed by a fine Ailin McDermott goal to give Naas the lead 1-8 to 1-6.

The home side drew level with points from Ronan Scanlon and Sean Holton. Sean Cullen and Tomas Van Engelbrechten exchanged points.

Naas now took control with a Sean Cullen goal and points from Jack Cleary, Elliott Beirne, Sean Cullen and Tom McGrane.

Scorers: Naas, Sean Cullen (1-5), Ailin McDermott (1-0), Fintan Quinn (0-2), Elliott Beirne (0-2), Sean Hanifin, Kevin Cummins, Jack Cleary, Tom McGrane ( 0-1 each).

Johnstownbridge: Dan Farrell (1-1), Cathal McNally (0-3), Fionn O’Grady, Shane Flynn, Ronan Scanlon, Sean Holton, Tomas Van Engelbrechten (0-1 each).

NAAS: Luke Mullins, Dan Lenehan, Cathal Daly, Tim Ryan, Joe Murphy, Adam Cronin, Tom McGrane, Sean Hanifin, Jack Cleary, Ailin McDermott, Sean Cullen, Barry Kehoe, Fintan Quinn, Kevin Cummins, Elliott Beirne.

Johnstownbridge: Tom McDonnell, Mark O’Hara, Tomas Van Engelbrechten, Cian Farrell, Ronan Scanlon, Shane Flanagan, Shane Flynn, Dean Kelly, Joey Higgins, Sean Holton, Glen Doran, Cathal NcNally, Daniel Farrell, Fionn O’Grady, Darragh Sloane.

REFEREE: Killian Jones.