PREVIEW: Maynooth trying to halt Naas' push for seven-in-a-row in Kildare SHC Final

Another UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling final and another appearance by Naas, this time making it seven final appearances in a row, and even better again, seeking their seventh title in a row.
What can one say?

Maynooth, in fairness, are back in the decider in a repeat pairing of 12 months ago and no doubt manager, Johnny Greville, will be expecting to see his side push the champions all the way, at least.

Naas had way too much for Maynooth when they met last time out in the decider — 3-20 to 0-12 — but they will also know they face a tougher task this time round.

Still finals are a one-off game, anything can happen and while there is no doubt the seven-in-a-row seeking team from the county town will go into this as roaring hot favourites, there have been times in the past, and no doubt times in the future, when the game simply just does not go to script and Maynooth will certainly be hoping that Sunday is one of those days.

The boys in black and white had a comfortable win over Éire Óg Corra Choill in the semi-final, winning in the end 2-26 to 2-16, that having been just three points ahead at the break but they stepped it up considerably in the second half with Tom Power and Cathal McCabe in particular hitting over no less than 16 points between them, McCabe was very impressive landing six points from open play, along with one free.

The scores came thick and fast in the second half and the Prosperous/ Caragh side were still well in touch as we headed to the final twenty minutes of the action.

However Tom Power and Tadhg Forde combined which ended with the latter finding the net, Kevin Dunne added a quick point and Maynooth, who were the favourites to advance to the final, were on their way.

As for Naas, well if anything the gap between them and the rest of pack shows little signs, to date anyway, of getting any tighter.

Tom Mulally's boys certainly had too much for Paddy Kelly's Coill Dubh, they led at the break 3-8 to 0-7 and all that remained was how much the boys in blue and white would win by.

First half goals from Simon Leacy, Fionn Maher and Jack Sheridan were added to by a second from Maher and a penalty from Sheridan as they ran out comfortable winners.

All things considered it is hard to see anything other than a win and a seventh title in a row from Mulally's side and while Maynooth, who last won the senior title back in 1939, they have been in three finals since, 1943, 2022 and 2024, losing out to Moorefield and twice to Naas, will come with all guns blazing but it would indeed be a shock of mammoth proportions if they were to come out on top..

NAAS SQUAD:
Cormac Gallagher, Liam O’Reilly, Ross Kelly, Peter O’Donoghue, Kevin Whelan, Cian Boran, Kevin Kelleher, Rian Boran, Evan O’Briain, Simon Leacy, Ferran O’Sullivan, Killian Harrington, Brian Byrne, Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan, Ben Loughlin, Fionn Maher, Sean MacDonncha, Mac Dara Moore, Daire Guerin, Charlie Carroll, Matthew Kelly, Darrach Mac Donncha, Conor Gormley, Liam Walsh, Bill Hennessy, Charlie Sheridan, Diarmuid Greene, Rian Redfern, Michael Purcell.

NAAS RESULTS:
Prelim: 0-22 to 1-10 vs Coill Dubh (June 27); Rd 1: 5-28 to 0-8 vs Confey (July 13); Rd 2: 3-18 to 1-15 vs Celbridge (July 25); Rd 3: 7-21 to 0-14 vs Éire Óg Corra Choill (August 27); S/Final: 5-18 to 0-7 win vs Coill Dubh (September 27).

NAAS STATS:
Naas have won by an average of 21.4 points across their five games; Naas have scored an average of 33.4 points per game; Naas have conceded an average of 12 points per game.

NAAS STATS excluding Preliminary Round
Naas have won by an average of 24.5 points in their five games; have scored an average 36.25 points per game; have conceded an average 11.75

MAYNOOTH SQUAD:
Sean Bean, Conall Knox, Daniel O’Meara, Matt Eustace, Ronan Dunne, Martin Quilty, Kevin Carroll, Cian Forde, Oran Byrne, Tom Power, Cathal McCabe, Ciaran Flanagan, Adam Jordan, Kevin Dunne, Tadhg Forde, Cillian Madden, Conor O’Grady, Ciaran Dunne, Cian Brody, Cormac Nolan, David Eustace, Harry Dunne, Luke Murnane, Michael Hogan, Mark Butler, Gearoid Hogan, Joe Millet, Neil Delaney.

MAYNOOTH RESULTS:
Prelim Round: 3-23 to 4-16 loss to Celbridge (June 27); Round 1: 3-26 to 0-13 win over Moore-
field (July 13); Round 2: 4-25 to 4-22 win over Ardclough (July 26); Round 3: 2-23 to 2-8 win over Coill Dubh (August 28); Semi-Final - 2-26 to 2-16 win over Éire Óg Corra Choill (Sept 27).

MAYNOOTH STATS:
Maynooth have scored an average of 33 points per game; Maynooth have conceded an average of 22.2 points per game.

MAYNOOTH STATS (excluding Preliminary Round)
Maynooth have won by an average of 12.5 points per game; Maynooth have scored an average of 33.25 points per game; Maynooth have conceded an average of 20.75 points per game

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