Kirwan set to feature through Championship for Naas Hurlers

Naas have been well known for their dual players during their successful period in recent years. Brian Byrne and James Burke have perhaps been the most high profile given their efforts on both codes but there are more on the way.

Daire Guerin was part of the Under 20 All-Ireland Football-winning squad in 2023 but in more recently has concentrated on the small ball and has developed into a key player for the Kildare senior hurlers. Last week, after helping the Naas hurlers to a league final on the Thursday evening, he went on to make an appearance off the bench as Naas beat Moorefield in the Senior Football League Division 1 Final.

Among the many dual players in the club, one who might not instantly jump out, but who has certainly caught the eye in the last few weeks for the club's hurlers, is Darragh Kirwan.

Kirwan was always regarded as a footballer of huge potential as he progressed through the underage ranks with Kildare, eventually becoming vice-captain of the county senior team in 2026.

However, since the end of that inter-county season, he has turned out regularly for the Naas hurlers.

Last week, he contributed 1-6 as Naas demolished Celbridge by 12-24 to 0-12 in the Westgrove Hotel Senior Hurling League Division 1 semi-final. Speaking after the game, Naas manager Mark Dowling confirmed that it is Kirwan's intention to play through the Championship.

“I hope he is; that's the plan. That’s what he wants. He hasn’t hurled for a few years. He wants to go back and play a bit of hurling. Look, we're delighted to take him in. He's a fantastic fella, he's in great shape, obviously, coming off the football scene. He's doing really well but like any of the rest of them, he’s just come in, he’s knuckled down into training. He'll need obviously a bit more hurling under his belt but he's going the right direction,” Dowling explained.

Kirwan remains involved with the Naas footballers, however, and made a late appearance off the bench in their final win over Moorefield, kicking two important points.

Dowling, meanwhile, takes charge of his first final as manager of Naas this weekend when they take on Maynooth in the Division 1 league final. The Kilkenny man was one of those in the running to succeed Derek Lyng in his native county before Henry Shefflin got the nod and he said that he is settling in well at Naas.

“It’s a fantastic club with huge ambition; it's a very positive place to be around. I was delighted to be getting involved and I haven't been any bit disappointed by the players and the environment around here. We’ll just keep pushing on, the lads are working hard and we just take it night by night and game by game,” he said.