Naas camogs make it three in a row

Three goals, and a dominant second half performance from Naas ensured that they claimed the 360 Senior Championship title for a third successive year despite facing a determined Celbridge side that fought right to the bitter end.

Early points from Allie McGrath and Roíse Hennessy had Naas into an early lead as Celbridge struggled to make a mark early on in the tie. It wasn’t until the tenth minute before Susie O’Carroll opened her account with a well taken goal before slotting over a placed ball minutes later to send the north Kildare side two clear. This wasn’t to last long as Naas immediately looked to hit back and calmly sending Tara Bedford forward she gathered possession to blast past Megan Doherty Brennan in the town end to again send Naas into the lead.

A trading of frees from O’Carroll and Caoimhe Maher at opposite ends maintained the narrow Naas advantage before Maher sunk into her groove and pushed Naas on. Three further points from play before the half time whistle ensured that Naas would enjoy a four point advantage at the break and from her they never looked back.

With Aoife Stynes pointing soon after the restart before points from O’Carroll and Celbridge captain Annie Courtney, the deficit was down to three but with Naas not in the mood to battle it out in end to end fashion, this is as close as the sides got. A fine forty five from the stick of Maher again out more than a score between the sides before Ciara Ryan blasted past Doherty Brennan to again drive Naas forward.

With Maher trading point with Gillian Keegan before exchanging placed balls with O’Carroll Naas maintained their seven point advantage into the final two minutes of the regulation sixty. And with stoppage time approaching Orlaith Delany stopped an opening to get herself onto the score sheet. Having made her introduction as a second half substitute for Bedford she watched as Hennessy spotted Stynes in space, driving into space herself she looked for the short put across the field. Gathering she turned to beat two Celbridge defenders before dragging the sliotar across the face of goal and into the net.

A final free from Maher before a late O’Carroll free rounded off matters as Naas were left celebrating as the champions of Senior Camogie in Kildare following their encounter.

Scorers: Naas: C Maher 0-8 (3f, 1 45’); C Ryan 1-0; T Bedford 1-0; O Delany 1-0; A Stynes 0-1; R Hennessy 0-1; A McGrath 0-1.

Celbridge: S O’Carroll 1-5 (5f); A Courtney 0-1; G Keegan 0-1.

Naas: Roisin Roche; Aoife McDermott, Aoife Mernagh, Aoife McCarthy; Kelly Perkins, Roíse Hennessy, Niamh Hegarty; Rebecca McDermott, Allie McGrath; Caoimhe Maher, Tara Bedford, Ciara Ryan; Aoife Stynes, Sara Carroll, Fahsai Nic Chonchradha. Subs: Orlaith Delany for Bedford, 49.

Celbridge: Megan Doherty Brennan; Teigan Brennan, Laoise Mimnagh, Neasa Ní Ogain; Roisin Naughton, Claire O’Sullivan, Meadbh O’Donovan; Annie Courtney, Niamh O’Connor; Orla Carragher, Grace Carragher, Gillian Keegan; Susie O’Carroll, Niamh Mortell, Fionnuala Hughes. Subs: Hannah Finnerty for Carragher, 38; Mia Mahon for Carragher, 49; Ella Copland for Naughton, 51; Emily Mahon for Mortell, 58; Niamh McInerney for Courtney, 58.