Naas have too much firepower in the end for gallant Maynooth
Alex Beirne (0-7) and Ryan Sinkey (0-5) played a big part in Naas overcoming Maynooth Photo: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Naas were pushed all the way by an impressive Maynooth side, who were without Neil Flynn and Cathal McCabe, but in the end the champions came through thanks to the cutting edge they had in attack.
Darragh Kirwan ended with 1-5, including a wonder goal, Alex Beirne scored 0-7 and Ryan Sinkey scored five points from play in some of their more eye catching tallies.
Maynooth, under the management of Ross Glavin, weren’t without their impressive performers on the night and one of their best, Paddy Mahoney, opened the scoring with a two pointer.
Sean Hever added a point to make it 0-3 to 0-3 but after two pointers from Fintan Quinn and Alex Beirne, the teams were tied at 0-4 each after 11 minutes.
The teams were then level again at 0-5 and 0-6 each before three points in a row by Naas put a gap between the teams.
But they again soon after when midfielder Ciaran Flanagan, fresh from scoring two goals in the preliminary round win over Kilcock, strode his way through the Naas backline before hitting the net to leave it 0-9 to 1-6.
Naas’ response to that was a two pointer from Darragh Kirwan, and he then saw a shot blocked on the line but play was brought back for a free which Beirne tapped over. A Kirwan mark in the last action of the half left the score at 0-13 to 1-6 at the break.
That lead didn’t remain intact for long and a second Maynooth goal by a midfielder, this time Paul Maguire after he was set up Mahoney, left the scores level once again at 0-15 to 2-9.
That was the last time there was parity in the game, however, as once more Naas replied to conceding a goal in style.
With 20 minutes to go, Kirwan scored what will surely prove to be one of the goals of the Championship. Flanagan couldn’t quite slow him down in the centre of the field and once he got motoring, the powerful and pacy forward cut through the Maynooth defence before unleashing a powerful shot from 20 metres that beat Donnellan all ends up.
Maynooth wouldn’t go away though and went Conor O’Grady’s goalbound shot was deflected over the bar by Tom Kelly was quickly followed by Matthew Diamond hitting the target shortly after being introduced, there was only there points in it with four minutes remaining.
Naas had another gear to move into though and saw the game out with the with the last four points to end with a satisfying win.
Elsewhere, teenager Colm Moran scored 0-7 and Conor Doyle bagged 1-4 as Athy turned in another excellent performance to begin their campaign in Group A with a 1-25 to 0-11 win over Clogherinkoe.
Luke Mullins; Rob Fitzgerald, Mark Maguire, Jamie McGuirk, Jack McKevitt, Brian Byrne, Paddy McDermott; Eoin Doyle, Fintan Quinn 0-2 (1tp); Kevin Cummins, Dermot Hanafin 0-2, Elliott Beirne, Darragh Kirwan 1-5 (1tp, 1m), Alex Beirne 0-7 (1tp, 4fs), Ryan Sinkey 0-5. Subs: Paul McDermott 0-1 for Quinn, 42; Cathal Daly 0-1 for McGuirk, 42; Tom Kelly for Paddy McDermott, 44; Tim Ryan for Cummins, 51; Tom Browne for E Beirne, 59.
Mark Donnellan; Cathal Quinn, Sean Mahon, Darren Maguire, Callum McCabe, Niall O’Sullivan, Matthew Eustace; Paul Maguire 1-0, Ciaran Flanagan 1-1 (1’45); Paul O’Dea 0-3, Paddy Maguire, Paddy Hever 0-1, Paddy Mahoney 0-5 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f), John Flattery, Sean Hever 0-1. Subs: Conor O’Grady 0-1 for Paddy Maguire, 42; Matthew Diamond 0-1 for Flattery, 46; Liam McDonald for Quinn, 50; Sean Higgins for Eustace, 53; Daniel Farrell for P Hever, 54.
Henry Barrett
Relive our score-by-score account of the game here
