Naas pull away in the final quarter from plucky Larries
Naas celebrate winning the UPMC Intermediate Hurling Championship Photo: Sean Brilly
Naas made it back to back UPMC Kildare Intermediate Hurling Championship titles when they had thirteen points to spare over a St Laurences side making their first appearance in a final at this grade.
On a cold and windy afternoon in Manguard Park it was the Larries supporters who turned out in numbers and they brought the colour to match the occasion but in the end their team couldn't match a slicker and more economical Naas side whose overall experience made the vital difference in the end. Despite a four point deficit at half time the Larries showed great resolve to get level six minutes into the second half but a late Naas scoring burst that saw them hit 1-10 against a single Larries point over the closing 24 minutes.
The early exchanges were helter-skelter and St Laurences let Naas know they weren't there to just make up the numbers. They had entered the final on the back of five wins in five group stage games and they were entitled to have no fear. Nine minutes had passed before the opening score arrived courtesy of a fine effort from Larries half forward Cormac Byrne. The wind advantage was with the Old Grange men in that opening half and despite plenty of possession they failed to capitalise. Naas hit four in a row in a seven minute spell to move three ahead. Full forward duo John O'Malley and John Madden pushed Naas ahead for the first time before two Conor Donnelly efforts ,one from a free extended the lead. A late free from Larries' 50-year-old captain Ciaran Roche left Naas 0-7 to 0-3 ahead at the break.
Tony McMullen's half time speech must have been stern as the Larries returned a different team. Four unanswered points inside the opening six minutes had the sides level but only one score from James King over the closing 24 minutes meant it wasn't going to be their day. Naas added 1-11 in response to that James King point and with Conor Donnelly continuing his fine scoring return it was a rather easy closing quarter for the county town men. Donnelly added 1-5 to bring his personal tally to 1-9. Colm Coughlan, Mark Nevin, Tom O'Donovan, John Madden and James Bedford all got in on the scoring as Naas enjoyed the decisive scoring burst and when Matthew Redmond brought proceedings to a close Naas lead 1-18 to 0-8 to confirm their status as back to back champions.
Naas are already represented at Senior B level so despite this defeat St Laurences will make the step up to Senior B for 2025. A competitive affair until the closing quarter but Naas just had to much fire power and they were worthy champions but St Laurences are building their hurling portfolio and with so many there to cheer them on it's safe to say with the work being done for hurling in Old Grange they are going in the right direction.
Shane O'Connor, Daire Kellighan, Chris Horan, Conor Gormley, Shane Knott, Diarmuid Greene, Brian Spillane, Tom O'Donovan 0-1, Mark Nevin 0-1,Conor Donnelly 1-9 (3fs, 1 '65), Al Bergin, Colm Coughlan 0-1, Odhran Loughran, John Madden 0-2, John O'Malley 0-3. Subs: James Bedford 0-1 for O'Malley, 39; Paul L'estrange for Coughlan, 49; Cormac Geissel for Knott, 58; Tom Walsh for Loughran, 60.
Michael Crowley, Richard Lillis, Conor Lawlor, Tom Brophy, Sean McMullen, Brendan Gorman, John Waters, Jack Dargan, James Donnelly, Cormac Byrne 0-3, Adrian Kelly 0-1,Brian Waters, Chris Dunne, TJ Nolan, Ciaran Roche 0-3(2fs). Subs: James Fennin for Waters, 42; Liam Byrne for Kelly, 50; James King 0-1 for Dargan, 53; Patrick Whelan for Dunne, 53; Mark Whelan for McMullen, 59.
Matthew Redmond
