Naas explode onto the senior club hurling scene on day of seismic shocks in Leinster

Niall McIntyre

Naas have beaten Shinrone to explode onto the scene of the Leinster senior club hurling championship.

Charlie Sheridan, Jack Sheridan, Kevin Aherne and James Burke scored the goals as Tom Mullally’s newly promoted men made light work of the Offaly champs, and showed everyone that they belong in the top tier.

Having won four Kildare titles in a row, this gifted bunch of young Naas hurlers only earned promotion to the Leinster senior grade when they beat Kerry’s Kilmoyley in February’s All-Ireland intermediate final. But they’ve certainly started as they mean to go on.

They may be competing at a higher level now, and there will be tougher challenges to come, but on a landmark Saturday in St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge – Naas showed that, down the line, they will pose a tough challenge for anyone.

In the end, the blue and whites were convincing winners of this quarter final clash, running away from the Offaly men on a final scoreline of 4-21 to 0-18.

Donal Morkan of Shinrone, left, and Harry Carroll of Naas after the AIB Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship Quarter-Final match between Naas and Shinrone at St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Naas weren’t the only team upsetting the Leinster hurling apple cart this Saturday, a day when the status quo of the intermediate competition was also turned upside down.

The Kilkenny champs have historically been the kingpins of this grade but, just as Naas knocked Glenmore out of it last year, Trim repeated the trick by defeating Richie Hogan’s Danesfort in Nowlan Park today.

The Meath champs hurled well against the wind in the first half and, having only trailed by two points at half-time, they kicked onto win by 0-16 to 0-15 in the end. Corner forward Mikey Cole was very impressive for them on the day.

Meanwhile, in what was surely the tie of the round, Dublin’s senior three champs Naomh Barróg of Kilbarrack defeated hot favourites Oulart-the-Ballagh of Wexford after a penalty shoot-out. The teams couldn’t be separated by extra-time, with 2-22 to 1-25 the final score, but the Dubs’ held their nerve to win 3-2 on penalties.