Preview: Naas and Leixlip ready for Leinster Hurling Championships clashes this weekend

Naas travel to O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Sunday, throw-in 3 pm, to tackle the local champions, Camross in the quarter-final of the AIB Senior Club Hurling Championship.

The Laois boys defeated Abbeyleix St Lazarians, five weeks ago, comfortably in a final score — 4-14 to 0-14 — to capture their first title since 2018 and making it 27 senior titles in total for the boys who line in out black and amber stripes.

That Laois final was done and dusted inside 15 minutes with Thomas 'Mossy' Keyes hitting a total of 3-6, all from play, raising his first green flag after some 50 seconds.

Camross had no less than eleven different scorers on the day, are managed by David Cuddy who were in the final for the second year in a row, losing to Clough-Ballacolla 12 months ago.

Manager Cuddy said after his side's latest win “we are going to give Leinster a big lash because we want to show people that we are as good as anyone and Laois hurling is as good as anywhere in Leinster.”

Meanwhile Naas, made it five from five senior titles when disposing of Coill Dubh three weeks ago on a final score line of Naas 3-13 to 0-11.

Naas manager, Tom Mulally when reminded after his side's victory over Coill Dubh replied, with a grin on his face “that should be a tasty one” adding, “to be honest we have not looked beyond this final (against Coill Dubh), we will enjoy this; we have a great bunch of players, we will come back in a week or so and start preparation for that opening game in the Leinster Club.”

It has been an incredible time for Naas hurling who are lining out in the Leinster Senior Club for the second year in a row.
Up to 2021 the winners of the Kildare SHC automatically went on to complete at intermediate club level but after Naas not only won the Leinster Club Intermediate in 2021, they went on to capture the All-Ireland title, thus the move up to the senior club ranks.

If the Kildare and Laois senior finals are anything to go on this could turn out to be a contest between Jack Sheridan of Naas and Thomas 'Mossy' Keys of Camross — between the two of them they hit no less than 5-14; Sheridan getting 2-8 and Keyes hitting 3-6.

Ironically Mossy Keyes, who lines out at no. 13 was the only Camross player on the Laois panel this year while Kildare on the other hand had a minimum of six players starting throughout the season.

This could be a cracker of a game, hopefully Naas have their footballers, Brian Byrne and James Burke available on the day.
Brian Byrne and James Burke both lined out for Naas last week when disposing of Summerhill to advance to the semi-final of the AIB Leinster Club SFC and will be back in action again this Sunday.

Leinster Club JHC quarter-final
On Saturday the hurlers of Leixlip are back in action in the AIB Leinster Club JHC when they travel to Darver in Louth (throw-in 1.30) to take on St Fechins with a place in the last four at stake.

Leixlip, Kildare Senior B champions had a somewhat comfortable last time out when they accounted for Navan O'Mahony's of Meath at Conneff Park, Clane on a final score line of 3-17 to 0-11 with Darragh Melville once again putting on a top class display.

St Fechins put on a similar impressive display when disposing of the challenge of Clonguish Gaels 2-14 to 0-6, so we could be in for another high scoring clash at Darver on Saturday, throw in 1.30.

Leixlip must fancy themselves big time in this particular grade, relegated from the senior ranks in 2022, they certainly knuckled down to retain their senior status this season and this they did in some style, disposing of a strong Naas side in the decider.

Melville, the star man for Leixlip throughout 2023 hit a very impressive 1-13 against O'Mahony's and if he can reproduce anything like that form on Saturday should put Leixlip well on their way.

Selector John Mooney was very happy with his side's display that day, saying “it was a very good performance although I do think the final score line did flatter us a little.

The Leixlip official said he felt Leixlip's fitness told particularly in the final 20 minutes or so and we battled well throughout.