Can anyone stop Naas from making it six senior hurling titles in a row?

Celbridge were the last team to capture the Kildare senior hurling championship prior to Naas going on an incredible run of five titles in a row.

That was back in 2018.

Naas were showing signs back in 2016 and 2017 when they lost back-to-back finals to Celbridge (2018) and Ardclough (2017) before going on a run a finals that, if one is to be honest, could go on for as long as the team from the county town retain their hunger, their passion and their desire to keep succeeding.

And again, if one is to be perfectly honest again here, the likelihood of that happening in the near future certainly seems remote.

Naas are so far ahead of the rest at senior level in hurling it is near to impossible to see anyone getting anywhere near them in 2024 and in the next few years as well.

The boys in blue have eleven senior titles to their name, the first back in 1951, repeated that win in 1952; went off the scene then until 1994, won it again in 1997 before brining up another back-to-back titles wins in 2001 and 2002 and then going on their remarkable wins of five on the trot from 2019 to the present day.

They have shown no signs of taking their foot off the throttle in 2024 either, having just won the 2024 senior hurling league title while doubling up taking the Division 2 title also.

That is the level this team is at.

So who, if anyone, can put it up to the Joe Malley managed side this season?
Going back to this season's league Division 1 campaign, Naas played seven, won seven and finished six points ahead of second and third team, Leixlip, Celbridge and Éire Óg Corra Choill back on eight points apiece.

Naas defeated Celbridge in that final 2-26 to 0-14; Celbridge having defeated Leixlip in the semi-final 2-16 to 1-15; Naas having received a walk-over from Éire Óg Corra Choill, who for a number of reasons could not fulfil that fixture.

So it would be fair to say that Celbridge and Leixlip would probably the two best places sides to put it up to the champions in 2024.

Maynooth over the past couple of season have looked like they were an up-and-coming side but they have had a poor league, winning just two games.

However league results do not always give a true indication exactly how strong a side is, especially when it comes to championship.

With games being played in mid-week it is often a weakened side that takes to the field for league (apart of course if you have a panel of players as strong as Naas have at the moment) and it will be interesting to see how Maynooth fare this weekend when they are they first up to take on Naas in the preliminary round of the SHC.

In many respects going into a losers' group would be more beneficial to a side that has ambitions of advancing to the knock-out stages of the championships.

Celbridge take on Ardclough in the preliminary round and should be too strong for the boys in black yellow and orange.
Leixlip take on Confey in of course a local derby, always difficult to predict, it could possibly be the closest game to see who goes into the winners and losers group while the final game in this eight game championship sees Éire Óg Corra Choill take on near neighbours Coill Dubh.

Expect wins for Naas, Celbridge, with possibly Éire Óg Corra Chill and Leixlip making up the winners' group after this weekend's preliminary round games.

The Senior Hurling 'B' Championship also gets off this weekend with Moorefield taking on Broadford, Clane taking on Maynooth; with Kilcock playing Naas.

The final of the Tony Donohoe Newbridge Reserve Football Division 1 is also down for decision, this one penciled in for Hawkfield on Sunday with a 3 pm throw-in.