Naas make in three minor titles in a row

Naas made it three minor titles in a row with a fine display against a game Raheens side at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge this afternoon.Three goals in the opening half for the winners was difference and while Raheens did come back at them in the second half Naas had too much for them in the end.

Playing into the Kilcullen end, with the breeze on their back, Naas cut open Raheens a few times early on and when Aidan McGrane opened for Naas, Raheens fired over two points from Rory Thompson and TJ Carr.

McGrane added a free before Nathan Dunne found the Rahens on eight minutes.

Rory Thompson had a goal shot saved by Colum Gibbons in the Naas goal. Rory Thompson fired over for the Caragh boys.

Naas hit back with a Colum Gibbons 45 before two goals inside a minute put the defending champions in a commanding position, both goals involved Sean Óg Cunnie and Callum Cowzer and both finished by the latter, that made it 3-3 to 0-3 after 17 minutes.

Aidan McGrane added a point for Naas.

Raheens came back but Alan Thompson was denied by Colum GIbbons before a long ball in by Alan Thompson saw Eanna O’Shaughnessy get the vital touch to find the Naas net.

Aidan McGrane replied for Naas as we reached the half-time whistle, Naas leading, having played with the strong breeze, 3-5 to 1-4.

A goal mid-way in the second half from Mark Travers more or less put the game to bed for Naas but Rory Thompson replied with a Raheens green flag and a point from TJ Carr it cut the lead back to six on 51 minutes.

Try as they did Raheens just could not get any closer and in the end it was Naas who clinched the title for the third year in a row on a final score line for Naas 4-11 Raheens 2-8.

Scorers, Naas: Calum Cowzer 2-1, Nathan Dunne 1-1, Aidan McGrane 0-7 (3 frees), Mart Travers 1-1, Colum Gibbons 0-1 (45),

Raheens: Rory Thompson 1-5 (2 frees, 1 two-point free), Eanna O’Shaughnessy 1-0, TJ Carr 0-2, Daniel Britton Milner 0-1.

NAAS: Colum Gibbons; Ollie Dihos, Colin Parker, Alan Smyth; Aaron Martin, Cillian Long, Niall Andrews; Mark Travers, Matthew Costello; Giles Healy, Robbie Millham, Aidan McGrane, Sean Óg Cunnie, Nathan Dunne, Callum Cowzer. Subs: Harry Feely for Alan Smyth (39 minutes); Odhran Sherry for Aaran Martin (46 minutes); Ronan Lenehan for Giles Healy (55 minutes); Kieraan Loughran for Sean Brilly Óg Cunnie (55 minutes); Finn Brennan for Ollie Dihos (61 minutes).

RAHEENS: Aidan Kane; Rian Carmer, Rory Cooke, Noah Molimard; Billy O’Neill, Cathal Harris, Oisin McAfee; Eanna O’Shaughnessy, Rian Curran; Stephen Murphy, Rory Thompson, Rian Duane; Stephen Hamill, Alan Thompson, TJ Carr. Subs: Daniel Britton Miler for Stephen Murphy (34 minutes); Patrick Tracy for Rian Duane (42 minutes); Ronan Crowley for Eanna O’Shaughnessy (54 minutes); Fionn Hamill for Billy O’Neill (59 minutes); Aidan Malone for TJ Carr (61 minutes).

REFEREE: Jamie Lyons.