Naas capture intermediate hurling title in style

Naas              3-14 Moorefield   2-10 Intermediate Hurling Championship final

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Naas secured the intermediate county title in some style on Sunday afternoon with a comprehensive seven point victory over Moorefield in Hawkfield. The winners were well worthy of their margin of victory having led for most of the game, with many standout performers throughout their ranks leading the way. Naas were ahead at half-time by four points but Moorefield’s strong start to the second half suggested that they might upset the odds and nick a win from this game, but Naas remained composed and a 17 minute scoring period where they 2-5 unanswered was the telling tale of this encounter. Naas started the game brightly, and reeled off the first three points of the afternoon through Conor Lynch, Matthew Moran and a booming long range strike from Sean Whelan. Dave Carroll eventually got Moorefield off the mark soon after with a point from a free, before he and Whelan swapped points to leave the scores at 0-4 to 0-2. Matthew Moran, who had a fine game, fired Naas further ahead with a close range point but Moorefield finally managed a score from play when Reece Gavin stroked over a fine point while off balance. Whelan responded for Naas, with a superb long range point from a free, and was soon involved in the game’s first major. His long range shot dropped short, and Moorefield goalkeeper James Donnelly fumbled the sliotar, allowing Alex Maher to finish to the net. [caption id="attachment_45934" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Naas forward Alex Maher was named man of the match.[/caption] Carroll and Whelan swapped further efforts, and Moorefield actually finished the half stronger as Matty Kenny and Paul Dawson scored to leave it 1-7 to 0-6 to Naas at half-time. It always looked like Naas were the more likely victors in this one, but when Brendan McMillen netted a goal for the Newbridge side they looked well set to challenge. Carroll, Dawson and Kenny all followed up with scores and Moorefield were now leading by a point with eight minutes of the second half played. Naas upped their game however, and when Matthew Moran found the net with a close range strike it gave them a spur to kick on and finish the game out. Moran added another point, before Whelan, Maher and Simon Lacey all raised white flags to draw the lead out to five points. The game was effectively ended as a contest five minutes before the end when substitute Odhran Loughran laid the ball off to Lacey who made no mistake as he rippled the back of the net. Richie Fleming followed up with a point to put ten points between the sides. [caption id="attachment_45955" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Naas captain Mark Hennessy receives the IHC trophy.[/caption] Dave Carroll managed to pull a goal back for Moorefield, and Tommy Walsh also finished off a crisp team move with a fine point, but they were merely consolation scores. Lacey had the final say as he raked over the last point of the game that helped Naas to fine county championship win. Scorers for Naas: M Moran 1-3, S Lacey 1-2, S Whelan 0-5(4f), A Maher 1-1, C Lynch, M Hennessy and R Fleming 0-1 each. Scorers for Moorefield: 1-4(3f), M Kenny 0-3, B McMillen 1-0, P Dawson 0-2, T Walsh 0-1. Naas J Keane; S Lacey; D Dunne, E Stafford; E Nolan, D Greene, C Dowling; S Whelan, T Hennessy; M Moran, C Lynch, M Hennessy; A Maher, K Maher, K Byrne. Subs used: N Stafford, C Dowling, O Loughran, R Fleming, M Drewitt. Moorefield J Donnelly; D Sayers, B McMullen, C Reilly; J Donnelly, J Finnegan, W Downey; I McDonald, E Dunne; P Dawson, D Carroll, R Gavin; C Brannigan, M Kenny, M Sexton. Subs used: M Higgins, D Powers. Referee: R Kelly