SHC: Naas open their 2026 campaign impressively

Naas Kevin Whelan goes past Ardclough Jonathan Reeves during the Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 game | Iconic

placeholder image — Naas Kevin Whelan goes past Ardclough Jonathan Reeves during the Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 game | Iconic

Never in doubt as Ardclough had no answer to the Naas machine

It took Daire Guerin a mere 29 seconds to open the Naas account in this evening’s UPMC SHC Group B, Round 1 game at Manguard Park, Hawkfield as the county champions went on to win by no less than 22 points.

Daire Guerin added a second as Naas moved into top gear scoring points at will.

Ardclough, in fairness, were competitive but just could not match the sheer pace and power of the county champions.

Charlie Sheridan was the main man in the opening half as Naas hit no less than eighteen points in the opening thirty minutes,, all of those scores coming from open play and in total ten players got on the score sheet, including five defenders who between them hit an impressive seven points.

Sean Whelan was the main scorer for Arclough, hitting four points, three frees with Sean Coulston the other scorer as the half-time scoreboard read: Naas 0-18 Arclough 0-5.

The rain continued to pour down but that did not dampen Naas as they never dropped their intensity adding an impressive 2-10, with goals from Jack Sheridan and Kevin Aherne.

Ardclough never threw in the towel it has to be said, added seven second half points as the final whistle arrived on a final score line of Naas 2-28 Ardclough 00-12.

Scorers, Naas: Charlie Sheridan 0-6, Jack Sheridan 1-4 (65, 1 free), James Burke 0-3, Tom boran 0-3, Kevin Aherne 1-0, Rian Boran 0-2, Daire Gerin 0-2, Richy Hogan 0-2, Conan Boran 0-1, Simon Leacy 0-1 Oisin O’Neill 0-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-1, Peter O’Donoghue 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1.

Ardclough: Sean Whelan 0-6 (3 frees), Cillian Burke 0-2, Sean Coulston 0-1, Drew Costello 0-1, Tim Ryan 0-1, Harry Maughan 0-1.

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Ross Kelly, Rian Boran, Richy Hogan; Simon Leacy, Conor Boran, Daire Guerin; Peter O’Donoghue, Bill Hennessy; Oisin O’Neill, Darragh Kirwan, Brian Byrne; Jack Sheridan, James Burke, Charlie Sheridan. Subs: Tom Boran for James Burke (34 minutes); Fionn Maher for Oisin O’Neill (47 minutes); Kevin Ajerme for Kevin Whelaan (47 minutes); Sean Mac Donncha for Jack Sheridan (55 minutes).

ARDCLOUGH: Finn Leach; Darragh Millar, Maurice Sexton, Darragh Buggle; Conor Kelly, Drew Costello, Sean Coulston; Patrick O’Malley, Tim Ryan; Sean Whelan, Martin Fitzgerald, Jonathan Reeves; Sean Buggy, Cillian Burke, Eoghan Walsh. Subs: Colm Walsh for Jonathan Reeves (22 minutes); Harry Maughan for Conor Kelly (half-time); Kieran Brady for Patrick O’Malley (46 minutes); Kevin Lynch for Darragh Buggle (55 minutes).

REFEREE: Niall Colgan.