Byrne eyes ultimate glory after Naas's golden winter

Naas, so long perceived as the poor relation of Newbridge within Kildare GAA, enjoyed a golden season to remember in 2021-22.

Their footballers won a county title to remember in November, holding off Sarsfields to claim the Kildare SFC for the first time in 31 years.

They subsequently marched all the way to the Leinster final, aided by a remarkable finish against Tullamore in the first round. In the end, the South Dublin powerhouse Kilmacud Crokes would prove a bridge too far in the provincial decider.

Their hurlers, by contrast, are a tad more accustomed to success. In helping the club scoop the Kildare double late last year, they successfully polished off a three-in-a-row bid.

This was their cue to embark on a glorious trek through Leinster, defeating Oylegate Glenbrien by a cool seven points in the provincial decider, becoming the first Kildare team to win the intermediate provincial title since Ardclough in 2006.

They saw off Mayo surprise packages Tooreen in the semi-final and now just the Kerry kingpins Kilmoyley stand between them and All-Ireland glory tomorrow.

Kildare hurling standard bearer Brian Byrne has been intimately involved in Naas' golden winter - from all angles. Himself and James Burke are the two dual players to do 'the Teddy McCarthy' in Kildare in 2021.

"It's been fantastic," Byrne tells RTÉ Sport.

"The club and the town has had a right good couple of months between county finals back in November, training over the Christmas period, the football Leinster Final in January, the hurling final the following week. The journey has just kept on rolling.

"With playing both of them, myself and James (Burke) have been extremely lucky."

The winter months saw the unlikely resurrection of the dual player, thought an