PREVIEW: Kildare champions Naas will carry confidence into thrilling clash with St Martin's

St Martin's of Wexford are next up for the hurlers of Naas when these teams clash in the AIB Leinster Senior Club Hurling semi-final this Sunday, at Chadwicks Wexford Park, with a 1.30 throw-in.

This will be the second year in a row these sides will have met as last season, the Wexford champions came to Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, in the quarter-final, and they went home having booked a place in the last four defeating the Kildare champions, somewhat comfortably it has to be said, on a score line of St Martin's 1-15 to 0-13.

It was a Jack O'Connor penalty, two minutes from full time, that saw St Martin's finally get the better of Naas.

There is little doubt that Naas came into that game having breezed through the Kildare championship and looked to be somewhat off the pace somewhat at times, this time around the Kildare champions might be just that more prepared having come through a tough game just two weeks against Carlow champions Mount Leinster Rangers, a game they won by three points, 2-17 to 1-17.

It was interesting to hear Naas boss, Tom Mulally say after that game, he was very pleased with his team's display, adding “it was great to see sweat on the lads” a sure indication that they had battled hard and it is a game that should bring them on considerably for Sunday's clash.

St Martin's came through a big game themselves, defeating the 2024 All-Ireland champions, Na Fianna of Dublin.
That game was well and truly in the fire up to the final whistle with St Martin's, playing at home, no doubt a major boost, and it was a point from Rory O'Connor, deep into injury time that saw them over the line.

St Martin's and Na Fianna met in last year's Leinster semi-final, so the win a fortnight ago was certainly sweet revenge.
That is the level Naas will be playing at, teams, not just chasing provincial honours but sides that have expectations to go on and win an All-Ireland Senior Club title.

Naas lined out against Mount Leinster Rangers without the services, from the start, of ace centre back, Cian Boran.

A slight hamstring problem saw him start on the bench and while he made an appearance when called in after 38 minutes, and made an immediate impact, at the same time Ross Kelly certainly had a fine game filling in for Cian and even when Boran came into the game, if anything Ross Kelly stepped up even further in a very impressive outing.

Naas and Rangers were level at the break in their quarter-final, that after the Kildare champions started very tentatively, looking somewhat 'leggy' and slow to get up to the pace of the game but once they came up to speed showed their skill, on a pitch that was a typical surface one would expect in November.

The Naas defence, as a whole, did well against Rangers but it was Simon Leacy and Jack Sheridan, along with Brian Byrne who really stepped it up in the second half when it was needed.

If Naas are to get over St Martin's, they, and others, will have to repeat that showing.

St Martin's have some very experienced and skilful players, led by Rory O'Connor who hit nine points (6 frees) while home from Australia, Barry O'Connor, showed plenty of skill knocking up an impressive 1-2, while Jack O'Connor, remember him from last year in Newbridge, was also on top of his game with a fine four point contribution.

No doubt the Wexford champions will go into this game as favourites and playing at home will certainly be a huge advantage, but one gets the impression that we have not seen the best of this Naas side yet this entire season.

They have been missing two or three players in most games, injuries and knocks that while part and parcel of every game, nevertheless, can disrupt a side's rhythm at times; if they can have everyone fit and available, of course James Burke will again be missing and there is little doubt that his a big blow, but apart from the big man, they can head to Wexford on Sunday, knowing in their hearts of hearts if they can produce their best form, they are in a with a great opportunity to advance.

It won't be easy, St Martin's will be on a high after defeating Na Fianna, but it is still all to play for and Naas will travel knowing if they can play to their top form they will not be too far away.

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