Another giant step by Naas hurlers as they progress past Camross

Naas 2-17

Camross 1-17

It may have taken three brilliant saves from Naas keeper Cormac Gallagher but Naas were full value for their three point win over Laois champions, Camross, in the Leinster AIB Club SHC quarter-final at Laoise Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Sunday afternoon.

Played on an extremely soft surface with the stand side and other parts of the pitch heavily sanded, Naas led from the time they got their opening goal, a brilliant effort from Jack Sheridan in the 17 minute, led by six at the break and while they had to withstand that late, late rally after they had been reduced to fourteen when Peter O'Donoghue picked up a second yellow in the 47 minute but certainly the better side prevailed on the day.

Camross, with wing forward, Zane Keenan in brilliant from, both from placed balls, side-line cuts and overall play, refused to lie down when all seemed lost and in the end could have nicked it, or at least forced extra time when a 24m free was brilliant saved by Naas keeper Cormac Gallagher.

It was Zane Keenan who opened with his first free of the afternoon but within three minutes the sides were level after Conan Boran made a brilliant fetch, was fouled and Jack Sheridan got his scoring spree off to a successful start.

Camross had a great chance to find the Naas net on six minutes when a long ball in was caught by Mark Dowling but as two defenders slipped the no. 14 failed to find the target hitting his shot left and wide.

A foul on Cian Boran saw Jack Sheridan push Naas ahead for the first time but Keenan soon had them level and regained the lead on ten when Tomás Keyes got the first of his three points. However the Camross dangerman who hit 3-6 in the his side's county final, was overall kept very much under wraps.

Brian Byrne hit a brilliant point to level up matters again but Camross hit back with two points, the first a brilliant side-line cut from Zane Keenan followed by a free to lead 0-5 to 0-3 as we reached the mid-way point in the opening half.

Jack Sheridan reduced the gap after a brilliant take, turn and point and inside the same minute a great move saw Simon Leacy feed Sheridan who blasted to the back of Tadhg Doran's net.

Cian Boran added a point and suddenly Naas were three in the clear 1-5 to 0-5 after 19 minutes.

Jack Sheridan converted a free on the 65 m line but a foul on Mark Dowling saw Zane Keegan reduced the led back to three again.

Frees from Sheridan and Keenan saw the gap unchanged before Simon Leacy feed Cian Boran who extended the lead.
As we headed for the break, Peter O'Donoghue picked up a yellow, Keenan punished the indiscretion with a free while Camross' Daniel Delaney was shown yellow for a foul on John McKeon.

Two late pointed frees from Jack Sheridan saw Naas lead at the break 1-11 to 0-8.

Camross needed a good, and quick start to the second half and that they certainly got with three quick points, all from the stick of Zane Keenan, two frees, to reduce the gap back to three.

Naas responded after Jack Sheridan made a brilliant catch, was fouled by Darragh Duggan who picked up a yellow; penalty awarded but Sheridan's effort went left and wide.

The same player responded with a fine free and then on 41 minutes a big moment for Naas when James Burke, just on the pitch a minute linked up with Cian Boran who found Brian Byrne and the Naas captain made no mistake finding the net and making it 2-12 to 0-11.

Sheridan and Keenan exchanged frees before Naas were hit with a big blow when Peter O'Donoghue was shown a second yellow on 47 minutes.

Zane Keenan pointed a free, Cian Boran replied before Liam Delaney hit a fine effort to leave it Naas 2-14 Camross 0-14 with 49 minutes on the clock.

Nine minutes left on the clock and suddenly Camross were right back in the game when Zane Keenan converted a free despite a packed defence and the lead was now back to three.

The next score was going to be vital, Camross had a chance but lost possession before Cormac Gallagher found James Burke with a brilliant puck-out; Burke found Kevin Aherne who fired over a beauty to push the lead out to four.

Jack Sheridan and Zane Keenan exchanged points as the fans from both sides were giving it their all.
Brian Byrne set up Cian Boran who made no mistake before Tomás Keyes hit his second of the afternoon.

Camross were then hit with a body blow when Darragh Duggan was shown a second yellow on 59 minutes but Tomás Keyes had the home fans on their feet again when he reduced the lead back to three points.

Camross were throwing everything at Naas at this stage and two successive 65s failed to change the score board.
Camross came back again and two successive saves from Cormac Gallagher denied the boys in black and amber.

Then with the clock hitting 67 minutes Camross were awarded a free some 24m out. Up stepped Zane Keenan but Cormac Gallagher brought off a brilliant save; the long whistle arrived, Naas through to the semi and a date with Na Fianna of Dublin: Naas 2-17 Camross 1-17.

SCORERS
Naas: Naas, Jack Sheridan 1-10 (8 frees, 65), Cian Boran 0-4, Brian Byrne 1-1, Simon Leacy 0-1, Kevin Aherne 0-1.

Camross: Zane Kenan 1-13 (9 frees, s/l), Tomás Keyes 0-3, Liam Delaney 0-1.

TEAMS
Naas: Cormac Gallagher; John McKeon, Ross Kelly, Peter O'Donoghue; Harry Carroll, Sean Gainey, Kevin Whelan; Rian Boran, Simon Leacy; Conan Boran, Kevin Aherne, Ferran O'Sullivan; Brian Byrne cpt, Jack Sheridan, Cian Boran. Subs: James Burke for Ferran O'Sullivan (40 minutes); Cathal Dowling for Kevin Aherne (62 minutes).

Camross: Tadhg Doran; Darragh Duggan, Cathal Cuddy, Joseph Phelan; Eoin Dowling, Eoin Gaughan, Tom Cuddy; Dwane Palmer, Odhrán Phelan; Andrew Collier, Liam Delaney, Zane Keenan; Tomás Keyes, Mark Dowling, Ciarán Collier. Subs: Ciarán Collier for Odhrán Phelan (38 minutes); Gearóid Burke for Daniel Delaney (41 minutes); Lorcan Burke for Eoin Gaughan (49 minutes); Oisin Bennett for Andrew Collier (56 minutes); Eoghan Cuddy for Liam Delaney (63 minutes).

REFEREE: Caymonn Flynn, Westmeath.