AIB Leinster SHC: Naas edge out MLR

AIB Leinster Club SHC Quarter-Final

NAAS 2-17 MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS 1-17

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park

Naas advanced to the Leinster senior hurling club semi-final thanks to this hard-earned victory over the Carlow champions on their home patch of Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

Not having had a game for over 11 weeks, there would have been questions about the match fitness of the Carlow champions. As it transpired, they certainly didn’t look any way out of touch with Donagh Murphy and Fitzpatrick raising white flags and Chris Nolan also posting two points early on.

Jack Sheridan converted a free for the visitors. In all he scored five points from placed balls and play in that opening half proving to be a handful for the home defence. In addition, four of the visiting starting forwards all scored from play in the opening thirty minutes. On two occasions, Rangers led by four points but they were reeled in when Charlie Sheridan was on the end of a simple passing movement and he finished well.

With eight minutes to go to half-time, Rangers recovered from the shock of the concession and fought back to level at 1-8 to 0-11 at the break.

Naas started the second half running and could have had an early goal but Rangers keeper, Frank Foley, saved from Jack Sheridan when moving smartly to deflect a low shot around the outside of the right hand post. While the goal didn’t come at that point, Killian Harrington and Jack Sheridan raised white flags to keep Naas on the front foot.

That goal arrived as Sheridan beat Foley from close range on 41 minutes. Rangers suffered a hammer blow when Chris Nolan picked up a second yellow card at the end of the third quarter. The 14 Rangers players responded well, dug deep and pushed forward.

Moving Kevin McDonald from a central defensive role into the full-forward line worked and they finished strongly. When Donagh Murphy hit the woodwork the ball came back into play. McDonald moved smartly too shoot home first time from the edge of the small square.

That left only a point between them. Naas dug deep and were rewarded with Jack Sheridan landing a vital point from a narrow angle on the right. Simon Leacy’s next effort was not as difficult but it meant Rangers needed a goal to save the day. That never looked like coming as Naas dug deep to see out the victory.

Scorers for Naas: J Sheridan 1-8 (4fs), S Leacy 0-4, C Sheridan 1-0, B Byrne 0-2, F O’Sullivan, K Harrington, C Boran 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mount Leinster Rangers: C Nolan 0-7 (65 4fs), K McDonald 1-4 (sl 3fs), J Nolan 0-3, R Murphy, F Fitzpatrick, D Murphy 0-1 each.

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Liam O’Reilly, Ross Kelly, Peter O’Donoghue; Harry Carroll, Daire Guerin, Charlie Sheridan; Rian Boran, Evan O’Brian; Simon Leacy, Brian Byrne, Killian Harrington; Ferran O’Sullivan, Jack Sheridan, Cathal Dowling. Subs: Cian Boran for O’Sullivan (38).

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: Frank Foley; Michael Doyle, Michael Joyce, Sean Joyce; Richard Coady, Kevin McDonald, Evan Kealy; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Ruairi Murphy, Jon Nolan, Donagh Murphy; Ted Joyce, Diarmuid Byrne, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Tim Brennan for Coady (34), Joe Dundon for R Murphy (44), Dean Tobin for Byrne (52), Paul Coady for T Joyce (54).

Referee: Eamon Furlong (Wexford).