"These lads are a joy to work with" - says Naas CBS manager after Leinster 'A' win

Naas CBS manager Cormac Hughes, was certainly well-pleased with his charges who looked in big trouble around the 50th minute mark after Scoil Choilm Tullamore hit three points on the trot to tie up affairs in Saturday's Leinster PPS 'A' football final.

However, it was at this point that the Kildare boys regained the initiative, got a grip around the middle, regained the lead with two quick points before putting the game to bed with a goal from wing back Rob Murray.

The Longford school master said “it was never going to be easy and while we had a nice little buffer at the break (three point lead) we knew coming out in the second half that Tullamore are such a strong team they would push us all the way which is what they did.”

The manager immediately that he could not personally for the three titles in a row adding “it is six years ago now when lads set up the process, they got the culture started, they got the buy-in and my job and Padraig (Cribbin) job last year was not to let that die and keep the fire going but the boys are a joy to work with.”

When the Tullamore school boys got level, after three points in a row, the next score was always going to be the vital score and it was here that Naas stood up when it was asked of them.

“When our lads backs are to the wall they don't lie down, they don't give up; there is a serious backbone to this team and they can play football and they can go had-to-head with anyone and that is so important to win games and especially big games such as today.”

The manager admitted that he made a few changes from the side that started the semi-final last week against St Mels College and admitted that “we tried to get the match-ups spot on” adding “and that might change the next day as well, it depends on who we are facing, what we think and believe we can gain an advantage.

Naas will now play the Munster champions in two weeks time.

Reminded that in the semi-final Daire Gilmartin came off the bench to get a few scores and did the same today and set up the games, Cormac admitted that “we have a very strong panel, Daire is probably not too happy to be on the bench, he is one of our best players and he gave us a huge, huge lift again today.”

We have 30-35 lads there and you can pick any of them and they would be staring on another team added the manager.