Cool, calm and collected Naas hold their nerve to defeat JTB in extra-time

Naas 1-21

Johnstownbridge 1-15 (aet)

The third and final game of the three-match programme at Manguard Park on Saturday saw county champions, Naas, face up to Johnstownbridge and what a game this one turned out to be with extra time required before the champs finally won it by six points, which hardly does Johnstownbridge full justice.

It was a game, possession-wise dominated by Naas against a side that packed the defence and then broke at pace when a turn-over was finally executed.

Naas showed patience in abundance as they held, and held and held possession with alarming calmness and while they looked in control well into the second half, Johnstownbridge kept at it and leveled with an excellent Paul Cribbin point.

Naas had lost and regained the lead in the 61 minute; Sam Doran free leveled it up but Naas came back with Ciaran Doyle punching an equaliser after the umpire seemed to initially signal the ball wide, before it came back off the upright to Doyle.

Naas went two clear in extra time with points from Sean Hanafin and Paddy McDermott before Paul Cribbin replied with a point.

That, however, was as good as it got for Johnstownbridge as Naas stepped it up adding a goal from Ciaran Doyle and point from Kevin Cummins to lead by six at half-time (et) and while Josh O'Donoghue hit three points for JTB late on there was no denying Naas as they eventually won 1-21 to 1-15.

The sides were level five times in the first half, a half that ended all-square at 0-7 to 1-4.

Naas went four clear by the 44 minute and were still three in front on 53 but JTB were hanging in and points from Paul Cribbin and Josh O'Donoghue had it back to a point on 57 minutes.

Tom Browne picked up a shoulder injury that saw him head to the ambulance; Sam Doran (free) leveled it up; Conor Doyle got that punched effort to put them in front before Paul Cribbin hit a beauty to force extra time.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Scorers: Naas, Eamonn Callaghan 0-5 (3 frees), Ciaran Doyle 1-2, Tom Browne 0-2, Kevin Cummins 0-5 (1 free), Paddy McDermott 0-3, Sean Cullen 0-1, Eoin Doyle 0-1, Paul McDermott 0-1, Sean Hanafin 0-1,

Johnstownbridge, Sam Doran 0-4 (1 free), Josh O'Donoghue 0-4 (2 frees), Dean Kelly 1-0, Paul Cribbin 0-3, Sean O'Haire 0-2 (2 frees), Daniel Flynn 0-1, Shane Flynn 0-1.

NAAS: Luke Mullins; Eoghan Prizeman, Brian Byrne, Mark Maguire; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle, Tom Browne; Sean Cullen, Paul McDermott; Jack McKevitt, Neil Aherne, Brian Kane; Kevin Cummins, Sean Hanafin, Eamonn Callaghan. Subs: Ciaran Doyle for Neil Aherne (35 minutes); Cathal Daly for Tom Browne (63 minutes); Alex Beirne for Sean Cullen (68 minutes); Paul Sullivan for Eoghan Prizeman (half-time extra time).

JOHNSTOWNBRIDGE: Eoin Sheehan; Shane Flanagan, Tomas Van Englebrechten, Luke O'Connor; Aaron McNally, Shane Flynn, Luke O'Connor; Paul Cribbin, Seamus McNally; Dean Kelly, Cathal McNally, Sam Doran; Sean O'Haire, Daniel Flynn, Sean McKeon. Subs: Josh O'Donoghue for Luke O'Connor (44 minutes); Darragh Sloane for Cathal McNally (43 minutes); Ronan Scanlon for Sean O'Haire (54 minutes). Cathal McNally for Dean Kelly (half-time extra time); Kevin Lynch for Sam Doran half time extra time); Luke O'Connor for Paul Cribbin (78 minutes); Sean O'Haire for Tomas van Englebrechten (78 minutes).

REFEREE: Billy O'Connell.