Naas dig deep to survive Maynooth scare and book final spot

UPMC SHC semi-final

Naas 0-21

Maynooth 0-15

The drive for five is still alive for Naas but they were certainly, at times, put to the pin of their collective collars by the side they defeated in last season's final, Maynooth, in a rip-roaring semi-final of the UMPC SHC at Manguard Park on Sunday afternoon.

While conditions had improved from the previous day's rain, the underfoot conditions were anything but conductive to good hurling with the soft, soggy turf on more than one occasions seeing players fail to gain control of the sliother.

Maynooth gave their more illustrious opponents plenty to worry about when they led into the second half and while their over-reliance on David Qualter was probably their downfall, nevertheless it was another classy display from the Maynooth county man.

Naas, on the other hand, felt somewhat aggrieved, and that's putting it mildly, by the number of frees given against them, but they stuck to their task, lifted their game when it was needed and were good value for their win.

Naas lined out without influential midfielder Charlie Sheridan along with Rian Boran and Cathal Dowling but when they have players such as Sean Gainey along with Cian and Conan Boran to come in, well that says it all.

A foul on Jack Sheridan saw the Naas sharp-shooter open the scoring. David Qualter hit the first of his dozen points soon after before James Burke set up Cian Boran who popped over.

Peter O'Donoghue was adjudged to have over-carried and Qualter did the rest before Kevin Aherne hit a lovely ball between the sticks from an acute angle and when Ferran O'Sullivan did something likewise Naas led by two 0-4 to 0-2 after 12 minutes of play.

Adam Jordan, the only Maynooth player other than David Qualter to score in the first half, got his name on the sheet before Kevin Whelan saw his long range effort come off the upright.

Two Qualter frees saw Maynooth hit the front for the first time on 17 minutes but Naas hit back instantly with Brian Byrne and Jack Sheridan pointing and regaining the lead.

A free, close to the side-line saw Qualter level up; Simon Leacy and Brian Byrne, showing lovely skill, had Naas back in front before Qualter reduced the lead again.

Naas then hit four wides on the trot, but the last of those saw Naas gain a free for a late challenge but Jack Sheridan missed with the free.

David Qualter leveled them up for the sixth time in the half but a long ball in from Simon Leacy saw James Burke fail to control but still had the skill to kick the sliothar over the bar to give Naas the lead at the break - 0-9 to 0-8.

Naas have had the habit this season of stepping up in the second half but on this occasion it was Maynooth who took the initiative. David Qualter leveled, Adam Jordan gave his side the lead and Qualter, from play, put two in it after 34 minutes.

Naas responded quickly with Jack Sheridan converting two frees; Sheridan required attention at this stage but continued after treatment.

Harry Dunne edged Maynooth back in front but there was consternation when twice a Maynooth player hit the ball back to his own keeper, both times intercepted but Sean Bean managed to keep the ball from crossing his line.

Jack Sheridan then hit a monster free to level but a David Qualter free had the boys in black back with their noses in front.

Cian Boran leveled up matters on 46 as the game swing from one side to another. A brilliant effort from James Burke and a similar score from Conan Boran had Naas two clear.

David Qualter converted a free, Brian Byrne replied and Adam Jordan cut the lead back to one on 53 minutes.

Simon Leacy made a brilliant block, began an attack and Cian Boran found the range to put two between them again.

David Qualter, for once, failed to convert a free as Naas stepped it up again with five unanswered points in the final seven minutes or so and during that time Maynooth's Cian Forde was shown a straight red after an off-the-ball clash with Jack Sheridan.

The final whistle arrived, with Naas making it their fifth final in a row and with four titles in the bag will now be hot favourites to bring up the famous five.

Maynooth gave it everything but an over reliance on one man, brilliant and all as he was from placed balls, was their eventual downfall.

GAME AT A GLANCE: MAIN MAN

David Qualter

A few contenders from the winners including Ross Kelly, James Burke, Jack Sheridan, Brian Byrne and Cian Boran but Maynooth's David Qualter single-handedly kept his side in the game right up to the last five minutes with 12 points.

TURNING POINT

When the chips are down and down big time it is then that the big players stand up and get the vital scores when they arre most needed. On Sunday points in the final ten minutes from Conan Boran, Jack Sheridan and Brian Byrne were the vital scores that finally turned the screw for Naas.

TALKING POINT

Maynooth gave Naas their stiffest task last term for long periods if the final and did somethng similar on Sunday and in the end they brought out the best in the champions with a display that shoudlstand to them in the final.

WHAT NOW?

Naas back in the final; Maynooth wonder what might have been for another 12 months.

Scorers: Naas, Jack Sheridan 0-6 (5 frees), Cian Boran 0-4, Brian Byrne 0-3, James Burke 0-3, Simon Leacy 0-1, Kevin Aherne 0-1, Ferran O'Sullivan 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1,Conan Boran 0-1.

Maynooth, David Qualter 0-12 (11 frees), Adam Jordan 0-2, Harry Dunne 0-1.

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher, John McKeown, Sean Gainey, Harry Carroll; Peter O'Donoghue, Ross Kelly, Kevin Whelan; Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Cian Boran, James Burke, Ferran O'Sullivan; Brian Byrne, Jack Sheridan, Kevin Aherne. Subs: Cathal Dowling for Neil Aherne (41 minutes); Ciaran Tobin for Ferran O'Sullivan (64 minutes).

MAYNOOTH: Sean Bean; Eanna Lohan, Michael Hogan, Luke Murnane; Ronan Dunne, Cian Forde, Ciarán Flanagan; Eoin Kelliher, Daniel O'Meara; Harry Dunne, Cormac Nolan, Graham Kenny; David Qualter, Cathal McCabe, Adam Jordan. Subs: Kevin Dunne for Ronan Dunne (50 minutes); Fiachra Lohan for Cormac Lohan (57 minutes); Rory Byrden for Luke Murnane (62 minute).

REFEREE: Brian Kearney.