Naas fail to fire as St Martin's advance in Leinster Senior Championship

St Martin's 1-15

Naas 0-13

It was always going to be a big ask for Naas taking on Wexford champions, St Martin's in the Leinster Club SHC quarter-final but the most disappointing aspect from their (Naas) point of view was they just did not perform to the standards they are capable of in this game at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, on Sunday.

The arguement that the step up from the Kildare championship to meeting a team from Wexford is massive and that certainly proved to be case on the day.

In the past few seasons Naas had recorded wins in the early round(s) prior to coming up against the more traditional club teams and it often takes a win at this level to get up to speed and that was certainly the case on Sunday.

Some of the Naas stick-work just wasn't up to the required level, due, it has to be said, to the power and strength of the opposition while a split second decision or a failure to get the sliother under control at the first attempt is simply punished time and time again; couple that with the few injuries that Naas went into this game with, especially influential centre back Conor Boran, made it all that bit more difficult.

There was a minute silence at the start of the game in honour of former County Board Chairman, and Naas chairman, John McMahon, who very sadly passed away on Sunday morning, heartbreaking news indeed.

It was Naas who opened the scoring with Simon Leacy finding the posts before the St Martin's influential county man, Rory

O'Connor, opened his account with the first of his eleven points, all frees, a minute later, and while Cian Boran edged Naas back in front, two converted frees followed from O'Connor to open a 0-3 to 0-1 lead on six minutes.

It was certainly obvious from the start that any indiscretions from the Naas boys would be punished and that certainly was the way the game panned out.

Things were hotting up early on with team captain, Brian Byrne, taking a heavy hit and following on from that the match official handed out yellows to Ross Kelly (Naas) and Joe O'Connor of Martin's.

Cian Boran tied up the game on ten but quick ball inside saw Naas defenders being punished on the double and Rory O'Connor did the damage from placed balls.

James Bourke made a fine catch, was fouled and Jack Sheridan opened his account as we reached the mid-way point Martin's leading 0-5 to 0-4.

Two more frees saw the lead pushed out to three before Sheridan reduced that with a free.

Another ball inside to the danger area resulted in another free for the Wexford champions and the lead was back to three again.

Jack Devereux capitalised on an attempted Naas pass out of defence and he fired over the first point from play for Martin's.

Ferran O'Sullivan took a ferocious frontal hit which forced the live-wire to leave the pitch with Joe O'Connor very fortunate indeed to receive just a yellow card.

Jack Sheridan converted a free on the 65 but Rory O'Connor replied with a similar score as St Martin's went to the dressing room leading by four points, a lead, in fairness that could have been greater — 0-10 to 0-6.

Naas needed a good start on the resumption and that they got with Jack Sheridan converting two frees to leave two between them but that man Rory O'Connor was soon back to converting frees before an accidental clash saw Harry Carroll and Daithi Waters requiring treatment but thankfully both recovered and played on.

A St Martin's sideline official was yellow carded, he was amoung four or five team officials who made their feelings felt on practically every decision — more decisive action by the referee was certainly called for but was not forthcoming.

That yellow came after a shot waved wide by the umpires (it certainly looked left and wide from the press area) but the linesman came in for some heavy 'heat'’ from the Wexford officials, for not intervening.

Jack Sheridan reduced the deficit to two points while Rory O'Connor showed he was human missing the target with a free.

Two more white flags for the visitors, Darren Codd and O'Connor (free) after missing one a minute previously but the lead was out to four 0-13 to 0-9 with 47minutes on the clock.

Ferran O'Sullivan who bravely re-appeared after that hit before the break, fired over; Jack Sheridan had it back to two on 51 minutes.

St Martin's missed another free before Rory O'Connor got them back on track. A fine move saw Jack O'Connor in on goal, fouled, penalty, and Jack O'Connor blasted to the net, the first goal that Naas have conceded in the entire championship of 2024.

Harry Carroll replied with a point and Jack Sheridan with a free but Kevin Whelan picked up a second yellow (and a red) as the final point of the game arrived from yet another free, converted by Joe Coleman as Martin's advanced on a score-line of St Martin's 1-15 Naas 0-13.

Disappointing day for Naas, they certainly hung in, against the odds at times, and one can only wonder if they had pushed up late in the second would they have had more joy.

No doubt though that St Martin's won on merit but Naas will be fully aware they, unfortunately, did not do themselves justice on the day.

Scorers, St Martin's: Rory O'Connor 0-11 (11 frees), Jack O'Connor 1-0 (penalty), Jack Devereux 0-1, Kyle Firman 0-1, Darren Codd 0-1, Joe Coleman 0-1 (free).

Naas: Jack Sheridan 0-8 (8 frees), Cian Boran 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-1, Harry Carroll 0-1, Ferran O'Sullivan 0-1.

St Martin's (Wexford): Dylan Byrne; Eoin O'Leary, Paddy O'Connor, Philip Dempsey; Daithi Waters, Joe O'Connor. Joe Barrett; David Codd, Conor Firman; Barry O'Connor, Jack O'Connor, Darren Codd; Jack Devereux, Kyle Firman, Rory O'Connor. Subs: Luke Kavanagh for Joe O'Connor (46 minutes); Ben Stafford for Jack Devereux (54 minutes); Joe Coleman for Kyle Firman (56 minutes); Sam Audsley for Paddy O'Connor (57 minutes); Michael Codd for Philip Dempsey (61 minutes)

Naas: Cormac Gallagher; Harry Carroll, Richard Hogan, Peter O'Donoghue; Rian Boran, Ross Kelly, Kevin Whelan; Daire Guerin, James Burke; Cathal Dowling, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Brian Byrne cpt. Jack Sheridan, Ferran O'Sullivan. Subs: Killian Harrington for Ferran O'Sullivan (ts 28-start of second half); Killian Harrington for Cathal Dowling (57 minutes).

Referee: Thomas Gleeson, Dublin.