Leinster Club SHC: Naas march on to semi-final

Naas booked their place in the AIB Leinster Club SHC semi-final following a three point win over Camross of Laois in a cracking game at Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.

Naas, after dominating most of the opening half, led at the break by six points, 1-11 to 0-8 with Jack Sheridan in brilliant form, hitting 1-7 with the goal after marvellous effort after Simon Leacy intercepted a pass, off to Sheridan whose effort hit the net like a bullet, that after the same player hit a cracking point just prior to the goal.

Zane Keenan kept Camross within touching distance hitting seven points in that period, six frees and a brilliant side-line cut with Tomás Keyes the only other Camross scorer to score in the half.

Camross hit the opening three points on the resumption; Jack Sheridan hit a penalty wide for Naas on 37 but four minutes later Brian Byrne hit the net to make it 2-12 to 0-11.

Camross got back to within three after Zane Keegan hit the net from a free.

Naas, however, came back with two vital points and while Camross got it back to three again it all came down to a free for Camross in the 64 minute from 25m out with Zane Keenan but his effort was blocked as the final whistle arrived.

Naas now take on Na Fianna of Dublin in the semi-final in two weeks time, Na Fianna defeatedd Raharney of Westmeath 1-24 to 0-19.

Final score: Naas 2-17 Na Fianna 1-17.

Scorers: Naas, Jack Sheridan 1-10 (8 frees, 65), Cian Boran 0-4, Brian Byrne 1-1, Simon Leacy 0-1, Kevin Aherne 0-1.

Camross, Zane Kenan 1-13 (9 frees, s/l), Tomás Keyes 0-3, Liam Delaney 0-1,

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; John McKeon, Ross Kelly, Peter O'Donoghue; Harry Carroll, Sean Gainey, Kevin Whelan; Rian Boran, Simon Leacy; Conan Boran, Kevin Aherne, Ferran O'Sullivan; Brian Byrne cpt, Jack Sheridan, Cian Boran. Subs: James Burke for Ferran O'Sullivan (40 minutes); Cathal Dowling for Kevin Aherne (62 minutes).

CAMROSS: Tadhg Doran; Darragh Duggan, Cathal Cuddy, Joseph Phelan; Eoin Dowling, Eoin Gaughan, Tom Cuddy; Dwane Palmer, Odhrán Phelan; Andrew Collier, Liam Delaney, Zane Keenan; Tomás Keyes, Mark Dowling, Ciarán Collier. Subs: Ciarán Collier for Odhrán Phelan (38 minutes); Gearóid Burke for Daniel Delaney (41 minutes); Lorcan Burke for Eoin Gaughan (49 minutes); Oisin Bennett for Andrew Collier (56 minutes); Eoghan Cuddy for Liam Delaney (63 minutes).

REFEREE: Caymonn Flynn, Westmeath.