Naas take Leinster title as Coláiste Mhuire denied in close finish

Naas CBS 1-12, Coláiste Mhuire 2-6

A tally of 0-7 from the front-three of Naas CBS ensured that they took home the Leinster PPS 2nd Year Football ‘A’ trophy as a strong Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar team were undone by scores at crucial periods in this decider last Monday afternoon.

Under the watch of many travelling students in St Mary’s GAA, Rochfortbridge, the Westmeath side could not turn around the hefty deficit they had racked up in the first thirty.

Even after a stellar fightback, Naas stood firm and tagged on late points to ensure they were the victors.

Naas fired first through Cillian McCarthy as the quick corner-forward pointed not long after Coláiste Mhuire had almost found the net with the opening break forward from the throw-in. Michael Brennan, playing in the middle for the Mullingar men, was forced to get back to cut out a Naas goal chance but it took less than a minute before the visitors doubled their score through an Alan Thompson free from close-range. Struggling for the final pass and with some handling errors, the green jerseys eventually got on the board after five minutes through the lively Josh Scahill.

Naas responded through an easy point from Ben Harrington and two from Adam Kelly, the first coming from Coláiste Mhuire losing possession in their own half. It was soon 0-6 to 0-1 when Daniel Milner completed the midfield duos scoring but his forwards were not done yet.

St Mary’s found the net on fifteen-minutes. Brennan opted to strike a free from long-range off the ground but his effort fell short where Ollie Keane was on-hand to punch home, much to the joy of most in attendance.

Points were exchanged by both sides, with Brennan and Scahill (free) getting the home side ones, before a crucial moment right before the halftime whistle.

Harrington took control before laying off to Eoin Nugent on his shoulder. The Sallins player giving Tom McCaul no chance as the ball nestled in the top corner. At the break, the Westmeath men with much to do as Naas led 1-8 to 1-3.

The second-half saw several purple patches for Gráinne Byrne and Joe Corroon’s team. Early points were exchanged through Jamie Leech (free) and Cian O’Connor for Naas. Before St Mary’s hit the net for a second time, Naas will wonder how they did not do likewise.

Cillian McCarthy’s effort from close-range striking the bar before Nugent’s rebound hit the post and McCarthy, once again, saw his effort miss. It mattered little to the home team as Scahill found Brennan and within the scramble the ball rolled to the net with the corner-forward, Scahill, claiming it. Chances came and went for the side trailing 1-9 to 2-4 and they would prove crucial in the end.

It became a one-pointer with ten minutes remaining when Brennan, the standout for Coláiste Mhuire on the day, took advantage of a superb catch from Ollie Keane to point. More chances were missed before the crucial scores from Naas put the game just out of reach.

Adam Kelly, Eoin Nugent, and Alan Thompson (late in injury time) ended the Naas scoring as a sensational Scott Farrelly point for the home team in between those unfortunately counted for little.

Leinster Officer Michael McHugh presented the silverware to Naas as a fine season for St Mary’s comes up just short.

Scorers – Naas CBS: E Nugent 1-2, A Kelly, A Thompson (1f) 0-3 each, B Harrington, D Milner, C O’Connor, C McCarthy 0-1 each

Coláiste Mhuire: J Scahill 1-2 (1f), O Keane 1-0, M Brennan 0-2, J Leech 0-1

Naas CBS: Aidan Kane; Conor Dunphy, Daniel Moran, Neil Reddington; Fionn Moran, Adam Mullins, Aidan Cillian; Ben Harrington, Daniel Milner; Ryan McAfee, Eoin Nugent, Cian O’Connor; Cillian McCarthy, Adam Kelly, Alan Thompson. Subs used: Max Galvin for Milner (50), Zac Minogue-O’Reilly for McAfee (50). Rest of panel: Luke Ryan, Cillian Gilroy, James O’Loughlin, James McGrath, Donncha Ryan, Andrew Brennan, John Shiel, Tom Troy, Noah Tyrell, Oisin Carew, Seán Harris, Seán Redmond, Senan Boran, Ashton Rowe.

Coláiste Mhuire: Tom McCaul; Eoin McGinley, Shay Leavy, Seán O’Connell: Shane Canning, Scott Farrelly, Adam Slevin-Kiernan; Michael Brennan, Aaron Wallace; Peadar Baird, Jamie Leech, Tristan Duncan; Josh Scahill, Ollie Keane, Luke Dowling. Subs used: Cathal Kilmurray for Dowling (h-t), James McHugh for McGinley (46). Rest of panel: Tom Leech, Luke Fitzsimons, Joe Mulvey, Killian Raleigh, Seán Higgins, Conor Glynn, Adam Hughes, Ruairí Heffernan, Aidan Tuite, Liam O’Brien, Matthew Tully, Filip Socha, Senan Brody, Darragh Daly, Sam Clerkin, Michael Fitzgerald, Ciarán McGrath, Ross Maxwell.

Referee: Éamonn O’Connor (Offaly).