Naas dig deep to see off Mount Leinster Rangers

The Kildare side ousted the Carlow champions in their own backyard. 

Mount Leinster Rangers’ Joe Dundon chases down Rian Boran of Naas. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

Leinster SHC Round 1: Naas 2-17 Mount Leinster Rangers 1-17 

Naas advanced to the Leinster senior hurling club semi-final thanks to this hard-earned victory over the Carlow champions on their home patch of Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

The home side started best with Chris Nolan posting two points. Donagh Murphy and Fitzpatrick also raised white flags. Jack Sheridan converted a free to get the visitors off the mark. The full-forward was the main scorer for Naas in the opening half but he had plenty of support all round him with four of the starting forwards all scoring from play. On two occasions, Rangers led by four points but they were reeled in when Charlie Sheridan was on the end of a simple passing movement. His finish was perfect as he found the bottom left-hand corner of the net on 22 minutes.

That strike was crucial as Rangers battled back to level the game 1-8 to 0-11 at the break.

Naas started best in the second half and could have had an early goal as Rangers keeper, Frank Foley, denied Jack Sheridan at the right-hand post at the O’Hanrahan end of the ground. If the green flag didn’t come points from Killian Harrington and Jack Sheridan eased them into the lead.

A goal was in the offing and came when Sheridan beat Foley from close range on 41 minutes. Rangers suffered a hammer blow when Chris Nolan picked up a second yellow card at the end of the third quarter. To their credit, the Carlow champions dug deep and found an extra gear.

Moving Kevin McDonald from a central defensive role into the full-forward line the move renewed the Rangers effort and they finished strongly. When Donagh Murphy hit the woodwork the sliotar came back into play. McDonald was on hand to shoot home first time from close range.

That left only a point between them. Naas found a little bit more and were rewarded with Simon Leacy landing a vital point from a narrow angle on the right. His second in quick succession was not as difficult but it meant Rangers needed a goal to save the day. That never looked like coming as the Kildare champions dug deep to see out the victory.

Naas: J Sheridan 1-8 (4fs), S Leacy 0-4, C Sheridan 1-0, B Byrne 0-2, F O’Sullivan, K Harrington, C Boran 0-1 

Mount Leinster Rangers: C Nolan 0-7 (65 4fs), K McDonald 1-4 (sl 3fs), J Nolan 0-3, R Murphy, F Fitzpatrick, D Murphy 0-1 each.

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Liam O’Reilly, Ross Kelly, Peter O’Donoghue; Harry Carroll, Daire Guerin, Charlie Sheridan; Rian Boran, Evan O’Brian; Simon Leacy, Brian Byrne, Killian Harrington; Ferran O’Sullivan, Jack Sheridan, Cathal Dowling.

Subs: Cian Boran for O’Sullivan (38).

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: Frank Foley; Michael Doyle, Michael Joyce, Sean Joyce; Richard Coady, Kevin McDonald, Evan Kealy; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Ruairi Murphy, Jon Nolan, Donagh Murphy; Ted Joyce, Diarmuid Byrne, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Tim Brennan for Coady (34), Joe Dundon for R Murphy (44), Dean Tobin for Byrne (52), Paul Coady for T Joyce (54).

Referee: Eamon Furlong (Wexford).