Extra time heartbreak for Naas

In the end it took a free from Kilcormac Killoughey keeper, Conor Slevin, on his own 45m line to clinch this magnificent AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-final at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge this afternoon.

A game of high-class quality that could have gone either way but when one considers the Offaly champions played with 14 men from the 52 minute, it was a mighty performance indeed.

Naas manager, Mark Dowling was scathing after the game on the performance referee Thomas Gleeson from Dublin, saying “the free tells the story.”

Naas got off a flying start with Jack Sheridan converting a free inside two minutes while Kilcormac quickly replied through Enda Grogan

Daire Guerin hit a brilliant point from way and from the resultant puck-out, a short effort when to Jack Sheridan who made no mistake finding the net to make it 1-2 to 0-1 after four minutes

Daniel Hand reduced the deficit before Adam Screeney opened his account with a free, Peter Geraghty added a point and when Colin Spain got another the sides were level at 1-2 to 0-5 on nine minutes

A Jack Sheridan free followed by a 65 from the same player stretched the lead and inside a minute a long ball in from James Burke saw Cathal Dowling get his stick to the sliothar to steer it past Conor Slevin and Naas led 2-5 to 0-5 with 14 gone.

Two Screeney frees reduced the lead but Brian Byrne replied with a fine white flag.

A monster free from keeper Conor Slevin reduced the lead, Simon Leacy replied, Screen added a free before a long range free split the posts courtesy of Jack Sheridan as we reached half-time Naas leading 2-8 to 0-10 in a very entertaining game.

The second half was an absolute cracking contest with the sides level on 38 minutes.

And at mid-way point they were still all-square.

Kilcormack were dealt a big blow when Cillian Kiely was given a second yellow and a red on 52 minutes.

Time ebbing away and Naas were one ahead before a brilliant point from Colin Spain leveled and extra time, Naas 2-19 Kilcormac Killoughey 0-25.

The first half of extra time saw Naas edge two clear, Jack Sheridan getting three points while Adam Screeney got three for his side.

It looked like Kilcormac had secured the win when Screeney got a goal on 74 minutes but from the puck-out Naas attacked that ended with Brian Byrne finding the net to two head.

Kilcormack responded with points from Karl Guinan and Cormac Mahon to level.

Conor Slevin pushed Kilcormac a point up but Jack Sheridan leveled again.

Then that free from Slevin clinched it in dramatic fashion as Kilcormac Killoughey march on a final score line of 1-32 to 3-25

Scorers, Kilcormac Killoughey: Adam Screeney 1-15 (13 frees), Colin Spain 0-4, Conor Mahon 0-3, Conor Slevin 0-3 (3 frees), Thomas Geraghty 0-2, Peter Geraghty 0-1, Daniel Hand 0-1, Enda Grogan 0-1, Cillian Kiely 0-1, Karl Guinan 0-1.

Naas: Jack Sheridan 1-13 (10 frees, 65), Cathal Doling 1-0, Jams Burke 0-4, Brian Byrne 1-3, Daire Guerin 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-1, Conan Boran 0-1, Oisin O’Neill 0-1.

KILCORMAC KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Tom Spain, James Mahon; Ter Guinin, Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan; Colin Spain, Damian Gilmartin; Daniel Hand, Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh; Thomas Geraghty, Peter Geraghty, Adam Screeney. Subs: Jack Screeney for Leigh Kavanagh (40 minutes); Karl Guinan for Peter Geraghty (54 minutes); Brian Guinan for Daien Kilmartin (59 minutes); Alex Kavanagh for Thomas Geraghty (59 minutes); Thomas Geraghty for Karl Guinan (72 minutes).

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Liam O’Reilly, Rian Boran, Evan O’Brian; Daire Guerin, Conan Boran, Harry Carroll; Peter O’Donoghue, Simon Leacy; Cian Boran, Cathal Dowling, Brian Byrne; Charlie Sheridan, James Burke, Jack Sheridan. Subs: Fionn Maher for Charlie Sheridan (54 minutes); Oisin O’Neill for Cian Boran (56 minutes); Charlie Sheridan for Oisinn O’Neill (73 minutes); Cian Boran for Fionn Maher (78 minutes).

REFEREE: Thomas Gleeson, Dublin.