No letting up from county champs as Naas dominate Éire Óg Corrachoill

UPMC SHC Group A, Round 3

Naas 4-17

Éire Óg Corrachoill 0-16

Naas confirmed their hot favourites tag to retain their senior title when defeating Éire Óg Corrachoill in Round 3 of the UPMC SHC, hitting four goals in the process.

Despitie already qualified for the last four Naas didn't rest on their laurels as they secured a thirteen point victory over Éire Óg Corra Choill who gave the county champions a much stiffer test than most people would have envisaged.

Naas will certainly benefit from the level of intensity thrown at them as they continue their march in search of another county title.

A deluge of rain just before throw in ensured difficult conditions and some water on the stand side only compounded the level of difficulty.

Paul Dolan pointed the opening score of the game, from a free, after two minutes; Dolan hitting an impressive twelve points over the hour.

Jack Sheridan pointed his opening score again from a free on three. Dolan added his second on eight following a long clearance from Paul Dermody.

Naas responded immediately and when James Burke found Jack Sheridan the Naas sharpshooter hit it high into the net.

Kevin Whelan from 50 metres for Naas and a similar effort from Éire Óg's Niall Cramer left two between the sides as we passed the 12 minute.

Naas moved four ahead as they hit two points inside ninety seconds.

The hard working Brian Byrne found himself free some sixty metres from goal and he made no mistake. Simon Leacy picked up the resultant restart before setting up Kevin Aherne for his opening score of the game.

Éire Óg Corra Choill to their credit were matching Naas for workrate and intensity and two Paul Dolan frees, either side of a James Burke white flag, was keeping them in contention.

Jack Sheridan, from a free, after Brian Byrne was fouled, traded points with Paul Dolan. Rory O'Neill left two between them as we passed the 20 minute.

In the blink of an eye Naas were five ahead. James Burke found himself out on the sideline with little options in front of him but he managed to pick out a 30 metre pass to Kevin Aherne and he fired low past Paul Dermody.

The five point deficit didn't deter Éire Óg Corra Choill and they came right back at Naas.

Two Paul Dolan frees brought his tally to seven and reduced the gap to three points with half time on the horizon.

Naas saw out the half with two late points to leave it 2-8 to 0-9, Jack Sheridan pointed a simple free after brother Charlie was brought to ground 20 metres out.Simon Leacy was rewarded for some hard graft and he had time to slot over before Matthew Redmond blew for half-time.

Referee Redmond had to make his way to the dressing rooms to get a move on both teams as they enjoyed a near 20 minute half time break.

The opening half goals were a killer for Éire Óg Corra Choill but they were back to where they left off on the restart and Paul Dolan, from a free, closed the gap to four within sixty seconds.

You would have expected a backlash and an improvement from Naas in the second half and although Éire Óg Corra Choill never dropped their work-rate the county champions outscored them by 2-9 to 0-6 over the closing 28 minutes.

Jack Sheridan and Cian Boran fired over two before the 33 minute before Paul Dolan again converted a free to reduce the gap to five and keep his sides hopes of an upset alive.

Naas don't give second chances and when Cian Boran broke through the heart of the Éire Óg defence he found James Burke on his shoulder and Burke struck home the third Naas goal from the resultant pass. Burke was showing a renewed freshness and hunger as he recovered from the rigours of the inter county season that saw him play through injury in the later stages.

Paul Dolan again responded with a free but Jack Sheridan and Ciaran Tobin, from long range, regained the nine point advantage.

Jack Sheridan helped himself to a further 1-4 before the end to bring his personal tally to 2-8, the goal coming from a penalty after Brian Byrne had felt the wrath of the Éire Óg Corra Choill defence inside the large square. Sheridan firing low into the bottom corner.

Rian Boran got forward from full back to fire over, again James Burke the provider.

In fairness to Éire Óg Corra Choill and although the game had gone they still showed the hunger to create more chances.

Paul Dolan fired over three late frees before full back Cormac Byrne was equal to what Rian Boran could do for Naas with a 50 metre white flag.

Final scoreNaas 4-17 Éire Óg Corrachoill 0-16.

NAAS: Cormac Gallagher, John McKeown, Rian Boran 0-1, Harry Carroll, Peter O Donoghue, Sean Gainey,Kevin Whelan 0-1, Simon Leacy 0-1, Charlie Sheridan 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1, James Burke 1-1, Ciaran Tobin 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1, Jack Sheridan 2-8 ( 1 penalty,6 frees), Kevin Aherne 1-1.

Eire Og Corra Choill: Paul Dermody, Conor Sullivan, Cormac Byrne 0-1, Padraic Cribben,Niall Cramer 0-1, Michael Begley, Adam Delmer, Gary Johnson 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-12 (10 frees), Rory O Neill 0-1 , Conor Kielty,James Dolan,Cian O Reilly,Kevin Connor, Scott Cramer. Subs: Sean O'Neill for Scott Cramer 47; Phil Tierney for Adam Delmer 56.

Referee Matthew Redmond.