Naas CBS knock St Mel’s College Longford out of the Leinster championship

Naas CBS . . . 2-9    St Mel’s College . . . 1-7

Rattled by a terrible start which left them trailing by 1-3 to 0-0 with just ten minutes gone on the clock and who conceded a soft second goal just before the break, St Mel’s suffered the bitter disappointment of defeat against the title holders Naas CBS.

So the long wait for Leinster Championship glory for the famous Longford college goes on in the aftermath of their previous senior football triumph 21 years ago as the current side had to settle for second best against the Co Kildare school in the semi-final clash at the Kinnegad grounds on Saturday last.
Powered by the physically strong midfield pairing of Cian O’Reilly and Liam O’Connor who clocked up a total of 2-2 between them, Naas CBS never really looked like letting victory slip from their grasp in their quest to complete a three-in-a-row in the Leinster SFC.
Coached by Longford native Cormac Hughes, the former Colmcille player who is a teacher in the school, Naas held a comfortable 2-4 to 0-4 lead at half-time but were under considerable pressure on the changeover as St Mel’s staged a determined comeback.
Hit by the significant blow of fielding without suspended midfielder Jamie Dorr (Clonguish), St Mel’s were thrown a lifeline when Ross Shields scored a cracking goal in the 38th minute and the gap was closed to just a couple of points (2-6 to 1-7) when Paddy Moran fired the ball over the bar in the 41st minute.
As it turned out, the boys in blue failed to register another score during the remainder of the match in missing a few costly chances whereas the reigning champions Naas CBS added three more points to their tally (a brace from substitute Daire Gilmartin) to clinch a deserved success.
The other team through to the Leinster final are ironically Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore who crashed to a 4-12 to 2-7 defeat against St Mel’s in the opening round of the group stage earlier in the season.
St Mel’s were missing three of the team that produced a fantastic finish to topple Tullamore at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park back in October - notably key players Paddy Moran, Michael Flynn and Ross Shields.
Colaiste Choilm were also apparently understrength on that occasion and have recovered remarkably well to reach the provincial ‘A’ decider for the first time ever.
Naas CBS have been a major dominant force in the recent past and looked like crushing St Mel’s when they stormed into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead.
The goal was scored by Liam O’Connor, who burst his way through to blast the ball to the back of the net, while the points were kicked by Tom Kelly (free), A.J. Jordan (free) and Cian O’Reilly.
The stunned Longford college gradually got their act together, splendidly marshalled by their commanding captain Andrew Flynn at centre-half-back, and opened their account with a point from Paddy Mollaghan in the 12th minute.
After Paddy Moran had a goal attempt blocked, three more scores followed from Michael Flynn (free), the dangerous Moran and Andrew Flynn to close the gap to 1-4 to 0-4 with Cian O’Reilly landing a magnificent point for Naas.
With time running out in the first half, a wayward kickout went straight to Liam O’Connor who made no mistake to score his second goal in what was a bad blow for St Mel’s.
Playing against the wind, the odds were stacked against the underdogs but they made a bright start to the second half with a well struck point from Michael Flynn.
Naas responded with a glorious score from their keeper Charlie Carroll who was allowed to surge forward unchallenged and the comfortable lead was extended to 7 points when wing back Cathal McCarthy shot over the bar.
Then came the inspirational St Mel’s goal from Ross Shields after he received the ball from Paddy Moran and a couple of points quickly followed from corner-forward Cormac Flynn and Moran.Naas were now protecting a slender 2-6 to 1-7 advantage but they got back on top with points from Daire Gilmartin (2) and their impressive defender Rob Murray to clinch the win and it did not matter when Tom Kelly was dismissed for a black card offence in stoppage time.

NAAS CBS: Charlie Carroll (Eadestown, 0-1); Niall Cramer (Raheens), Brian Hoctor (Naas), Matthew Kelly (Naas); Rob Murray (Naas, 0-1), Jamie McGuirk (Raheens), Cathal McCarthy (Raheens, 0-1); Cian O’Reilly (Raheens, 0-2), Liam O’Connor (Naas, 2-0); Alex Lenehan (Naas), Ferdia O’Domhnaill (Sallins), Tom Kelly (Naas, 0-1, free); Daniel Hammill (Raheens), A.J. Jordan (Kill, 0-1, free), Evan Gilmartin (Raheens). 

Subs:- Daire Gilmartin (Raheens, 0-2) for A Lenehan (34 mins); Dara Cooke (Raheens) for D Hamill (39 mins); Jack Kelly (Eadestown) for F O’Domhnaill (44 mins); Owen Thompson (Kill) for A.J. Jordan (53 mins); Shane Malone (Raheens) for E Gilmartin (60 mins). 

ST MEL’S COLLEGE: Stephen Oates (Young Grattans); Paddy Clancy (St Brigid’s Killashee), Conor Flynn (Clonguish), Mark Cooney (Clonguish); Cormac Flynn (Kilmore, Clonguish), Andrew Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1), Kevin Baskett (Clonguish); Ross Shields (Clonguish, 1-0), Enda Quinn (Killoe Emmet Og); Daniel Carey (Clonguish), Paddy Moran (Killoe Emmet Og, 0-2), Harry Mulvihill (Young Grattans); Cormac Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1), Paddy Mollaghan (St Brigid’s Killashee, 0-1), Michael Flynn (0-2, 1 free).

Subs:- James Hagan (Clonguish) for P Mollaghan (half-time); Davin Donnelly (Killoe Emmet Og) for D Carey (41 mins); Ryan Keogh (Killoe Emmet Og) for K Baskett (53 mins). 

Referee: Niall Ward (Westmeath).