Naas come through marathon game to reach Leinster camogie semi-final
Naas camogie players celebrate after their dramatic win in Knockananna Photo: Aisling Hyland
Naas secured their place in a Leinster semi-final after an incredible marathon match this afternoon against Wicklow champions Knockananna.
The sides could not be separated after 90 minutes of camogie, including two periods of extra time, and in the end it was Naas who held their nerve from the 45m line.
Playing against the wind and up a steep hill, Naas went in five points down at half time, 1-6 to 0-4.
A heavy, icy shower fell in the Wicklow mountains early in the second half but Naas put the conditions to good use as they took control of the game with goals from Caoimhe Maher in the 37th minute and Aoife Stynes 13 minutes.
It certainly was tense in the closing stages as Naas protected a two point lead but two frees by Ciara Byrne forced the game into extra time.
Byrne added two more points to put Knockananna ahead before the brilliant Rebecca McDermot hit back with two points to tie the game again.
Byrne’s third point in the first half of extra time gave the hosts the lead again.
McDermott was not to be deterred and her brace of points soon after half time gave the advantage to Naas once more.
Knockananna levelled through Sarah Byrne and that forced the game into a second period of extra time of five minutes in each half.
With battered and tiring bodies on both sides, that extra ten minutes of camogie didn’t yield a score so a 45 shoot out was needed.
Rebecca McDermott, who by then was practically on one leg, converted her 45, as did Aine Conway and with Knockananna failing to find the mark with any of theirs that mean it was Naas who progress to the last four.
Recovery will be important for Naas ahead of next weekend’s semi-final as this was a physical and hard-hitting game and both Róise Hennessy and Allie McGrath had to leave the game injured. Recovery isn’t something that will afforded to many of the Knockananna players as the perennial madness of this time of year means they have a number of players involved with Tinahely’s footballers in a Leinster senior semi-final on Sunday.
Roisin Roche; Aoife Keane, Aine Conway, Fahsaí Nic Chonchradha, Kate Murphy, Niamh Hegarty, Aoife McCarthy; Róise Hennessy, Sara Carroll; Aoife McDermott, Allie McGrath, Aoife Stynes 1-1, Rebecca McDermott 0-8 (5fs), Caoimhe Maher 1-1, Aoibhín Delaney. Subs: Orlaith Delany for Hennessy, 23; Ciara Ryan for McGrath, 48; Sophie Hazzard for A Delany.
Tara McDonald; Emily Hadden, Ciara Stokes, Eimear Mutton, Aine McDonald, Eimear O’Sullivan. Eimear Breslin; Roisin Byrne, Jessie Byrne; Sinead Byrne, Jackie Hughes, Aobha Harmon, Aimee Maher 0-2, Ciara Byrne 1-9 (5fs, 1’45), Shannagh Goetelen 0-1. Subs used: Zoe Katus, Laura McGrath, Aine Byrne, Sarah Byrne 0-1.
: Justin Heffernan/
