Dominant second-half seals semi-final spot for Naas CBS
Aidan McGrane (Naas CBS) Photo: Martin Rowe
Naas CBS turned over a lacklustre first half display to produce a dominant second half in this Bro Bosco Cup Quarter Final against Meath Combined Schools in difficult conditions in Manguard Pitch 2 on Wednesday night.
CBS were out muscled, out fought and out played by the Meath Schools in the first half and went in two behind at the break, 1-7 to 0-8 but indeed it could have been more but for a fine stop by Mark Halligan in goals early in the half. The goal conceded was a bit of a calamity too when a kick out from Halligan was pounced on by the Royal’s full forward, Darragh Weldon and he chipped the Naas netminder for the goal that put his side four points up in the 13th minute.
Whatever was said by the CBS Management Team of Ronan Joyce, James Dunne and Ger Cunningham certainly worked the oracle. Although the Meath Schools got the opening point, within two minutes of the restart Naas were level at 1-8 apiece thanks to a great goal from Euan Cowser, a move that started in their own backline.
Cowser put his side in front for the first time in the 35th minute and the Kildare school went on to outscore their Meath opponents by 2-6 to no score for the remainder of the half. The very lively Even Lenehan got goal number two in the 38th minute and with Christmas on the way Jack Reilly put the icing on the cake with goal number three in the 48th minute. Meath Schools never really threatened in the second half and as well as the three goals CBS also raised white flags through Niall McAndrew, Rory Thompson, Matthew Galvin, Cian McKevitt and substitute, Tom Boran.
Naas CBS will now face the winners of St Pat’s Navan and last year’s champions, Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar in the semi final in the second week in January.
Mark Halligan (Naas); Dan Sargent (Eadestown), Tom Kilmartin (Naas), Oisin O’Neill (Naas); Niall McAndrew (Naas) 0-1, Cian McKevitt (Naas) 0-1, Cillian Long (Naas); Jack Heneghan (Raheens), Evan Cahill (Eadestown); Evan Lenehan (Naas) 1-1, Matthew Galvin (Ballymore Eustace) 0-2, Sean Tully (Raheens); Rory Thompson (Raheens) 0-2, Euan Cowser (Naas) 1-4 (1 free), Jack Reilly (Kill) 1-3 (1 x 2pt). SUBS: Darragh O’Boyle (Two Mile House) for Evan Cahill, Fionn Stewart Byrne (Ballymore Eustace) for Cillian Long, Stephen Murphy (Raheens) for Jack Heneghan, Tom Boran (Eadestown) 0-1 for Rory Thompson, Rian Curran (Raheens) for Sean Tully.
Shayne Brady; Shane Callaghan, Thomas Sheridan, Charlie Lynch; Adam O’Brien, Lewis Cassidy, Robbie Johnson; Cathal Barron 0-2 (1 X 2pt), Evan Demange 0-1; Daithí Wade 0-1, Adam Ducie, Seán McKeown 0-1; Jake Madden, Darragh Weldon 1-0, Pat Crawley 0-3. SUBS USED: David Daly, Aidan Roche, Callum Buckley, Eoin Ennis, Ciarán Sheridan.
Paul Fahey (Dublin
