Naas breeze past Confey to book final spot
Naas' Cian Boran and Confey Enda Bannon in a battle during their senior hurling championship semi-final. Photo: Sean Brilly.
Six-in-a-row chasing Naas cruised to a predictable thirty-point win over Confey at Manguard Park on Saturday afternoon to qualify for next month’s UPMC Senior A Hurling Championship final.
It was a game that kept journalists and referee Fergus Devereux busy. Apart from the 38 scores there were 33 wides, 25 of those from the winners, six yellow cards and four reds including one to Confey manager Kieran Divilly and unused substitute Conor Murphy.
The outcome was never in doubt from the moment Rian Boran swept over the first point ten seconds into the game, and only their own profligacy prevented Naas from completely swamping Confey in the opening half.
They shot thirteen wides while also registering thirteen scores as they ended the half ahead by 1-12 to 0-4, all of Confey’s scores coming from Frank Bass frees.
The goal came after 25 minutes, Cian Boran pulling first time on a Cormac Gallagher puckout to beat Ian Baker from a narrow angle and that triggered a tetchy period in the run-up to half-time which saw three yellow cards dished out before referee Fergus Devereux saw fit to issue red cards to substitute Murphy and manager Divilly for their unwanted input from the sideline.
Half-Time: Naas 1-12 Confey 0-4 The procession continued in the second half and while manager Tom Mullally will be concerned at the wide count the blustery wind was a factor in that.
Naas embellished their tally with well-taken goals from top scorer Jack Sheridan, who finished with 1-8, and Simon Leacy while both teams were reduced to fourteen men when Conan Boran was dismissed on a second yellow card and Confey’s Oisín Lynch went on a straight red after a mellee erupted midway through the second half.
Naas meet the winners of tomorrow’s clash between Éire Óg Corra Choil and Maynooth in the final in St Conleth’s Park on the first Sunday in November.
Cormac Gallagher; John McKeon, Richard Hogan, Peter O’Donoghue; Harry Carroll, Conan Boran 0-1, Rian Boran 0-3; Simon Leacy 1-3, Daire Guerin 0-1; Cathal Dowling 0-1, Cian Boran 1-2, Liam Walsh 0-2; Brian Byrne 0-3, Jack Sheridan 1-8 (6fs), Ferran O’Sullivan 0-2.
Kevin Kelleher for O’Donoghue 9, Kevin Whelan for Hogan 10, Fionn Maher 0-1 for O’Sullivan 49, Hogan for Dowling 53, Ciaran Tobin 0-1 for Byrne 56.
Ian Baker; Aiden Crean, Kieran Kilbane, Colm Chan; Paul Feerick, Paul Divilly, Anto Hoare; Frank Bass 0-7 (7fs), Enda Bannon; Neil Ryan, Kevin Chan, Aidan Ryan; Niall Glennon, Brian Grimes, Oisín Lynch.
Eoin Lynch for K Chan HT, Fiachra Lynch for Feerick 52, Brian Keane for Bannon 55, Michael Mullarkey for Grimes 59, Robin Breslin for N Ryan 60.
Fergus Devereux.
