Naas prove too strong for Meath Schools

Kevin Reilly's side faded out of contention in the second-half.

LEINSTER SCHOOLS ‘A’ QUARTER FINAL

Nass 3-1-13

Meath Schools 1-1-6

TOM GANNON

Naas’ impressive second-half performance was enough for them to comfortably see off the challenge of Meath Combined Schools on Wednesday evening at Hawkfield.

Kevin Reilly’s side were well on top in the opening quarter and they led by five points after 15 minutes. By the interval, the Kildare outfit had reduced that gap back to two and the second-half was nothing short of an absolute onslaught. Naas hit 2-7 without reply as Meath Schools only managed to register one point in the second-half, just after the restart.

Meath Schools were dealt a blow just before half-time when their captain and leader Lewis Cassidy limped off the pitch. Even though Cassidy returned to the field of play, his impact was greatly reduced. Cathal Barron was fantastic in the middle of the park and was definitely a stand-out performer in the side.

Meath schools got off to a cracking start when Darragh Weldon set up Daithi Wade for a lovely score before the prolific Pat Crawley doubled the young royals’ early advantage.

Jake Madden had an early chance for a goal but the danger was well dealt with by Naas netminder Mark Halligan. Naas got off the mark soon after through a Rory Thompson free but a poor kick-out from Halligan was well claimed by Barron and he picked out Weldon with a nice pass. Weldon caught Halligan off his line and found the back of the net from distance.

A few minutes later Barron claimed another Naas kick-out. This time the Dunderry man kept the glory for himself and kicked a spectacular two-pointer. At the end of the first quarter Meath schools led 1-4 to 0-2. Jack Reilly pulled one back for Naas before a brace of Pat Crawley points extended Meath School’s advantage.

The first of Crawley’s scores was very well assisted by Adam Ducie who played a beautifully weighted pass in from the right-hand side into the arms of the corner-forward. A well-struck two-pointer from Reilly reduced the deficit back to three.

Sean McKeon and Evan Lenehan traded blows. There was some confusion over Evan Cowser’s late point for Naas in the dying embers of the first-half. It was initially awarded as a two-pointer but at half-time, the referee reduced it back to a single minor. At the Interval Meath Schools led by 1-7 to 0-8.

There was some early signs after the restart that Kevin Reilly’s charges could keep momentum when Evan Demange split the posts. That score transpired to be Meath School’s last and goals from Matthew Galvin, Lenehan and Reilly along with a flurry of points ensured Naas pulled well clear as they cruised to the finish line.

Naas - Mark Halligan; Dan Sargent, Tom Kilmartin, Oisin O’Neill; Niall McAndrew (0-1), Cian McKevitt (0-1), Cillian Long; Jack Heneghan, Evan Cahill; Evan Lenehan (1-2), Matthew Galvin (1-3), Sean Tulley; Rory Thompson (0-3 two frees), Evan Cowser (0-2 one free), Jack Reilly (1-3 one two-point). Subs: Cathal Harris, Stephen Murray, Darragh O’Boyle, Fioon Stewart-Byrne, Aran Martin.

Meath Schools - Shayne Brady (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Colaiste De Lacy); Shane Callaghan (Gaeil Colmcille, St Ciaran’s), Thomas Sheridan (Oldcastle, St Oliver’s), Charlie Lynch (Ballinlough, St Ciaran’s); Adam O’Brien (Drumbaragh Emmets, St Ciaran’s), Lewis Cassidy (Na Fianna, Enfield CC), Robbie Johnson (Dunsany, Boyne Community School); Cathal Barron (0-2 one two-point) (Dunderry, Boyne Community School), Evan Demange (0-1) (Drumbaragh Emmets, St Ciaran’s); Daithi Wade (0-1) (St Colmcille’s, Colaiste na hInse), Adam Ducie (Ratoath, Ratoath College), Sean McKeown (0-1) (Castletown, O’Carolan College); Jake Madden (Drumbaragh Emmets, St Ciaran’s), Darragh Weldon (1-0)(Castletown, O’Carolan College), Pat Crawley(0-3)(Oldcastle, St Oliver’s). Subs: Kevin Doyle (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Colaiste De Lacy), Sean Carolan (Clann na nGael, Athboy Community School), Eoghan Leahy (Dunshaughlin, Dunshaughlin Community College), David Daly (Moynalty, St Ciaran’s), Mylo Hussey (Curraha, Ashbourne Community School), Ciaran Sheridan (Dunshaughlin, Dunshaughlin Community College), Aidan Roche (Kilmainhamwood, O’Carolan College), Callum Buckley (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Colaiste De Lacy), Matthew Gallagher (Dunshaughlin, Dunshaughlin Community College), Evan Kelly (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Colaiste De Lacy).