Colaiste Naomh Cormac set up all Offaly Leinster Final with hard fought win

COLAISTE Naomh Cormac set up an all Offaly Leinster Senior Hurling 'B' Final against St Brendan's Community School, Birr, with a hard fought seven point victory over Naas CBS in the semi-final played at Clonad on Tuesday night.

Leinster PP Schools Senior Hurling 'B' Semi-Final

COLAISTE NAOMH CORMAC 1-20
NAAS CBS 4-4

The Kilcormac school overcame the concession of goals at crucial stages of the game to pull away in the closing stages and seal their place in the final.

It was a hard fought contest in difficult conditions but Colaiste Naomh Cormac's hurling ability came to the fore in the final quarter and they finally put the Naas challenge to bed. Naas were a big and physically strong side and they used that effectively to keep themselves in the game but it wasn't enough.

Naas are in the Senior Football 'A' final later this week against Moate CS following their victory over Colaiste Choilm last Friday and they were on the hunt for a Leinster double but Colaiste Naomh Cormac ended their hopes of that goal.

Instead it is Colaiste Naomh Cormac who will go forward to meet St Brendan's CS in the final, provisionally fixed for the weekend after next, and following the victory of the Offaly Schools side in the 'A' final last weekend with a team featuring players from both schools, whoever wins, those players will be in the somewhat unique position of winning both 'A' and 'B' titles in the same season.

Colaiste Naomh Cormac got the perfect start to this game with a goal after just 26 seconds, scored by Adam Screeney but set up by a great run by Leigh Kavanagh. Naas levelled after five minutes when Charlie Carroll's shot was saved but C.J. Boran was able to force the rebound home.

Two frees from Adam Screeney then put Colaiste Naomh Cormac into a lead they never subsequently lost. Naas hit a lot of wides early in the game and by the 21st minute Colaiste Naomh Cormac had moved into a 1-6 to 1-1 lead. Charlie Carroll kept Naas in touch but Colaiste Naomh Cormac moved six points clear approaching half time but they were struck a blow in first half injury time when Cian Boran netted and the half time lead was down to three, 1-9 to 2-3.

Colaiste Naomh Cormac moved six clear again six minutes after the restart but a goal and a point from Sean Murphy cut the gap to just two after 10 minutes of the half. The Kilcormac side didn't panic and hit the next three points only for Naas to hit back with their fourth goal at the midway point of the half.

But that proved to be Naas' last score of the game and Colaiste Naomh Cormac hit five points without reply in the final quarter to pull clear and earn their place in the Leinster 'B' final.

Scorers; Colaiste Naomh Cormac; Adam Screeney (1-11, 0-10 frees, 0-1 lineball), Alex Kavanagh (0-4), Daniel Hand (0-3), Colin Spain, Ciaran Scully (0-1 each).

Naas CBS; Cian Boran (2-0), Sean Murphy (1-1), C.J. Boran (1-0), Charlie Carroll (0-3, 0-2 frees).

COLAISTE NAOMH CORMAC: Cillian Spain; Luke Bracken, James Mahon, Mark Mulrooney; Richard Bracken, Brecon Kavanagh, Ultan Carroll; Colin Spain, Harry Sweeney; Daniel Hand, Leigh Kavanagh, Ciaran Scully; Oisin Guinan, Alex Kavanagh, Adam Screeney.

NAAS CBS: Fionn Kelly; Niall Cramer, Liam O'Reilly, Rian Redfern; Matthew Kelly, Bill Hennessy, Evan O'Briain; Sean Murphy, Ferdia O'Domhnaill; Seamus Kelleher, Cian O'Reilly, Ryan Sinkey; Cian Boran, Charlie Carroll, C.J. Boran. Subs. Oisin Loughran (for Ferdia O'Domhnaill, 35 mins), Cillian Power (for Rian Redfern, 58 mins).

REFEREE: Patrick Phelan (Laois).