Sarsfields returned to the scene of their fine win over Maynooth a week earlier to take on neighbours Naas in Round two of the 2011 intermediate A championship.
The Sash started with some purpose and the industrious Freeney shot narrowly wide after some good approach work. Naas showed they meant business by capitalising on some slack marking around the middle to land the opening point of the hour. There was little quarter asked or given in the opening exchanges and Sarsfields centre half back, David Roche, had to be replaced temporarily due to a blood injury. James Carroll landed the first of three points in a row for Sarsfields that saw them lead 0:03 to 0:01 by the ten minute mark. Naas hit back quickly though with three points of their own from play within a few minutes.
James Carroll levelled things up from a free after a heavy challenge on David Breslin. Two goals in two minutes, one for each team, and both scored by the respective number 14's saw the sides deadlocked as the half approached it's end. A point from play from the ever effective Breslin was quickly cancelled out at the other end by an economical Naas full forward who, despite being well beaten in open play by Sash full back Senan Clandillon was capitalising on the scraps of posession that came his way.
At the clocked ticked into injury time, some great combination play from O'Callaghan and Breslin saw a goal chance fall to the latter but he was bottled up before getting his shot away. The Naas custodian was pressured into giving away a '65 which was converted by Hogan to give the Sash a slender lead going in at the break, 1:06 to 1:05.
On a breeezeless evening there was little advantage to be had for either side as the teams changed ends. There was a scare for the Newbridge side just as the second half began as influential midfielder Tomás Lawless picked up a knock. He was ok to continue and went on to had a fine second half as Naas really put it up to his side. Naas levelled thing up with a point from play from their centre forward before Sarsfields struck for the crucial score of the game. A fine combination move saw Aherne square the ball across to corner foward Brendan Cawley who made no mistake to give his team a three point lead at the 40 minute mark. The sides swapped points again as Lawless snapped up a loose ball and struck it over. A important phase of the game came between the 14th and 24th minutes of the half as Naas dominated posession but failed to trouble the scoreboard. Indeed, Sarsfields didn't score again until the 21st minute themselves when Carroll punished Naas for a frontal challenge on the hard running Freeney. It was to be a important score as it seemed to energise the Sash boys and they finished strongly with points from Carroll again and Freeney to lead 2:10 to 1:07 as the clock ticked over the 30 minute mark.
The men in blue and white hoops were not finshed yet, however, and some late pressure yielded a penalty. It was always going to take something special to make it past Maguire in the Sash goal and he was equal to the challenge and made a brave save. There was to be a little more excitement as Denis O'callaghan was adjudged to have overcarried while clearing and a '21' was awarded to Naas much to the annoyance of the vocal Sarsfields support. Maguire was equal to the follow up effort as well and in the scramble to clear the ball was sent over the bar.
The final whistle was blown on the resultant puck-out much to the relief of the Newbridge men. The final score was 2:10 to 1:08.
Two wins from two games and Sarsfields look in good shape to have a real rattle off the 'county'. It will certainly take a good team to beat them on this form.
Sarsfields: Dermot Maguire, Niall O'Connor, Senan Clandillon, Conor O'Dwyer, Alan Barrett, David Roche, Gary Hogan (0:01 '65), David Breslin (0:01), Tomás Lawless (0:02), James Carroll (0:05 4f), Enda Freeney (0:01), Danny Watson, Mick Aherne, Denis O'Callaghan (1:00), Brendan Cawley (1:00).
Substitutes: None
Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer
