Cormac Gallagher saves the day as Naas hang on against Camross

Naas 2-17 Camross 1-17

Naas goalkeeper Cormac Gallagher produced injury-time heroics as his team held on for victory in this pulsating Leinster Championship quarter-final clash in O'Moore Park today.

Naas led by eight points going into the final quarter but the sending off of Peter O’Donoghue in the 47th minute changed the course of the game and by injury time, Camross, even though they were also reduced to 14 men in the 59th minute, were back to within three points.

Gallagher had already made two fantastic saves by the time that Camross sharpshooter Zane Keenan stood over a 65th minute free from just outside the 20 metre line.

Keenan had already scored a goal from a similar position earlier in the match but when the game was on the line, Gallagher reacted to make a fantastic save and send Naas into a Leinster semi-final for the second successive year.

In a game that had a bit of everything, Camross started the better and with Mark Dowling posing a lot of problems in the full-forward line and Keenan in top form on the frees, and from one magnificent sideline ball, they led by 0-5 to 0-3 after 15 minutes but Naas found their rhythm in the second quarter.

They scored a brilliant goal in the 18th minute when Simon Leacy intercepted a pass out of defence and then played the ball inside to Jack Sheridan. There was still plenty of work for the Naas full forward to do but from outside the 20 metre line he drove a stunning shot into the top-right-hand corner of the net to make it 1-4 to 0-5. Naas then kicked on and by half time were 1-11 to 0-8 ahead.

Camross scored the first three points after the break but that could have been wiped out in the 38th minute when Naas were awarded a penalty after a foul by Darragh Duggan on Sheridan,