Tooreen’s dream of an All Ireland final appearance came to an end in Ballinasloe on Sunday afternoon, where they were deservedly beaten by Nass by five points on a bitter January afternoon.
The Mayo men started the game brightly, but they were overpowered in the end by a physical Naas side who had in Jack Sheridan the star of the show, who finished the day with nine points to his name.
It will be bitterly disappointing for Tooreen to have lost this one, having gone into the game full of belief they could make it to Croke Park, but on the day they were seen off by a better side.
Naas headed to the changing room leading by two points at the break, after a second quarter surge that saw them outscore six points to three. Tooreen had led by one at the first water break on a score of 0-4 to 0-3 with Shane Boland hitting two points from frees and Cathal Freeman and Joe Boyle putting over one each from play.
The Kildare men responded with points form Brian Byrne and a brace from Jack Sheridan who was causing all kinds of problems for the Tooreen full back line.
The Mayo champions extended their lead to two points just after the resumption of the second thanks to another Shane Boland pointed free after Oisín Greally was fouled as he headed for goal.
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On the turn: Fergal Boland tries to get away from his man. Photo: Mayo GAA
However the game was about to start to turn in the favour of the Kildare men who were about to hit a purple patch where they reeled off six points on the bounce in the space of seven minutes, to take control of the game.
Ross Kelly drove the ball over the bar from distance, then Kevin Aherne clipped on over after Tooreen failed to clear their lines. Brian Byrne tagged over a free fro the far side and Jack Sheridan launched one over from distance.
Space opened up for James Burke to put one over from half-way and Shane Ryan got in on the land with a long range effort after another Tooreen clearance was blocked down.
Tooreen were dazed but not out of it and a pointed from from Shane Boland and a well taken effort from play by Eoin Delaney cut the gap back to two points at the half time whistle.
The distance was closed to a single point just after the resumption through another Boland free, but Naas were just about to up their performance levels again and they tagged on five more points to Tooreen’s two up to the second water break and the game was slipping away from the Mayo men heading into the final quarter.
Tooreen kept plugging away, heading for home trailing by four going as the final quarter opened up, but the ball wasn’t sticking for them inside and they were being punished at the opposite end, with the free count going very much against them and Naas taking advantage to stretch their lead out to five at the final whistle.
Scorers for Naas: J Sheridan (0-9, 6f ), B Byrne (0-3, 3f ), K Aherne (0-2 ), K Whelan (0-1 ), S Ryan (0-1 ), R Kelly (0-1 )
Scorers for Tooreen: S Boland (0-6, 5f ), C Freeman (0-2 ), S Kenny (0-1, 1f ), F Boland (0-1 ), E Delaney (0-1 ), C Henry (0-1 ), J Boyle (0-1 )
Naas: C Gallagher; J McKeown, R Hogan, C Gormley; K Whelan, R Kelly, S Gainey; R Boran, S Lacey; K Ahern, J Sheridan, C Dowling; B Byrne, J Burke, S Ryan. Subs:
Subs: Conor Dowling for Sheridan (21 BS ), Sheridan for Dowling (24 ), Conor Dowling for Ryan (42 ), C Boran for McKeown (60 ), C Sheridan for Byrne (62 )
Tooreen: B Douglas; G Nolan, M Morley, D Ruane; J Boyle, S Coyne, D Kenny; O Greally, L Lavin; S Kenny, F Boland, E Delaney; S Regan, C Freeman, S Boland
Subs: D Harrison for Lavin (45 ), C Henry for G Nolan, (48 ), B Morley for S Kenny (49 ), K Feeney for O Greally (57 ),
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary )
