Naas vs Garryowen Matchday Programme

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC

GARRYOWEN

Saturday November 11th, 2023 Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30

Image thanks to Michael Linehan Photography

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Welcome back again to Forenaughts for the second of two back-to-back AIL home games. I extend a very warm welcome to Dr Jim Fehily, President of Garryowen Rugby Club, his team and travelling supporters.

This is Garryowen’s first ever visit to Forenaughts for an AIL encounter between these two sides. Despite the unfamiliarity on the pitch, our two clubs have many connections off the field.

Irish Internationals Jimmy Kelly and Mick Doyle carried both of our jerseys with pride and indeed contributed in the past to our coaching structures in Naas.

We could not let today go by without also acknowledging the late Billy Reid, who hailed from a great Limerick sporting family. In his day, Billy contributed to the development of minis and youth rugby in our club. To celebrate his contribution, we will be competing with Garryowen for the William Reid Perpetual Trophy. It will be played for across the two games with the aggregate points deciding the winner of the trophy.

Despite a loss to St. Mary’s College there were plenty of positives to take from the game last week and Naas will be eager to build on their second half performance in particular.

Sitting in ninth in the league at this early stage, with Garryowen three points ahead and two places above them in seventh, both teams will be looking to take the points and move away from the bottom end of the table. All of which should ensure a very competitive and entertaining encounter this afternoon. I wish all players an injury free game.

In keeping with the values of rugby I hope that all volunteers, coaches, players and match officials get the respect they deserve today.

Finally, on behalf of everyone at Naas RFC, I extend our condolences to Garryowen RFC and the family of Darren Ryan on his untimely passing last weekend. We will hold a minute's silence in his honour before kick off.

Yours in Rugby Paula Laffan President Naas RFC 2023/24

NAAS RFC TEAM 2. Aidan O’Kane Raheny

1. Adam Coyle Naas

5. James O’Loughlin Naas

4. Conor McVerry Whitianga

6. Paul Monahan Caragh

8. Eoin Walsh Suncroft

9. Tadhg Brophy Kilcullen

11. Sam Cahill Eadestown

3. Peter King Athy

12. Gary Kavanagh Eadestown

7. Francisco Bartorelli Lagomar

10. Bryan Croke (C) Portlaoise

13. Charlie Sheridan Naas

14. Donal Conroy Athgarvan

15. Peter Osborne Naas

16. Niall O’Hanlon

17. Conor Doyle

18. Muiris Cleary

19. Cillian Dempsey

20. Jack Sheridan

10. Derry Lenehan

GARRYOWEN RFC TEAM Forwards

Backs

Replacements

1. George Hadden

9.

2. Dean Fanning

10. Neil Cronin

17. Mikey Veale

3. Darragh McCarthy

11. Liam Coombes

18. Johnny Keane

4. Kevin Seymour (vc)

12. Gordon Wood

19. Sean Rennison

5. Jeronimo USP

13. Bryan Fitzgerald (c)

20. Kelvin Langan

6. Des Fitzgerald

14. JJ O’Neill

21. Jack Delaney

7. Jack Daly

15. Oran McNulty

Jack Oliver

8. Donnacha Byrne

16. Ben O’Sullivan

Jamie Heuston, Oisin Cooke, James Conroy

ONLY 3 WEEKS TO GO

Match Referee: Kieran Barry

Click on the link below for your ticket – if you’re not in……

https://app.galabid.com/naasrfc

Division 1B Table

Fixtures & Results

Old Wesley deducted 3 points for a breach of the international player clearance process

Date 07 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 04 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 02 Dec 09 Dec 16 Dec 13 Jan 20 Jan 27 Jan 10 Feb 17 Feb 02 Mar 23 Mar 30 Mar 06 Apr

Home Old Belvedere Naas Old Wesley Naas Naas Blackrock College Naas UCC Naas Highfield Naas Buccaneers Naas Garryowen St Mary’s College Naas Queens Naas

Score 18 - 20 33 - 50 48 - 26 14 - 25 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Away Naas Queens Naas St Mary’s College Garryowen Naas Buccaneers Naas Highfield Naas UCC Naas Blackrock College Naas Naas Old Wesley Naas Old Belvedere

Naas 14 – 25 St Mary’s | Match Report After a break of two weeks, the 2023/2024 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B resumed last Saturday afternoon with Naas entertaining St. Mary’s College.

Following defeats in their last two games to Queens University and Old Wesley, Naas were eager to regain winning ways, and although they didn’t achieve it, their second-half performance certainly gave cause for optimism going forward.

Despite all the recent rain, the pitch at Forenaughts looked magnificent for this encounter, and there was a decent crowd present to watch the proceedings.

There was a lot of aimless kicking by both sides in the early exchanges as they bid to gain dominance, and it took six minutes for the first scoring opportunity. This fell to Conor Dean of St. Mary’s, who attempted a drop-goal from 35 yards out, but his effort drifted harmlessly wide to the right of the posts.

But the visitors did strike first after 17 minutes. Naas were penalised for holding on in a ruck and Mick O’Gara made no mistake with the resulting penalty.

St. Mary’s were on top at this stage and came close to extending their lead within another 90 seconds, when a chip through

by Conor Dean almost resulted in a try for Mark Fogarty, with the Naas defence doing well to deprive him in the race for the touchdown.

O’Gara missed with a penalty attempt after 23 minutes, but the visitors did deservedly extend their lead after 26 minutes.

After Naas were penalised for a high tackle, the visitors turned down a shot at goal, went for touch and set up a driving maul which the home side collapsed.

Marys took a quick tap penalty, and after their initial attack was held up just short of the line, Mick McCormack picked from the base of the ruck and dived over. Although the conversation was missed by O’Gara, the visitors were now 8-0 in front.

Naas launched their first meaningful attack of the half after 32 minutes.

Powerful runs by Charlie Sheridan and Bryan Croke put the Mary’s defence on the back front, leading to the concession of a penalty for diving over the top.

This was dispatched to touch and after James O’Loughlin won the line-out the ball was moved into midfield, but referee Andrew Fogarty deemed there had been crossing and awarded the visitors a penalty, which enabled them to clear their lines.

Things were to get worse for Naas just before the interval. Firstly, Conor McVeigh received a yellow card for playing the ball in an offside position, and then from the resulting penalty which Mary’s kicked to touch, they set up a driving maul which Naas were powerless to stop and led to James Harding crashing over for a try.

Although the conversion was again missed by O’Gara, Mary’s led by 13 points to nil, which proved to be the interval score.

However, Naas did have an opportunity to reduce this lead in first-half stoppage time.

Naas 14 – 25 St Mary’s | Match Report A high tackle by the St Mary’s College prop Mick McCormack – for which he received a yellow card – gave Peter Osborne a shot at goal, but his effort was just wide.

Six minutes into the second-half and referee Andrew Fogarty reached into his pocket to brandish a third yellow card of the afternoon. This time Charlie Sheridan was the recipient for a high tackle and Mary’s ruthlessly punished the offence.

They again went to touch and set up a driving maul, and when this was stopped close to the line, Ben Taylor broke away to score. Mick O’Gara did convert this time and the lead was out to 20 points.

Naas had a let off after 58 minutes when Dan Sancery coughed up the ball with the try-line at his mercy. To their credit the home side really got stuck into the visitors for the remainder of the game, dominating possession and territory. They were rewarded for their improved play on 72 minutes.

With Mary’s down to 14 men after Ben Taylor had received a yellow card, they attacked the space created, and found Donal Conroy out wide right. The Naas winger finished in style to score his fourth try in the last three games. Sam Cahill converted from right out on the sideline to reduce the margin to 20-7.

There was still time for another two tries in the game. Firstly, Ethan Baxter scored a fourth Mary’s try on 79 minutes (not converted) to give them a try scoring bonus point, before Jack Sheridan scored a try which was the pick of the day’s scores, after fine play by the Naas backs.

Bryan Croke tapped over the conversion to leave the final score 25-14 in favour of St. Mary’s.

No doubt the visitors were deserving winners on this occasion, but there were plenty of positives for Naas in their second-half display, which hopefully will lead to them getting back to winning ways next time out.

That game is a home fixture against Garryowen, next Saturday afternoon, November 11th. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as usual, all support is greatly appreciated.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Gary Kavanagh, Sam Cahill, Bryan Croke (capt), Tadhg Brophy, Conor Doyle, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Coyle, Conor McVerry, James O’Loughlin, Paul Monahan, Francisco Bartorelli, Evan Coyle. Replacements: Niall O’Hanlon, Peter King, Muiris Cleary, Eoin Walshe, Jack Sheridan, Derry Lenehan.

St. Mary’s College: Steve Kilgallen, Leandro Ramirez, Mark Fogarty, Mick O’Gara, Dan Sancery, Conor Dean, Adam McEvoy, Thomas O’Reilly, Jamie Harding, Mick McCormack, Daniel Leane, Liam Corcoran, Ben Taylor, Ethan Baxter, Ronan Watters (capt). Replacements: James Nelson Murray, Jack Reidy Walsh, Leroy Jack, Ian Wickham, Myles Carey, Conor Hayes, Richie Fahy, Joe Nolan.

Referee: Andrew Fogarty.

HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/UMM1Dec_RiA MATCH REPORT: MARK HERBERT HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO: RICHIE HAYDEN

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