ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B
Saturday 16 November 2024
Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30
Match Referee: Paul Haycock
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and in particular our visitors from Blackrock College and their President Ray McMahon to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture
Both sides go into today's match with identical records in this season's campaign to date - three wins and three loses - and both have amassed 16 points to date Last Saturday we lost away to Dublin University, but almost overcame a 21-point deficit with just 20 minutes remaining and did extremely well to leave Dublin with a losing bonus point Blackrock College defeated Shannon by 24-10 in Stradbrook to register their third win of the season.
The last three encounters between these two sides were hard fought, exciting games of rugby With an average of 58 points per game Blackrock came out on top in both AIL matches last season, while Naas triumphed in the Leinster Senior League final in Energia Park in September It promises to be a very close and competitive game again this afternoon.
The 2024 Your Club Your Country Draw is now live. This annual initiative was first launched in 2011 providing valuable funds for participating clubs The total raised since then is €8.5m. Last year alone, clubs raised almost €1m in funding. ALL PROCEEDS from ticket sales remain in the club. Details of the draw, how to buy tickets and the brilliant prizes on offer, including exclusive Naas RFC bonus prizes, are included on the next page.
Naas RFC and the game of rugby itself is founded on the values of integrity and respect. Can I ask you to take a minute to read through the Naas RFC Code of Conduct, which is included later on in the programme. Please adhere to these guiding principles and especially show respect for our match officials Without them we would have no game.
I would like to thank our club sponsors for their continued support. A list of their names is at the back of the programme, and I would encourage you to support them where possible.
Enjoy the match and don’t forget that our next fixture is away to Nenagh on Saturday, 9 December, before we play our final game of 2024 with Old Belvedere the visitors to Forenaughts on Saturday, 16 December.
Yours in rugby,
Gerry Prendergast
President Naas RFC 2024/25
NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK
8. Darragh Murphy Naas AIL Caps: 6
6. Ryan Casey Naas AIL Caps: 108
7. Will O’Brien Captain NaasAIL Caps: 125
5. James O’Loughlin NaasAIL Caps: 20
4. Eoin Walsh NaasAIL Caps: 75
2.Aidan O’Kane NaasAIL Caps: 11
1. Stephen Lackey NaasAIL Caps: 48
3.Adam Deay NaasAIL Caps: 5
NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK
11.
9. Cormac King
12.
10.
13.
15.
Naas AIL Caps: 6
Paddy Taylor Naas AIL Caps: 6
Peter Osborne Naas AIL Caps: 158
Donal Conroy NaasAIL Caps: 59
Michal Haznar NaasAIL Caps: 8
David O’Sullivan NaasAIL Caps: 3
14. Jack Sheridan NaasAIL Caps: 27
NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT
21.
16. John King Naas AIL Caps: 2
17. Kaleem Niazi NaasAIL Caps: 4
18. Koloa Aisake Naas AIL Caps: 6
19. Muiris Cleary NaasAIL Caps: 26
20. Derry Lenehan Naas AIL Caps: 24
Thomas Sheedy Athy | Dual Status
Fixtures & Results
Week 6 of the 2024/2025 Energia AllIreland League Division 1B season saw Naas travel to Dublin University last Saturday afternoon. Naas have made a decent start to the season, and prior to this game sat fourth in the league table, and therefore they travelled with confidence that they could leave the capital victorious.
In the end it was not to be, as they set themselves a mountain to climb with twenty minutes to go - albeit it was a task that they came very close to achieving. This game was played on a lovely, crisp Autumn afternoon in the magnificent Trinity College grounds, and the visitors had to soak up a lot of early pressure as Dublin Univ dictated play for long periods
The home side should have been in front within sixty seconds when Matt Sherwin lost control of the ball with the try line at his mercy, and after seven minutes it took a superb tackle by Charlie Sheridan to deny Kofi BartonByfield scoring in the left corner.
Soon afterwards came a contentious decision which angered the Naas players and management team. After 11 minutes one of the touch judges intervened and demanded that Charlie Sheridan be replaced for a knock that he had taken some five minutes earlier.
Despite protests from the player and Naas officials, referee Christopher Lough sided with the touch judge, and for Sheridan his afternoon was over. Naas received another set back after 15 minutes when Koloa Aisake received a yellow card for an off the ball tackle.
To their relief Hugh O’Kennedy somehow missed the resulting penalty from straight in the front of the posts
But five minutes later the same player made no mistake with another penalty attempt, after the Naas backs had strayed offside, giving Dublin University a deserved three-point lead.
The lead was almost extended after 28 minutes when Dave Colbert chipped over the Naas defence and looked sure to score. However, Donal Conroy did brilliantly to get back and win the race to touchdown and deny the home side
The reprieve did not last for long as within ninety seconds Dublin University scored their first try of the afternoon After a couple of surges by their pack were well contained, the visitors appeared to switch off for a split second.
Scrum-half Oscar Cawley needed no second invitation, as he picked up from the base of a ruck and raced clear to score. O’Kennedy added the conversion and Dublin University led by ten points to nil, which proved to the interval score.
Naas needed to score first in the second half, and they did just that Within four minutes of the restart the home side were penalised for hands in a ruck and Paddy Taylor slotted the resulting penalty to reduce the margin
But the concession of two quick tries proved to be the downfall for the visitors.
After 53 minutes Oscar Cawley made a half break and when he was stopped Hugh Goddard picked and raced away to score.
DUFC 24 – 22 Naas | 09/11/24 | Match Report
Then on 58 minutes a long pass by Cawley created space out wide for Dave Colbert, and when he was stopped just short, he popped the ball up to the supporting Hugh Goddard to score. Hugh O’Kennedy converted both tries and the home side were in front by 24 points to three points.
The game looked all over but few counted on a storming last quarter by Naas resulting in three tries for them, and almost snatched the game from Dublin Univ’s grasp. After 61 minutes a long pass by Michal Haznar was gathered on half-way by Donal Conroy
A neat sidestep left two defenders for dead, and he made great yardage down the right wing before passing inside to Cormac King. The Naas scrum-half passed on to the supporting Paddy Taylor who sprinted away to score under the posts The conversion by the same player made the score 24-10.
On 67 minutes Naas turned down a kickable penalty and went to touch. For the next seven minutes they pounded away at the line and during this period the home side conceded no less than six penalties. Indeed, Dublin University can consider themselves lucky to have received just one yellow card – awarded to Cole Kelly during this time.
Eventually with another penalty advantage to Naas, Paddy Taylor put in a crossfield kick which was gathered by David O’Sullivan and he touched down for a try. Although the conversion was missed the margin was now reduced to 24-15.
Then on 79 minutes a brilliant break by Donal Conroy down the left wing split the home defence. He then passed inside to the supporting Jack Sheridan who raced away unopposed to score under the posts Paddy Taylor tapped over the conversion and now there were just two points between the sides – 24-22.
Dublin University were reeling but the clock was in their favour and they managed to hold on for a victory that just 20 minutes earlier looked a formality.
Although defeated, Naas can take some satisfaction from the fact that they never gave up, and what appeared to be a certain heavy defeat was almost turned into victory. A losing bonus point is another consolation from the afternoon.
Dublin University: Noah Byrne, Dave Colbert, Louis McDonagh, Hugh Goddard, Kofi Barton-Byfield, Hugh O’Kennedy, Oscar Cawley, Sami Sjoberg, Matt Sherwin, Arthur O’Rahilly, Tom Davidson, Steve Woods, Max Dunne, Connal Henchy, Kevin Jackson. Replacements: Zach Baird, Johannes Dreishmeirer, Cole Kelly, Cuan Doyle, Matt Lynch, Mark Walsh.
Naas: Jack Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Michal Haznar, David O’Sullivan, Paddy Taylor, Cormac King, Conor Doyle, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, Koloa Aisake, James O’Loughlin, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien (capt), Darragh Murphy. Replacements: John King, Stephen Lackey, Eoin Walsh, Muiris Cleary, Matias Giannetti, Derry Lenehan.
Referee: Christopher Lough Match report: Mark Herbert
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
NAAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS, PLAYERS, COACHES & SUPPORTERS
A person shall NOT ABUSE, THREATEN OR INTIMIDATE a player, referee, touch judge, match official or steward whether on or off the field of play and on club grounds.
A person (inclusive of players) shall NOT USE RACIAL, CRUDE OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE OR GESTURES TOWARDS a player, referee, touch judge, match official, steward or spectator.
CLUB OFFICIALS AND STEWARDS
Shall be entitled to request any person to leave the club grounds for behaviour that they deem to be inappropriate or in breach of the code of conduct.
THE CLUB RESERVES THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REFUSE ADMISSION TO THE GROUNDS.
OUR GENEROUS CLUB SPONSORS
Many thanks to all our club sponsors for their continued support. Please, in turn, support them where possible.
MAIN CLUB SPONSOR
