PROVISIONAL TOWNS
SECONDS CUP FINAL REPLAY
NAAS RFC
Sunday 11 May 2025
Venue: Kilkenny RFC
Kick-Off: 15:00
Referee: Clive Wardrop
Line 1: Garret Weldon | Line 2: Jim Kelly
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends”!
This time last week, the anticipation was building for the Provincial Towns Seconds Cup Final. With both teams having delivered solid performances to get to the final, it had all the ingredients for an exciting, close fought match……and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
We had strong hints of what was to come from both semi-finals, with Naas coming through a tighter battle with North Meath than the scoreline suggested and Gorey prevailing against Wicklow in a high scoring affair after extra time.
It may be the Towns Seconds Cup, but the final delivered a first class game of rugby! A large and vocal crowd from both sides were treated to a tremendous encounter that ebbed and flowed one way then the other.
After 80 minutes they could not be separated and the battle weary troops of Naas and Gorey had to dig deep and go to the well once more in extra time.
There was as much tension and drama packed in to the final 20 minutes of extra time as we had witnessed in the first 80. And still these evenly matched sides could not be separated.
What a great advertisement for amateur rugby and credit to all 44 squad members who played their part in serving up a thrilling contest for the supporters who made the trip to Kilkenny. Well done to both teams.
And so we go again! Here’s hoping for another competitive, exciting game of rugby played in the right spirit, similar to last week.
I wish both sets of players good luck and hope that everyone finishes the game injury free.
Enjoy the match. Yours in rugby,
Gerry Prendergast President Naas RFC
NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK
Richie Brophy
Josh Murphy
Andy Shanahan
Oisin
Tyrrell
Lochlann Cawley
John Shanahan
Kenneth Gralton 14
NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT
Naas
In a cagey last 30 minutes of regular time, Naas scored next with a penalty from the assured boot of John Shanahan to retake the lead 17-14 on 62 mins. But once again the Cobras were reduced to 14 after a yellow for an infringement flagged by the touch judge
The Naas men’s backs were to the wall once again and Gorey scored a late penalty to level the match just before the full-time whistle to bring the game into extra time.
Playing with the wind and renewed confidence, Gorey took control of the first half of extra time – the third half of the match! Late on following a series of pick and goes by their forward pack they forced their way over the line under the posts for a try With the simple conversion they took the lead for the first time since the 3rd minute of the opening half. Gorey now led 21-14 at the final break.
Naas now had a final 10 minutes to rescue their season. To their credit they played with a great degree of calmness and stuck to their game plan. And it paid off half way through the final 10 minutes of extra time when they scored a well worked try from a penalty to bring the game level for the third time
Naas forced their way into the Gorey 22 with a long relieving penalty kick from Conor Sheridan A brilliant line out take by Andy Murphy, and a driving maul set in train a superb Cobras attack which was illegally pulled down a few metres from the try line. Powerful lock David Benn took the tap penalty but was held up short of the whitewash
Eoin Tierney and Aaron Murphy were on hand to recycle the ball and found a way through the despairing Gorey defenders to score almost under the posts. The conversion by John Shanahan left the teams level at 24-all with 3 minutes to play.
The last couple of minutes action will long live in the memory of both sets of supporters. To Gorey’s credit they controlled the ball in the Naas half, probing for the winning score Heroic defensive plays by the Naas players one and all held the Gorey men out
With the clock in the red, the referee awarded a penalty 35m in front of the Naas posts for not rolling away from the ruck. The task of winning the match with the last kick of the game fell to Gorey’s outhalf. But against a strong wind the hushed crowd watched the ball drift to the right and wide
Ultimately a draw was a fitting result for both teams following a great game of competitive rugby contested in the right spirit by all 44 passionate, committed amateur players.
Match report thanks to Dermot Benn.
Spirit of Rugby
NAAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Respect our Game Respect our Game
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.
