AIL Milestones Stories

JOIN US ON SATURDAY For a very special event to mark a very special achievement by a very special group of Naas RFC players, past and present RECOGNISING AIL MILESTONES

What have Paul Monahan, David Benn, Andrew Kearney, Peter Osborne, David Aherne, Will O’Brien, Johnny Holmes, Ryan Casey, Johnny Delaney, Henry Bryce, Brian Fitzgerald and Adam Coyle all got in common?

With an average of just over 10½ seasons in the green and white and with a collective total of no less than 1,580 caps, this illustrious group of past and present players have each surpassed 100 caps for the Cobras.

In fact, still playing today, Paul Monahan tops the list as a double centurion, closely followed by David Benn who is a whisker away from the 200 club.

This is a magnificent achievement by all 12 players and one we will mark by presenting them with a specially commissioned AIL cap to recognise their dedication and commitment to rugby and to Naas RFC. In advance, we asked them to share some memories of their time on the pitch. We managed to gather some great stories from 10 of the 12. The other two were “not available for comment” and may have been wise judging by some of the shenanigans reported!

Enjoy the memories and, if you can, we would love to see you in Forenaughts on Saturday to cheer on Naas in their games against St Mary’s and join with the lads to celebrate their personal milestones.

Warren Larkin Director of Rugby

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PAUL MONAHAN - 202 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

The 1A/1B promotion semi final against Wesley two seasons ago. A mad game in every way.

Favourite away fixture?

Pitch - Musgrave Park Post Match Club Atmosphere - Armagh Bus - Further the better!

Funniest memory?

Best player you ever played with?

I'll go non-current to make it easier. Johnny Holmes or Paulie Tolofua.

Best player you ever played against?

Ryan O'Neill (City of Armagh) or Craig Casey (Shannon).

Stephen Lackey getting sick on a ref's boots during a scrum!

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DAVID BENN - 194 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

2012/13 Div 2A/2B Playoff Final vs Greystones 44-23 to seal promotion to Div 2A, will always be remembered as one of the greatest ever Naas RFC AIL performances.

Best player you ever played with?

Impossible to name just one after 15 seasons.

Special mentions to Paul Monahan, Poli Tolofua, Adam Coyle, Ryan Casey, Will O'Brien, Peter Osborne and Fionn Higgins.

Favourite away fixture?

UCC - Great track record away there and always a competitive game against a great side and superb hosts. Guaranteed brilliant bus trip home.

Funniest memory?

March 2015, at the end of a very competitive game against Old Wesley, who had arrived to Forenaughts as the undefeated league leaders.

Dave Aherne (aka Sparrow) steps up to kick the ball dead to seal a Naas win breaking Wesley hearts and bursts into song with his best version of Nás na Riogh!

Best player you ever played against?

JJ O'Dea or Kieran Treadwell

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ANDREW KEARNEY - 155 CAPS

What is your favourite game?

One man’s funniest moment is another man’s favourite game !

In 2014/15 Wesley turned up to Forenaughts with bus loads of supporters knowing that the league was there’s if they beat us.

Nobody gave us a chance that day. But we knew what to do and we sent them home after a tight game with their first loss.

Sparrow started singing Nás Na Riogh before kicking the ball out at the end of the game.

Best player you ever played with?

Favourite away fixture?

Any of them that’s the one thing I miss most since hanging up the boots..

Funniest memory?

I’ve some amount of stories, most aren’t for print, but I’ll leave you with a few teasers you can do the digging yourself!

Code red, Sheila’s Hostel, Bristol, Sock and Boston.

I was lucky enough to tog with Mark Cuddihy when I was 19. Ham (Johnny Holmes), Hank (Henry Bryce) and Johnny Delaney are all greats, but Paulie sticks out. He gave so much to the jersey and had a massive impact on me and the team.

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PETER OSBORNE - 144 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

Wesley away play-off semi-final 2022.

Best player you ever played with?

Funniest memory?

A few seasons ago we were warming up for a game and the ref called the team over to check our studs. But he would only check them if we were kneeling on the ground.

James Hume (Banbridge).

Andy Kearney who was captain at the time told us not to kneel and then said to the ref “I don’t kneel for anyone” which caused a big argument between the two before the match had even kicked off.

Favourite away fixture?

Safe to say the ref was not on our side that day!

Darragh O’Shea.

Best player you ever played against?

UCC / the Mardyke.

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DAVE AHERNE - 137 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

Captaining the team to win AIL Division 2A in April 2016.

Favourite away fixture?

Boston RFC 2015. Great trip in more ways than one!

Funniest memory?

Best player you ever played with?

Damien Ward.

Best player you ever played against?

Johnny Walsh (Seapoint).

Introduction of Captain Jack Sparrow on Portugal pre-season tour in year 1.

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JOHNNY HOLMES - 114 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

26 March 2016 vs Malone in Belfast.

Crucial result on the road towards winning Div 2A that year.

Best player you ever played with?

Johnny Delaney, could do anything Best player you ever played against?

Johnny Sexton Favourite away fixture?

Connemara All Blacks

Funniest memory?

I have 2 - an away game in Connemara that was called off due to poor weather. Stayed in Galway on R&R instead. An Garda Siochana got involved and broke up the party!

Another one was telling the boys how important discipline was going to be in a vital survival game vs table toppers Banbridge.

1 minute in Jason Harney gets a straight red card for knocking out their second row!!

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RYAN CASEY - 107 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

Shannon away in the regular 2021/22 season. We beat them 35 – 29.

Favourite away fixture?

Shannon on the back pitch at Thomond Park.

Funniest memory?

Best player you ever played with?

The one and only Paulie Tolofua.

Stephen Lackey getting sick on the ref against Trinity a few years back.

Best player you ever played against?

Not sure on this one to be honest.

No one in particular jumps out!

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JOHNNY DELANEY - 106 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

Naas vs Greystones, playoff game to go AIL Division 2A.

Favourite away fixture?

The local derby for us was Naas vs Barnhall, always a crunch fixture.

Best player you ever played with?

Johnny Holmes. A leader on and off the pitch, gave 100% every time he played.

Best player you ever played against?

Tom Varndell Leicester Tigers vs Naas.

Funniest memory?

Too many to recall.

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ADAM COYLE - 102 CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

My first AIL game mainly because Jason Harney got a red in the first few minutes!

Favourite away fixture?

Wesley has always been a tough game whenever we play in Donnybrook.

Funniest memory?

Best player you ever played with?

It has to be Stephen Lackey.

Can't remember who we were playing but Stephen Lackey was setting up for a scrum and got sick on the ref's boots!

Best player you ever played against?

Tom O'Reilly (Mary's prop) just for the scrummaging battles.

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BRIAN FITZGERALD - 100 AIL CAPS

What is your favourite / standout game?

Best player you ever played against?

I must pick two: The Towns Cup win in 2005 and the AIL promotion game against Greystones in 2013.

Tommy Bowe for Queens.

Best player you ever played with?

I was lucky to play with some Naas legends - Ross Murphy, Marc Fitz, Mark Waldron. But the standout was Andrew “Melly” Melville. He might do nothing for 75 mins and for the last 5 mins score 2, set up 3, send 2 players off to hospital, win the game and pick up the player of the match award!

Favourite away fixture?

Anywhere up North – great post game hospitality.

Funniest memory?

To share a bus journey or changing room with characters like Wally, Trevor Billo Smyth, Ian Kelly, you were always laughing - great memories.

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