Naas vs Highfield_Match Day Programme_05Apr

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC

HIGHFIELD RFC

Saturday 05 April 2025 Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30 Match Referee: Graeme Ormiston

Naas RFC 2024-25 Senior Mens AIL Squad and coaching & management team – thanks for a great season of sport.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and in particular our visitors from Highfield and their President Brian Twomey to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture.

This is the final game of the season and although we were defeated by Queens University last week, results elsewhere meant that we have secured our Division 1B status for next season. It is a tremendous achievement, and on behalf of the Executive Committee, members and supporters, I would like to extend my congratulations to all the players and coaching staff.

Highfield are embroiled in a battle with Shannon and Dublin University for survival and will travel here determined to secure victory and the points on offer. This should ensure that we are in for a great game of rugby this afternoon. I wish both sets of players good luck and let’s hope we have an entertaining and injury free game.

It is an especially significant game for Charlie Sheridan. He will earn his 50th AIL cap for Naas RFC today. Congratulations on a great milestone Charlie - what a nice way to end the season.

We hope to see your undoubted talents on show for many more seasons to come at Forenaughts.

While the AIL season ends on the pitch today, there is still lots of activity on and off the playing fields. The 20th Annual Michael Higgins Jnr Memorial match between Naas Barbarians and Newbridge College XV takes place after the AIL game. KO is at 16:15. You are very welcome to stay and support this match in memory of Michael Junior.

Our annual Joe Moran Blitz takes place next Saturday, 12 April where we will see clubs and under 11 players from around the country visit Forenaughts for the day.

We have been selected by the Leinster Branch to host the 2025 Bank Of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup final on April 27th. This is a huge honour for the club, and planning is underway to have everything in place for the big day in three weeks time.

I’m looking forward to our End of Season Awards Night which will be held in Naas Racecourse on Friday, 16 May. More details to follow on our social channels.

Put the dates in your diary and if you are asked to help in any way, before or on the day of the events, we would be very grateful for your support to ensure successful occasions for all.

And finally for now, we are already planning for the start of next season! We hope to introduce jersey ambassadors, where an individual, a family or a business, can become the exclusive ambassador of their preferred squad jersey for the whole of the 2025/26 season. More details are included in the programme, including a link to register your interest. Or you can drop a note to naasrugbypro@gmail.com.

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. Can I also take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped me personally throughout the season and made my year as President extremely enjoyable. Enjoy the match.

Gerry Prendergast President Naas RFC 2024/25

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK 2

1

3

Conor Doyle

Aidan O’Kane

Adam Deay

Naas AIL Caps: 97

Naas AIL Caps: 22

Naas AIL Caps: 16

5

4

James O’Loughlin

Eoin Walsh

Naas AIL Caps: 31

Naas AIL Caps: 83

6 8

Will O’Brien (Capt)

Muiris Cleary

Naas AIL Caps: 34

7

Ryan Casey Naas AIL Caps: 119

Naas AIL Caps: 135

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK 9

10

Cormac King Bryan Croke

Naas AIL Caps: 17

Naas AIL Caps: 72

12

13

Charlie Sheridan Naas AIL Caps: 49

Donal Conroy Naas AIL Caps: 70

11

14 15

Derry Lenehan

David O’Sullivan

Naas AIL Caps: 35

Naas AIL Caps: 10 Peter Osborne Naas AIL Caps: 169

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT 16 17 Tadhg Dooley Naas AIL Caps: 13

18 Conan Dunne Dual Status

Darragh Murphy

19

Naas AIL Caps: 16

20 Cillian Dempsey Naas AIL Caps: 85

21 Paulie Tolofua Naas AIL Caps: 96

Ethan Travers Naas AIL Caps: 4

HIGHFIELD RFC MATCHDAY SQUAD

1

2

Niall DOWNING

4 6

Connor KENNELLY

Dave O’CONNELL

9

8

Richard CASSIDY

12

11

Travis COOMEY (Capt.)

5

Dave O’HALLORAN

7

Miah CRONIN

10 13

Shane BUCKLEY

15

Ewan KENNEDY

Shane O’RIORDAN David O’SULLIVAN

Colin

O’NEILL

3

Daragh FITZGERALD

Jamie SHANAHAN

14

Ben MURPHY

REPLACEMENTS 16. Paddy Dineen 19. Adam Murphy

17. Mark Fitzgibbon 20. Barry Spearman

18. Aidan Keane 21. Luke Kingston

Fixtures & Results

Division 1B Table

Date 21 Sep 28 Sep 05 Oct 19 Oct 26 Oct 09 Nov 16 Nov 07 Dec 14 Dec 11 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 07 Feb 15 Feb 01 Mar 22 Mar 29 Mar 05 Apr

Home Highfield Naas Shannon Naas Naas Dublin University Naas Nenagh Ormond Naas Old Belvedere Naas Blackrock College Naas UCC Old Wesley Naas Queens Naas

Score 19 – 17 61 – 21 18 – 23 10 – 22 34 – 30 24 – 22 10 – 38 19 – 18 10 – 51 23 – 10 27 – 21 36 – 29 33 – 12 29 – 24 20 – 57 10 – 15 26 – 15 0–0

Away Naas Queens Naas Old Wesley UCC Naas Blackrock College Naas Old Belvedere Naas Nenagh Ormond Naas Dublin University Naas Naas Shannon Naas Highfield

NAAS RFC MENS SENIOR TEAM JERSEY AMBASSADORS 20th Annual Michael Higgins Jnr Memorial Game

2025-26 AIL SEASON The 20th Annual Michael Higgins Jnr Memorial match takes place after the AIL game on Saturday. KO is at 17:00. Naas Barbarians vs Newbridge College XV promises to be a competitive and entertaining game played in good spirit with Newbridge College looking to retain the trophy they won in last year’s encounter.

NAAS RFC JERSEY AMBASSADORS 2025-26 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Over the past two years we have published a squad announcement video for every senior mens AIL match together with a digital programme for each home game.

For next season we are looking to introduce jersey ambassadors, where an individual, a family or a business can become the exclusive ambassador of their preferred squad jersey for the whole season.

Your name or business brand would be associated with the jersey on all 27 senior men’s publications across all 18 AIL matches, with a reach of 3,000+ per match.

Are you a past player with an affiliation to a jersey number? Do you have a family member playing? Do you have a lucky or special number? Do you want an opportunity to promote your business? Let us know by registering your interest - click below.

Naas 10 – 15 Shannon | 22 March | Match Report After a three week break the Energia AllIreland League Division 1B resumed last Saturday afternoon when Naas hosted Shannon.

However, when the maul was stopped, Cian McCann managed to break free from the side of it and crashed over a try, which Jamie Gavin converted.

The famed Munster club arrived in Naas desperate for a win, as they went into the contest sitting at the bottom of the table.

They were further ahead after 29 minutes when following a period of sustained pressure, they forced their way up to the Naas try line.

On the other hand, the home side could not have been in better form, scoring 57 points in a dismantling of Old Wesley in their previous outing.

On that occasion Naas played some scintillating rugby, but due to the terrible weather conditions prevailing on Saturday such rugby was not possible here, and a tight, hard-fought battle ensued.

Some extremely heavy rain from lunchtime onwards made conditions extremely difficult for both players and spectators alike, but despite this, with the help of a large travelling support, there was a fine crowd in attendance.

There was an extremely cagey opening to the game and despite Shannon losing a man after just three minutes – John O’Sullivan received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on – scoring chances were few and far between. However, the visitors managed to break the deadlock after 22 minutes.

Naas were awarded a penalty deep in their own 22, but on the intervention of the touch judge, referee Daniel Carson reversed his decision and awarded it to Shannon.

The penalty was dispatched to touch, and from the line-out the visitors set up a driving maul which Naas did well to contain.

A quick pass by scrum-half Ian Leonard found Stephen Kiely on the left touchline and he dived in to score in the corner.

Although Jamie Gavin missed the conversion Shannon led by 12 points.

Naas needed a quick response, and they got it within three minutes. When Charlie Sheridan picked up a ball on the ten metre line there appeared to be very little on for him.

But a neat sidestep split the visiting defence apart and he sprinted clear for a superb score. Peter Osborne added the extras to make it Naas 7 – Shannon 12, which proved to be the interval score.

If anything, conditions got even worse in the second half. The visitors went further in front after 50 minutes when Jamie Gavin slotted a penalty awarded for a high tackle, before there was a contentious decision after 58 minutes.

Charlie Sheridan intercepted a ball on half-way, and he quickly passed to Peter Osborne who chipped ahead.

However, after the kick Osborne was cynically taken out, but the referee deemed that it merited just a penalty to Naas, much to the annoyance of the home supporters who were baying for a yellow card.

Naas 10 – 15 Shannon | 22 March | Match Report Peter Osborne did reduce the gap back to five points after 66 minutes when he kicked a penalty, before John O’Sullivan was off target for the visitors with a similar effort on 74 minutes.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Jack Sheridan, Bryan Croke, Cormac King, John King, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, Eoin Walsh, Muiris Cleary, Will O’Brien (capt), Ryan Casey.

During this period Naas lost Jack Sheridan to injury and hopefully he will make a quick recovery.

Replacements: Francisco Bartorelli, Stephen Lackey, Cillian Dempsey, Paulie Tolofua, Derry Lenehan, David O’Sullivan.

The big Shannon pack were now visibly tired and were taking every possible opportunity to slow up the game which became littered with stoppages.

Shannon: John O’Sullivan, Cian O’Halloran, Harry Long (capt), Luke Doyle, Stephen Kiely, Jamie Gavin, Conor Glynn, Gus Harrington, Kieran Ryan, Jack Brady, Jade Kriel, Cian McCann, Kelvin Brown, Lee Nicholas.

It was a surprise that referee Carson played only five minutes injury time, when there was at least three or four more merited. The home side nearly snatched victory in the injury-time period.

After a high tackle on David O’Sullivan, Naas kicked to the corner.

They threw everything at one last attack and powered over the Shannon line, but they could not ground the ball, and the visitors were awarded a goal-line drop out.

Soon afterwards the full-time whistle was blown with Shannon victorious by 15 points to ten.

This is not a game that will live long in the memory, as the weather dictated that it was very stop / start.

But credit to Shannon who dug out what could be a vital victory come the end of the season and have given themselves a chance of beating the dreaded drop.

Replacements: Jordan Prenderville, Darragh McSweeney, Christian Storey, Luke Murphy, Matt Tepou, Cillian Corkery.

Referee: Daniel Carson Match report: Mark Herbert

Queens 26 – 15 Naas | 29 March | Match Report For the penultimate round of fixtures in the 2024-25 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B season Naas travelled to Belfast last Saturday to face Queen’s University.

Both sides went into the fixture knowing that barring a run of some unprecedented results they were safe from relegation, but while the threat remained, we were treated to a decent first half of rugby here.

However, as the score lines began to filter through from the rest of the fixtures, leading to both sides knowing that their safety was secured, the intensity in the second half dropped leading to a scrappy last forty minutes.

Naas got off to a great start here and took the lead within five minutes. Queen’s University were penalised for having a player in front of Eamonn Rogers as he attempted to clear.

The visitors went to touch from the subsequent penalty, and from the line-out they set up a driving maul which was collapsed just short of the line, before Will O’Brien picked up and crashed over for the opening try.

Peter Osborne added the conversion.

Naas conceded a penalty straight from the restart which led to Queen’s setting up their own driving maul, and saw Henry Walker being awarded a try.

Ryan Street added the conversion to level the scores at seven points each.

A Peter Osborne penalty after 11 minutes restored the lead for Naas, before they went further in front after 22 minutes.

Clark Logan’s attempt to clear for Queen’s was brilliantly blocked down by Darragh Murphy and gave Naas a great attacking platform.

After a series of phases Bryan Croke put in a lovely chip in behind the home defence, and David O’Sullivan won the chase for the touchdown.

Although the conversion by Peter Osborne was narrowly off the mark, Naas now led by 15-7.

There was only one more score in the first period and it went to the home side after 39 minutes.

Again, they used a driving maul which Naas just managed to contain, but the visitors defence were unable to stop Jack Boal from diving over subsequently.

Ryan Street kicked the conversion to leave just one point between the sides at the interval – Queen’s 14 – Naas 15.

The home side were in front just three minutes after the resumption. Naas made the mistake of kicking a goal-line drop out directly into touch, giving the home side a five metre scrum.

Tom Brigg picked from the base of the scrum, and he found Zac Solomon in support who was able to get over the line.

Ryan Street was unable to convert, but the home side led 19-15.

As stated the pace of the game now dropped dramatically, and there were a lot of stoppages and handling errors by both sides.

Queens 26 – 15 Naas | 29 March | Match Report Indeed there was to be just one more score for the remainder of the game, this came after 69 minutes when Oliver Hughes powered over from close range for Queen’s.

The conversion from Ryan Street was successful, leading to a final scoreline of 2615 in favour of the home side. But results elsewhere confirmed that Naas had secured their Division 1B status for next season.

This is a tremendous achievement, and all credit must go to the players and backroom staff. They round off their season next Saturday afternoon with a home fixture against Highfield.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm and all support will be greatly appreciated.

Queen’s University: Rory Telfer, Ryan Street, Wilhelm de Klerk, Callum Florence, Ben McFarlane, Eamonn Rogers, Clark Logan, Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Bryan O’Connor, Oliver Hughes, Charlie Irvine (capt), Zac Solomon, Will Cusack, Tom Brigg.

Replacements: Josh Stevens, Martin Meenan, Paddy Martin, Harvey Patterson, Ethan Patterson, Fraser Cunningham.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, David O’Sullivan, Bryan Croke, Cormac King, John King, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, Darragh Murphy, Cillian Dempsey, Will O’Brien (capt), Ryan Casey.

Replacements: Francisco Bartorelli, Conor Doyle, Cian Buckley, Jack Rogers, Derry Lenehan, James O’Kane.

Referee: Chris Lough Match report: Mark Herbert

Spirit of Rugby

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.

Respect our Game

Spirit of Rugby

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Respect our Game

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Respect our Game

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OUR GENEROUS CLUB SPONSORS Many thanks to all our club sponsors for their continued support. Please, in turn, support them where possible.

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