Naas vs Old Wesley 23 March

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

NAAS RFC VS

Saturday March 23rd, 2024

Forenaughts, Naas

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

You are all very welcome back to Forenaughts after a three week break for what is our penultimate home game of the season.

I extend a very warm welcome to Ronan Bools, President of Old Wesley Rugby Club and his squad of players, coaching team and travelling supporters

We are now entering the business end of the season. Both teams will be looking to kick off the last block of games with a much needed win, but for different reasons

Naas currently lie in seventh place on 34 points, with a win putting us one step closer to securing our place in AIL division 1b for another season.

Old Wesley on the other hand come to Forenaughts in a rich vein of form, having won all six games in 2024 to date Another win would put them firmly in the driving seat for a home promotion playoff semi final in April

Today both teams also play for the Stephen Mooney Memorial Cup, which is played every season in honour and memory of Stephen, who played for both clubs during his rugby career The winner of the cup is decided by the aggregate score over the two games we play each AIL season. Old Wesley come in to the second leg with the edge over Naas, having won the first game in Donnybrook. I expect it to be a hard fought encounter and I wish both sets of teams an injury free game.

I would like to thank our club sponsors for their continued support this season. A list of their names is at the back of the programme, and I would encourage you to support them where possible.

Finally, in keeping with the values of the game of rugby please ensure that all players, coaches and match officials get the respect they deserve today

Yours in Rugby

Paula Laffan

President Naas RFC 2023/24

NAAS RFC SQUAD

1. Conor Doyle Naas

2. Niall O’Hanlon Athy

3. Stephen Lackey Blessington

4. James O’Loughlin Naas

5. David Benn Naas

6. Conor McVerry Whitiangg

9. Tadhg Brophy Kilcullen

10. Craig Ronaldson Ballymore Eustace

7. Will O’Brien Sallins

8. Eoin Walsh Suncroft

11. Sam Cahill Eadestown

12. Charlie Sheridan Naas

13.DonalConroy(c) Athgarvan

15. Fionn Higgins Naas

16. Tadhg Dooley

17. Connie Campher

18. Paul Monahan

19. Muiris Cleary

21. Ethan Travers

20. Derry Lenehan

14. Jack Sheridan Naas

OLD WESLEY RFC SQUAD

1. Harry Noonan

2. Howard Noonan

3. Cronan Gleeson

4. Reuben Pim

5. David Motyer

6. Cathal Kelly

7. Josh Pim

15.Nathan Randles Forwards

8. Will Fay

9. Ben Stephens

10.Ian Cassidy

11.Fergus Jemphrey

12.Eoin Deegan

13.Alex Molloy

14.Eoin Murphy

23.Brian Short Backs

16.Kieran O’Shea

17.Sam Kenny

18.Liam O’Neill

19.Sam Pim

20.Keith Kavanagh

21.Bill Corrigan

22.Andrew Vincent

Match Referee: Gaffikin Stuart

St Mary’s College 31 – 17 Naas | 03 Mar | Match Report

Naas travelled to Templeville Road last Saturday to face St. Mary’s College in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B, knowing that a daunting task awaited them.

St. Mary’s had already wrapped up the league with four games to spare, losing just one match all season. With the trophy and medals due to be presented after the game there was a party atmosphere at the venue, with a huge home support turning up and expecting to see a performance fitting of champions.

To their credit the visitors had other ideas and gave as good as they got from the champions for three quarters of the game, only fading in the latter stages.

This fixture survived a late pitch inspection and went ahead, albeit with a deferred kick-off time of 5.15pm, and not surprisingly after all the rain that had fallen the conditions were extremely testing for the players.

The home side started brightly, forcing Naas on the backfoot and were in front after just 3 minutes. Richie Fahy attacked down the left wing and passed to Mark Fogarty, before taking the return pass and racing clear to score under the posts.

The initial pass looked forward, but to the dismay of the Naas supporters referee Andrew Mitchell was happy with it and allowed the score to stand. Mick O’Gara tapped over the conversion to give Mary’s a seven-point lead.

They went further in front after 14 minutes. From a line-out win on the ten-metre line a big driving maul by the Mary’s pack took play into the Naas 22. The ball was then moved out to the backs and a long cut-out pass by Conor Dean found Conor Hayes out wide.

Naas will be disappointed that the Mary’s full-back was not stopped, but he managed to shrug off a couple of tackles before racing away to score Although O’Gara missed the conversion, Mary’s led by 12 points to nil

Naas needed to raise their game, or this contest was going to get away from them, and to their credit they did just that Their pack really took it to the home side with the likes of James O’Loughlin, Muiris Cleary and Conor Doyle driving with force and forcing their opponents backwards

This led to Mick McCormack receiving a yellow card after 22 minutes for a high tackle and straight away Naas made their numerical advantage count The penalty was dispatched to touch by Craig Ronaldson and from the line-out win by David Benn a driving maul was set up

This took play right up to the Mary’s line and when it was stopped Naas went through the phases, before moving the ball out wide to Jack Sheridan The Naas winger stepped inside an attempted challenge before scoring and with Sam Cahill converting the visitors were right back in the match, trailing by just 12 points to seven

The scores were all square after 29 minutes Marys attempted to run a ball on halfway, but the attack broke down Quick as a flash Donal Conroy fly-kicked the ball ahead, then showed some soccer skills to dribble the ball over the line, before touching down for the score The conversion attempt was narrowly wide, leaving the scores level at 12 points all

The home side however were to have the final say of the half On 38 minutes Naas were penalised for holding on in a ruck and the penalty was kicked to touch

From the line-out Mary’s set up a driving maul that Naas were powerless to stop, and they crashed over for a try which was awarded to Jack Nelson Murray. The conversion was missed by Mick O’Gara and soon afterwards the half-time whistle was blown, with Marys leading 17-12.

Naas started the second-half brightly, taking the game to the champions. They dominated possession and territory and were rewarded with a fine score after 54 minutes. A sublime break by Craig Ronaldson carved open the Mary’s defence and took play deep into the 22. The forwards then battered away before releasing the ball to the backs. Some quick hands transferred the ball out to Charlie Sheridan who was lurking out wide, and he scored in the corner. The very difficult conversion was missed, leaving the scores level at 17 points all.

Naas almost went in front after 59 minutes. The home side were penalised for a high tackle and the visitors decided to have a shot at goal from just inside the Mary’s half. Sam Cahill struck the penalty extremely well, but it fell just short, and the home side were able to clear.

From there to the finish Mary’s took over.

On 68 minutes a brilliant kick from Conor Dean won them a 50-22 and from the lineout they set up a driving maul which Naas defended well. The ball was then moved out wide and it took a great try saving tackle by Charlie Sheridan on Myles Carey to prevent a score.

However, almost immediately following a series of phases by the Mary’s pack, Liam Corcoran picked up close to the line and managed to force his way over for a try Mick O’Gara converted, and Mary’s were back in front by 24-17

Then on 72 minutes a long probing kick by Conor Dean was not dealt with by the Naas defence, and the ball fell kindly for the on-rushing Mark Fogarty, who gleefully pounced on the loose ball to score O’Gara again converted and it took a brilliant interception by Niall O’Hanlon to avoid the concession of another score by Naas just on the full-time whistle To concede another score would have been unfair on Naas and would have given an unjust scoreline to the game As it was, soon afterwards the referee blew the full-time whistle with Mary’s victorious by 31-17

Although defeated, Naas can take plenty of positives out of this game For over 60 minutes they looked every bit as good as the champions, and on this performance, it will not be long before they regain the winning thread Next up for them is a home fixture against Old Wesley

St Mary’s College: Conor Hayes, Mark Fogarty, Myles Carey, Mick O’Gara, Steven Kilgallen, Conor Dean, Richie Fahy, Jack Reidy-Walsh, Jack Nelson Murray, Mick McCormack (capt), Daniel Leane, Ian Wickham, Ben Taylor, Ethan Baxter, Conor Pierce. Replacements: Cameron Stewart, Thomas O’Reilly, Liam Corcoran, Finn Burke, Adam McEvoy, Leandro Ramirez.

Naas: Fionn Higgins, Jack Sheridan, Donal Conroy (capt), Charlie Sheridan, Sam Cahill, Craig Ronaldson, Derry Lenehan, Conor Doyle, Neil O’Hanlon, Adam Coyle, David Benn, James O’Loughlin, Paul Monahan, Muiris Cleary, Connor McVerry. Replacements: Francisco Bartorelli, Stephen Lackey, Evan Coyle, Eoin Walsh, Tadhg Brophy, Ethan Travers.

Referee: Oisin Quinn

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