Naas vs UCC Matchday Programme

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC

UCC RFC

Saturday January 20th, 2024 Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30

Image thanks to Naas Rugby Photographs

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE I am delighted to welcome you all back to Forenaughts for our first Energia AIL Division 1b home game of 2024.

I extend a warm welcome to Charlie Haly, President of UCC Rugby Club, his squad of players and travelling supporters.

This is our fourth match of four in a row against Cork opposition. In the reverse fixture against UCC at the Mardyke before Christmas, we were treated to a very exciting and close game, and we were happy on that occasion to be travelling home with a bonus point win.

Both teams have had mixed performances and results since, with Naas picking up one point and UCC three points.

We will be eager to bookend our Cork opposition encounters with a win, while UCC will be looking to make amends for their home defeat to Naas.

No doubt we will see another entertaining encounter, and I wish both sets of players an enjoyable and injury free game.

As we start 2024, I would like to once again thank our many volunteers and our club sponsors for their continued support. Without your commitment we would not be able to function as a club.

Before I finish, I want to congratulate Naas RFC scrum half, Tadhg Brophy on his selection for the Ireland Under 20 Six Nations Squad. It’s a proud moment for him, for his family and for the club. Best of luck to Tadhg and the entire Ireland squad, which also includes two UCC players, in the upcoming tournament.

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 2. Niall O’Hanlon Athy

1. Jordan Duggan

4. Conor McVerry Whitianga

6. Paul Monahan Caragh

5. David Benn Naas

8. Eoin Walsh Suncroft

9. Derry Lenehan Johnstown

11. Sam Cahill Eadestown

3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy

12. Craig Ronaldson Ballymore Eustace

7. Muiris Cleary Naas

10. Bryan Croke (C) Portlaoise

13. Charlie Sheridan Naas

14. Donal Conroy Athgarvan

15. Fionn Higgins Naas

16. Adam Coyle

17. Conor Doyle

18. James O’Loughlin

19. Cillian Dempsey

20. Jack Sheridan

21. Ben Noone

UCC RFC SQUAD Forwards

Backs

1. Michael Cogan

9.

2. Luke McAuliffe

10. Cian Whooley

17. Alex Hamilton

3. Daniel McCarthy

11. Tom Coughlan

18. Patrick McBarron

4. Jason Aherne

12. Peter O’Sullivan

19. Peter Hyland

5. Sam O’Sullivan

13. Darragh French

20. Jack O’Sullivan

6. Nathaniel Edogbo

14. Sean Condon

21. Billy Kiernan

7. Jacob Sheahan

15. Louis Bruce (C)

8.

Andrew O’Mahony

Eanna McCarthy

Match Referee: Oisin Quinn

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Replacements 16. Adam Wrona

Fixtures & Results

Division 1B Table

Date 07 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 04 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 02 Dec 09 Dec 16 Dec 13 Jan 20 Jan 27 Jan 10 Feb 17 Feb 02 Mar 23 Mar 30 Mar 06 Apr

Home Old Belvedere Naas Old Wesley Naas Naas Blackrock College Naas UCC Naas Highfield Naas Buccaneers Naas Garryowen St Mary’s College Naas Queens Naas

Score 18 – 20 33 – 50 48 – 26 14 – 25 41 – 38 32 – 29 35 – 29 29 – 38 12 – 13 50 – 12 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0

Away Naas Queens Naas St Mary’s College Garryowen Naas Buccaneers Naas Highfield Naas UCC Naas Blackrock College Naas Naas Old Wesley Naas Old Belvedere

Highfield 50 – 12 Naas | Match Report The 2023/2024 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B resumed last Saturday, with Naas travelling to Woodleigh Park in Cork to face Highfield.

Naas have a poor record at this venue over the years and unfortunately it was not improved here, as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Corkmen.

Naas needed to get off to a quick start, but it was the home side who dominated the early exchanges and were 14 points in front by the fifth minute.

They took the game to the home side and when Highfield were penalised after 11 minutes for handling in a ruck, Sam Cahill stepped up and successfully slotted the resulting penalty.

Four minutes later he was again on target with another penalty which was awarded for a high tackle on Charlie Sheridan.

He kept his 100% record intact after 20 minutes, when dissecting the posts with another penalty awarded after the Highfield scrum-half Chris Bannon slapped the ball out of the hands of Tadgh Brophy.

There were only 62 seconds played when they scored their first try. Eoin Keating made a powerful charge into the Naas 22; the ball was then quickly recycled out to the backs and centre Ben Murphy crashed over from close range.

Suddenly it was only 14-9 to Highfield and game on again. But that is as good as it got for Naas. The home side got on top up front and Naas were forced to play second fiddle for the remainder of the afternoon.

Then after five minutes Naas were penalised for holding on in a ruck, and the subsequent penalty was dispatched to touch.

Shane Buckley extended the lead with a penalty after 29 minutes, and then Naas were hit with a huge blow just on the half-time whistle.

From the line-out Highfield set up their famed driving maul which Naas did well to contain, but the ball was shifted to prop Daragh Fitzgerald who powered over for another try. With Shane Buckley converting both tries, Highfield led by 14 points to nil.

Some powerful surges by the Highfield pack took play deep into the Naas 22 and the award of a penalty. Playing with the penalty advantage Shane Buckley put in a crossfield kick.

To their credit Naas raised their game and fought their way right back into contention.

It was batted down by Jamie Shanahan into the path of Ben Murphy who scored. The conversion by Buckley made the score 24-9 at the interval.

Highfield 50 – 12 Naas | Match Report Within a minute of the restart Sam Cahill reduced the margin with his fourth successful penalty of the afternoon to make it 24-12, but on 48 minutes the game was ended as a contest.

Naas conceded a five-yard scrum, and a powerful surge by the Highfield pack led to them being awarded a penalty try by referee Eddie Hogan O’Connell.

The game was played in bitterly cold conditions, but the referee found a novel way of trying to keep himself warm, as in the last quarter he continually reached into his pocket to brandish yellow cards.

He did this on no less than four occasions – three of them to Naas players – for very minor offences. The remainder of the game continued to belong to Highfield.

A series of missed tackles led to a Ross Anthony O’Neill try on 61 minutes, which was converted by Buckley, A powerful driving maul by the home side saw Robert Murphy being awarded a try which this time was converted by Shane O’Riordan.

There was still time for one final score, with Miah Cronin capitalising on an overthrown Naas line-out to gather the loose ball and crash over for a seventh Highfield try on the day.

Shane O’Riordan converted to leave the final score, 50-12 in favour of Highfield, a scoreline that in no way flattered them.

Naas will have to regroup quickly, and they get the chance to make amends for this performance when they entertain another Cork side, U.C.C. next Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always, all support will be greatly appreciated.

Highfield: Jamie Shanahan, Eoin Dorgan, Ben Murphy, David O’Sullivan, Colin O’Neill, Shane Buckley, Chris Banon, James Rochford, Travis Coomey, Daragh Fitzgerald, David O’Connell, Eoin Keating, Ross Anthony O’Neill, Mark Fitzgibbon, Miah Cronin (capt).

Replacements: Robert Murphy, Cillian Buckley, John O’Callaghan, Richard Cassidy, Ryan Murphy, Shane O’Riordan.

Naas: Fionn Higgins, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Craig Ronaldson, Sam Cahill, Bryan Croke (capt), Tadhg Brophy, Adam Coyle, Neil O’Hanlon, Peter King, David Benn, Conor McVerry, Paul Monahan, Muiris Clearly, Eoin Walsh. Replacements: Conor Doyle, Stephen Lackey, Cillian Dempsey, Francisco Bartorelli, Jack Sheridan, Derry Lenehan.

Referee: Eddie Hogan O’Connell.

MATCH REPORT: MARK HERBERT

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

@naasrfc |

Naas Rugby(Naas RFC) |

naasrugbyclub