Naas vs Wicklow MatchDay Programme

WOMEN’S LEINSTER LEAGUE – DIVISION 2

VS NAAS RFC

WICKLOW RFC J1

Saturday February 03, 2024 Forenaughts, Naas | Kick-Off: 14:30 Referee: Daragh Hanratty

Image thanks to Michael Linehan Photography

NAAS RFC SQUAD 1. Beverley Mahon

3. Malgorzata Korpas

2. Emma Tully

4. Lauren Bergin

6. Asta Rowe

5. Alix Benn

7. Jane Fallon

8. Jessica Weld

9. Ciara Mckeown

11. Aoife Furlong

12. Zoe Dunbar (c)

10. Amy McGuire

13. Ali Miley

14. Jamie Garland

15. Shauna Kinsella

Abbie Cleary

Natasha Moroney

Katie Halpin

Cliodhna O’Connor

Aisling Mahon

Rachel Naughton

Emily Anna McGrath Mckeown

League table, results and fixtures

Results & Fixtures

Division 2 Table

Date

Home

Score

Away

24 Sep

CYM

00 - 43

Naas

01 Oct

Naas

29 - 17

Balbriggan

14 Oct

Clondalkin

36 - 21

Naas

22 Oct

Naas

36 - 22

New Ross

05 Nov

Wicklow J1

24 - 19

Naas

12 Nov

Naas

80 - 07

UCD

25 Nov

Port Dara Falcons

12 – 38

Naas

03 Dec

Naas

47 - 15

CYM

09 Dec

Naas

Conceded

07 Jan

Balbriggan

31 - 26

Naas

13 Jan

Naas

33 - 07

Clondalkin

28 Jan

New Ross

22 - 24

Naas

03 Feb

Naas

0-0

Wicklow J1

18 Feb

UCD

0-0

Naas

Port Dara Falcons

New Ross 22 – 24 Naas | 28 Jan | Match Report Naas women survived a second half comeback by a strong New Ross to maintain their 2nd place in Leinster League Division 2 in blustery Wexford on Sunday. Naas almost scored from the start after a solid scrum delivered good quality ball to the Naas backs.

Just before half-time, centre Emily Mckeown finished another team try, with forwards recycling quickly and putting Shauna Kinsella into space, ably assisted by the elusive O’Connor. The conversion eluded McGuire and the half finished 24-5 to Naas.

Unfortunately, this failure to score quickly was compounded by a series of penalties against the Kildare women, allowing New Ross to march down the field. The home side were able to convert field position into points with simple back line passing and a well-worked overlap. New Ross couldn’t add the conversion, leaving the home side 5-0 up with 10 minutes on the clock.

After half-time, with a strong wind at their backs, New Ross showed their quality with a dominant performance which almost turned the game around. They scored 17 unanswered points, with three short range tries through their resurgent forwards. Two were well-created scores, but Naas will be disappointed with the third, where three missed tackles allowed the New Ross flanker to rumble over the line unopposed.

Naas responded in some style six minutes later. A fantastic scrum drove the opposition back before referee Kielthy awarded Naas a penalty on the New Ross 22. Fast, simple passing by the Naas backline seemed to lead to a try for Shauna Kinsella, but the last pass went forward in the windy conditions.

Naas pressure was rewarded four minutes later after the Naas pack forced New Ross into an error on their own line, and Jamie Garland was on hand to score. Conditions and distance meant Amy McGuire couldn’t add the conversion.

With the score now at 5-5, Naas started to find some rhythm with passes starting to stick, allowing Cliodhna O’Connor to sprint in to finish a fine team try. McGuire converted a really difficult kick, which ultimately would prove crucial.

A dominant Naas scrum and strong, direct running from the backline led to a good position on the New Ross 22.

Emma Tully then scored the try of the day with an unstoppable 30 metre run straight through (or arguably over) 4 defenders to score under the posts. McGuire again, added the conversion to put the Naas women 19-5 in front.

Naas had some creative moments of their own, with surging runs from Sheena Hubbard relieving the pressure on the Naas line. With two minutes left on the clock, the score stood at 24-17 to Naas, when New Ross scored the final try of the day. They couldn’t score the conversion, but there was still time to restart.

A great kick from McGuire and a determined chase from the whole Naas team forced a penalty from the home side, and McGuire had the presence of mind to get the ball off the field, much to the relief of the large group of travelling supporters from Naas.

Naas: Katie Halpin, Emma Tully, Aoibheann Hassett O’Sullivan, Lauren Bergin, Alix Benn, Asta Rowe, Jane Fallon, Jessica Weld, Ciara Mckeown, Amy McGuire, Zoe Dunbar, Emily Mckeown, Jamie Garland, Cliodhna O’Connor, Shauna Kinsella, Abbie Cleary, Ali Miley, Natasha Moroney, Sheena Hubbard, Ella Morris, Beverley Mahon Match Report: David Mckeown Photos: Michael Linehan

Naas 33 – 07 Clondalkin | 13 Jan | Match Report Naas Women kept their promotion hopes alive with an emphatic win in this Leinster Division 2 clash. A young Naas pack battled with a powerful, experienced set of Clondalkin forwards, but it was in the backline that Naas showed their quality with a hat-trick for winger Cliodhna O’Connor and two tries for centre Emily Mckeown.

18-year-old Amy McGuire put in another fine kicking performance with four conversions from five attempts. Clondalkin did not cross the Naas line, with only a penalty try to show for a very valiant effort.

O’Connor got on the scoreboard after three minutes after some good handling across the backline, but Clondalkin hit back very quickly with a penalty try from a scrum. This set the pattern for the game with Clondalkin dominating the set piece, but the Dublin women were not able to exploit their forward dominance.

The Clondalkin women were slow to reorganize after the penalty try, and Naas took a quick restart. Fast ruck ball from Emma Tully and Ellen Murray allowed Mckeown to burst through for her first try, converted by the ever-reliable McGuire.

After a disruption to the game caused by a serious-looking injury to a Clondalkin player, the Naas pack again recycled fast ball with Sheena Hubbard and Lauren Bergin leading the way to give Mckeown the space for another impressive team try.

Despite struggling in the scrum, the youthful Naas forwards kept the tempo high as Clondalkin started to run out of steam.

After the break, strong running from Abbie Cleary, Jane Fallon and Aoibheann Hassett O’Sullivan caused significant problems in the Clondalkin defence, leading to a series of penalties for Naas.

Scrum half Ciara Mckeown took a fast tap, and the Naas backline were able to get the ball into the hands of O’Connor, who raced in for her second of the day.

With 65 minutes on the clock, Aoibheann Hassett O’Sullivan won a fine turnover against the wilting Clondalkin pack, and the Naas backs executed a textbook overlap to put O’Connor away for the final try. McGuire added a long-range conversion to make the final score 33-7 to Naas.

Naas: Emma Tully, Ellen Murray, Aoibheann Hassett O’Sullivan, Lauren Bergin, Alix Doyle, Asta Rowe, Jane Fallon, Sheena Hubbard, Ciara Mckeown, Any McGuire, Zoe Dunbar (c), Emily Mckeown, Jamie Garland, Cliodhna O’Connor, Shauna Kinsella, Natasha Moroney, Ali Miley, Rachel Naughton, Aoife Furlong, Caitriona Sheridan, Malgorzata Korpas, Abbie Cleary.

Match Report: David Mckeown Photos: Michael Linehan

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