Week 6 of the 2024/2025 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B season saw Naas travel to Dublin University last Saturday afternoon. Naas have made a decent start to the season, and prior to this game sat fourth in the league table, and therefore they travelled with confidence that they could leave the capital victorious. In the end it was not to be, as they set themselves a mountain to climb with twenty minutes to go - albeit it was a task that they came very close to achieving.

This game was played on a lovely, crisp Autumn afternoon in the magnificent Trinty College grounds, and the visitors had to soak up a lot of early pressure as Dublin University dictated play for long periods. The home side should have been in front within sixty seconds when Matt Sherwin lost control of the ball with the try line at his mercy, and after seven minutes it took a superb tackle by Charlie Sheridan to deny Kofi Barton-Byfield scoring in the left corner.

Soon afterwards came a contentious decision which angered the Naas players and management team. After 11 minutes one of the touch judges intervened, and demanded that Charlie Sheridan be replaced for a knock that he had taken some five minutes earlier. Despite protests from the player and Naas officials, referee Christopher Lough sided with the touch judge, and for Sheridan his afternoon was over.

Naas received another set back after 15 minutes when Koloa Aisake received a yellow card for an off the ball tackle, but to their relief Hugh O’Kennedy somehow contrived to miss the resulting penalty from straight in the front of the posts. But five minutes later the same player made no mistake with another penalty attempt, after the Naas backs had strayed offside, giving Dublin University a deserved three point lead.

This lead was almost extended after 28 minutes when Dave Colbert chipped over the Naas defence and looked sure to score. However, Donal Conroy did brilliantly to get back and win the race for the touchdown to deny the home side. The reprieve did not last for long as within ninety seconds Dublin University scored their first try of the afternoon. After a couple of surges by their pack where well contained, the visitors appeared to switch off for a split second. Scrum-half Oscar Cawley needed no second invitation, as he picked up from the base of a ruck and raced clear to score. O’Kennedy added the conversion and Dublin University led by ten points to nil, which proved to the interval score.

Naas needed to score first in the second half, and they did just that. Within four minutes of the restart the home side were penalised for hands in a ruck and Paddy Taylor slotted the resulting penalty to reduce the margin.

But the concession of two quick tries proved to be the downfall for the visitors. After 53 minutes Oscar Cawley made a half break and when he was stopped Hugh Goodard picked and raced away to score. Then on 58 minutes a long pass by Cawley created space out wide for Dave Colbert, and when he was stopped just short of the line he popped the ball up to the supporting Hugh Goodard to score. Hugh O’Kennedy converted both tries and the home side were in front by 24 points to three points.

The game looked all over but few counted on a storming last quarter by Naas which resulted in three tries for them, and almost snatched the game from Dublin University’s grasp. After 61 minutes a long pass by Michal Haznar was gathered on half-way by Donal Conroy. A neat sidestep by him left two defenders trailing in his wake, and he made great yardage down the right wing before passing inside to Cormac King. The Naas scrum-half passed on to the supporting Paddy Taylor who sprinted away to score under the posts. The conversion by the same player made the score 24-10.

On 67 minutes Naas turned down a kickable penalty and went to touch. For the next seven minutes they pounded away at the line and during this period the home side conceded no less than six penalties. Indeed, Dublin University can consider themselves lucky to have received just one yellow card – awarded to Cole Kelly during this time. Eventually with another penalty advantage to Naas, Paddy Taylor put in a crossfield kick which was gathered by David O’Sullivan and he touched down for a try. Although the conversion was missed the margin was now reduced to 24-15.

Then on 79 minutes a brilliant break by Donal Conroy down the left wing split the home defence apart, he then passed inside to the supporting Jack Sheridan who raced away unopposed to score under the posts. Paddy Taylor tapped over the conversion and now there were just two points between the sides – 24-22.

Dublin University were reeling but luckily for them the clock was in their favour and they managed to hold on for a victory that just 20 minutes earlier looked a formality. Although defeated, Naas can take some satisfaction from the fact that they never gave up, and what appeared to be a certain heavy defeat was almost turned into victory. A losing bonus point is another consolation from the afternoon. Next up for them is a home fixture against Blackrock, next Saturday afternoon, November 16th. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Dublin University: Noah Byrne, Dave Colbert, Louis McDonagh, Hugh Goddard, Kofi Barton-Byfield, Hugh O’Kennedy, Oscar Cawley, Sami Sjoberg, Matt Sherwin, Arthur O’Rahilly, Tom Davidson, Steve Woods, Max Dunne, Connal Henchy, Kevin Jackson. Replacements: Zach Baird, Johannes Dreishmeirer, Cole Kelly, Cuan Doyle, Matt Lynch, Mark Walsh.

Naas: Jack Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Michal Haznar, David O’Sullivan, Paddy Taylor, Cormac King, Conor Doyle, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, Koloa Aisake, James O’Loughlin, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien (capt), Darragh Murphy. Replacements: John King, Stephen Lackey, Eoin Walsh, Muiris Cleary, Matias Gianetti, Derry Lenehan.

Referee: Christopher Lough.