The start of 2025 was always going to be difficult for Naas in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B campaign, as in their opening matches they had to play the top two teams in the league in Old Belvedere and Nenagh. They travelled to Dublin last Saturday afternoon to face Belvedere who sat proudly at the top of the table with just one defeat all season, and despite a brave performance by the visitors they returned home empty handed.

The league leaders got off to a fine start and were in front after just three minutes. Their centre Jayden Beckett ran clean through the Naas midfield, and when he was eventually hauled down the visitors were penalised for hands in the ruck. Sam Wisniewski made no mistake with the resultant penalty to give Belvedere a three point lead.

The Dublin men suffered a blow after just seven minutes when they lost Will McDonald to injury, but they shrugged off this setback and should have extended their lead just two minutes later. When they were awarded a penalty they turned down a shot at goal and went to touch. From the line-out they set up a driving maul which was stopped just short of the line, and when the ball was recycled Sam Wisniewski put in a crossfield kick. Gavin Nugent looked sure to score but knocked on the ball as he attempted to gather it and the chance was lost.

But they did go further in front after 14 minutes following a fine break by their influential captain Calum Dowling. He took play into the Naas 22 and when he was stopped Belvedere quickly moved the ball wide right, where Gavin Nugent was waiting and the winger made amends for his earlier mistake by finishing in style. Wisniewski added the conversion and the home side led by ten points to nil.

On 22 minutes an incident occurred which enraged the large Naas support. Jack Sheridan took off on a mazy run which was stopped by a shuddering tackle by the Belvedere winger Andre Ryan. The defender appeared to lead with his head and Sheridan sustained a nasty facial injury which ended his afternoon. However the referee Oisin Quinn deemed that this tackle only merited a yellow card for Ryan, and most observers felt that he was treated very leniently.

However the visitors struck back after 24 minutes. They managed to rob a Belvedere line-out and quickly moved the ball wide left. When the attack was halted, Muiris Cleary was then on hand and a big carry by him drove the Belvedere defence further backwards. There then followed a further series of Naas carries, before the defence was breached by Paddy Taylor who crashed over from close range for a fine try. Peter Osborne converted and Naas were right back in the game and just three points behind.

But Belvedere are not league leaders for nothing and they responded to the challenge laid down by scoring another try after 31 minutes. They received a penalty straight in front of the posts, but again declined a shot at the posts and went to touch. They again set up a driving maul and Kale Thatcher was able to force his way over for a try, although Sam Wisniewski hit the post with his conversion attempt. However straight from the restart the Dublin side were penalised for offside and Peter Osborne made no mistake with his penalty attempt, to reduce the margin to 15-10 which proved to be the half-time score.

The story of the second-half is easily told. Belvedere took a complete grip on proceedings and only some tremendous and brave defending by Naas prevented them from running riot. So good was the Naas defence that despite Belvedere owning the ball they were unable to create many clear cut chances. After 49 minutes it appeared that the home side were sure to score when they set up another driving maul which powered over the line, but Naas did brilliantly to prevent Belvedere from grounding the ball and won themselves a goal-line drop out. However from the drop-out Naas found themselves defending again, and conceded a penalty for hands in a ruck, which Sam Wisniewski made no mistake with.

It was all Belvedere now and Andre Ryan will have nightmares after dropping the ball with the try line at his mercy after 62 minutes, while Sam Wisniewski was off the mark with a drop goal attempt after 78 minutes. However as the game entered injury-time the Naas resistance was broken, when Belvedere created a huge overlap wide left with Andre Ryan finishing off the move. Although the conversion was missed by Wisniewski, Belvedere now led by 23 points to ten, which proved to be the final score.

However there was still time for Naas to come within inches of securing a dramatic losing point. With virtually their first attack of the half deep into injury-time, Michal Haznar forced his way over the Belvedere line, but was unable to ground the ball and almost immediately afterwards the referee blew the full-time whistle.

So defeat for Naas and they can have no complaints as they were second best for long periods of the game. As stated things do not get much easier for them as next week they have to face Nenagh who lie second in the table. However when these sides met earlier in the season there was just one point between them, so Naas will fancy their chances of getting revenge and putting their season back on track. The game is in Naas next Saturday afternoon with a 2.30pm kick-off, and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Old Belvedere: Shane McNulty, Gavin Nugent, Jayden Beckett, Justin Leonard, Andre Ryan, Sam Wisniewski, Jack Dunne, Hugh Flood, Calum Dowling (capt), Ryan McMahon, Fionn McWey, Eddie Rees, Kale Thatcher, Will McDonald, Paddy Dowling. Replacements: Luke McLaughlin, Hugh Hogan, Anthony Ryan, Tasipale ValaVala, Peter O’Beirne, Joe White.

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

Referee: Oisin Quinn.

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