ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B
Naas 24 – Armagh 17
Match report: Mark Herbert
Photos: Michael Linehan
With the pitch at Forenaughts passing a pre match inspection this Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture against Armagh went ahead as scheduled last Saturday afternoon. Great credit must go to the grounds committee in Naas, as not only was the pitch playable but it was in great condition and allowed both teams to play an open brand of rugby. Naas went into this game badly needing a victory as they had slipped to ninth in the league table, and they achieved this with a performance full of heart, determination, grit and no shortage of skill which proved too much for their opponents.
Armagh dominated the early stages in terms of possession and territory, but it was Naas who struck first after 15 minutes. Derry Lenehan picked up a loose clearance by the visitors, he fed Charlie Sheridan who took play into the 22, and when he was stopped the ball was quickly moved out the back line to Tom Monaghan who showed great strength to score. Although the conversion was missed by Paddy Taylor, the home side were in front by five points.
This lead was increased after 26 minutes with a superb second try. Naas moved a ball on their ten metre line, a lovely little flicked pass by Adam Deay found Paddy Taylor, who then had the awareness to put in a deft chip into the path of Donal Conroy who gathered and scored in the corner. Although the conversion was again off target the lead was now ten points.
There was an abrasiveness about this Naas team here. They never gave their opponents a second's rest and were hitting everything that moved. The huge effort they were putting in was rewarded when they went further in front after 37 minutes. A big driving maul by the Naas pack drove the visitors right back to their own line before the home side elected to go wide. The ball was moved into midfield where Derry Lenehan threw a long pass over the heads of two defenders out to Donal Conroy, who finished off the move in style. Paddy Taylor added the conversion to make the score Naas 17 – Armagh 0, which proved to be the interval score.
Armagh needed the first score of the second half and they got that within nine minutes of the resumption. They were awarded a penalty for hands in a ruck and this was dispatched to touch. The line-out was well won by Josh McKinley, a driving maul was then set up that Naas were unable to contain, and led to Jonathan Morton getting over for a try. Owen O’Kane added the conversion.
But Naas responded with a fourth try after 56 minutes which secured the try bonus point. Big breaks by Jack Sheridan and Donal Conroy had the visitors defence scrambling, the forwards then took over and went through a series of phases, Tadhg Brophy then attacked down the blind side before popping a pass to Paddy Taylor who dived over. The latter converted his own score to make it 24-7 in favour of Naas.
Armagh responded within four minutes. They were awarded a penalty under the Naas posts which they elected to tap. There then followed a couple of big carries by their pack before Niall Carville crashed over from close range. Owen O’Kane tapped over the conversion to make it a ten points margin. Throughout the last quarter the visitors tried everything to break down a stubborn Naas defence without success, although they did secure a losing bonus point when O’Kane kicked a penalty for them on the stroke of full-time.
Soon afterwards referee Keane Davison blew the full-time whistle and Naas were victorious on a 24-17 scoreline. There is no doubt that this was a fully merited victory for the home side. With one of their best performances of the season, each and every player was superb for the full 80 minutes and left everything out on the pitch. The full five points was amassed which may prove critical come the season’s end. They do not have long to rest on their laurels however as they are back in action this coming Saturday, February 7th, with an away fixture against Blackrock College. This game has a 2.30pm kick-off, and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.
Naas: Derry Lenehan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Tom Monaghan, Jack Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Tadhg Brophy, Stephen Lackey, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin, Darragh Murphy, Will O’Brien (capt), Paulie Tolofua. Replacements: Fintan O’Malley, Callum Coyne, Eoin Walsh, Muiris Cleary, Cormac King, Tom Bohan.
Armagh: Shea O’Brien (capt), Andrew Willis, Matthew Hooks, Ross Taylor, Joshua Cunningham, Owen O’Kane, Nick Murray, Niall Carville, Jonathan Morton, Griffin Phillipson, Noah Bell, Josh McKinley, John Glasgow, Curtis Pollock, Thomas Dougan. Replacements: Finn Fehnert, Philip Fletcher, Connor Neary, James Anderson, Danny Guy, Matthew Monaghan.
Referee: Keane Davison.
Naas 24 – Armagh 17
Match report: Mark Herbert
Photos: Michael Linehan
With the pitch at Forenaughts passing a pre match inspection this Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture against Armagh went ahead as scheduled last Saturday afternoon. Great credit must go to the grounds committee in Naas, as not only was the pitch playable but it was in great condition and allowed both teams to play an open brand of rugby. Naas went into this game badly needing a victory as they had slipped to ninth in the league table, and they achieved this with a performance full of heart, determination, grit and no shortage of skill which proved too much for their opponents.
Armagh dominated the early stages in terms of possession and territory, but it was Naas who struck first after 15 minutes. Derry Lenehan picked up a loose clearance by the visitors, he fed Charlie Sheridan who took play into the 22, and when he was stopped the ball was quickly moved out the back line to Tom Monaghan who showed great strength to score. Although the conversion was missed by Paddy Taylor, the home side were in front by five points.
This lead was increased after 26 minutes with a superb second try. Naas moved a ball on their ten metre line, a lovely little flicked pass by Adam Deay found Paddy Taylor, who then had the awareness to put in a deft chip into the path of Donal Conroy who gathered and scored in the corner. Although the conversion was again off target the lead was now ten points.
There was an abrasiveness about this Naas team here. They never gave their opponents a second's rest and were hitting everything that moved. The huge effort they were putting in was rewarded when they went further in front after 37 minutes. A big driving maul by the Naas pack drove the visitors right back to their own line before the home side elected to go wide. The ball was moved into midfield where Derry Lenehan threw a long pass over the heads of two defenders out to Donal Conroy, who finished off the move in style. Paddy Taylor added the conversion to make the score Naas 17 – Armagh 0, which proved to be the interval score.
Armagh needed the first score of the second half and they got that within nine minutes of the resumption. They were awarded a penalty for hands in a ruck and this was dispatched to touch. The line-out was well won by Josh McKinley, a driving maul was then set up that Naas were unable to contain, and led to Jonathan Morton getting over for a try. Owen O’Kane added the conversion.
But Naas responded with a fourth try after 56 minutes which secured the try bonus point. Big breaks by Jack Sheridan and Donal Conroy had the visitors defence scrambling, the forwards then took over and went through a series of phases, Tadhg Brophy then attacked down the blind side before popping a pass to Paddy Taylor who dived over. The latter converted his own score to make it 24-7 in favour of Naas.
Armagh responded within four minutes. They were awarded a penalty under the Naas posts which they elected to tap. There then followed a couple of big carries by their pack before Niall Carville crashed over from close range. Owen O’Kane tapped over the conversion to make it a ten points margin. Throughout the last quarter the visitors tried everything to break down a stubborn Naas defence without success, although they did secure a losing bonus point when O’Kane kicked a penalty for them on the stroke of full-time.
Soon afterwards referee Keane Davison blew the full-time whistle and Naas were victorious on a 24-17 scoreline. There is no doubt that this was a fully merited victory for the home side. With one of their best performances of the season, each and every player was superb for the full 80 minutes and left everything out on the pitch. The full five points was amassed which may prove critical come the season’s end. They do not have long to rest on their laurels however as they are back in action this coming Saturday, February 7th, with an away fixture against Blackrock College. This game has a 2.30pm kick-off, and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.
Naas: Derry Lenehan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Tom Monaghan, Jack Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Tadhg Brophy, Stephen Lackey, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin, Darragh Murphy, Will O’Brien (capt), Paulie Tolofua. Replacements: Fintan O’Malley, Callum Coyne, Eoin Walsh, Muiris Cleary, Cormac King, Tom Bohan.
Armagh: Shea O’Brien (capt), Andrew Willis, Matthew Hooks, Ross Taylor, Joshua Cunningham, Owen O’Kane, Nick Murray, Niall Carville, Jonathan Morton, Griffin Phillipson, Noah Bell, Josh McKinley, John Glasgow, Curtis Pollock, Thomas Dougan. Replacements: Finn Fehnert, Philip Fletcher, Connor Neary, James Anderson, Danny Guy, Matthew Monaghan.
Referee: Keane Davison.
