Naas end 2025 with defeat to UCC
Naas played their final competitive fixture of 2025 when they hosted UCC in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B last Saturday afternoon. Buoyed by a great victory over Garryowen the previous weekend, Naas went into this game confident of continuing their winning ways, but a poor start put paid to that.
Great credit must go to both sides here as despite poor conditions the teams endeavoured to play an expansive game, which led to a very entertaining contest for all present.
Naas started with the advantage of a strong breeze at their backs, but despite this they were 14 points behind after just 11 minutes. Five minutes into the game they lost Charlie Sheridan to the sin bin for a no arms tackle; UCC elected to tap the resulting penalty which led to Sean Edogbo crashing over from close range.
Soon afterwards some good play by the visitors pack took play up to the Naas 22, before the ball was moved wide left by their backs out to Evan Clarke who scored in the corner. Charlie O’Shea converted both times.
Naas needed the next score and got it after 25 minutes when hooker Brad Clements threw to Eoin Walsh at the front of the lineout. The latter immediately returned the ball to Clements, who drew in the UCC cover before passing it back to Walsh who ran in unopposed.
Walsh was again to the fore ten minutes later when he blocked down a clearance kick by Christopher Barrett before gathering the loose ball in the UCC 22. The Naas pack bulldozed their way over the UCC line, but they were unable to ground the ball.
But Naas came back with a fine carry from Will O’Brien before Jack Sheridan took the ball at pace and offloaded to Tom Monaghan who glided through for a fine score. Paddy Taylor added the extras.
UCC’s Charlie O’Shea landed penalty just before the break to extend the visitors’ lead to 17-12 at half time.
UCC began the second half at a blistering pace and it only took them three minutes to score again. From a scrum in the Naas 22, Kamil Nowak picked from the base and fended off a couple of tackles to score. O’Shea added the conversion and Naas found themselves trailing by double scores.
But the hosts responded with a sublime try after 47 minutes. Jack Sheridan fielded a long clearance kick deep in his own half and some fancy footwork took him up to half-way. Stephen Lackey and Paulie Tolofua continued the move, Donal Conroy then showed great pace down the right wing before passing inside to Tadgh Brophy, who scored under the posts. Taylor’s conversion reduced the margin to five.
Naas were on level terms after 56 minutes when a powerful run by Walsh took play into the UCC 22, where a lovely sidestepped from Muiris Cleary evaded the tackle of Edogbo to dive over. to secure the four-try bonus point.
It was all to play for with the sides level as the game entered the final quarter, but it was the visitors who finished stronger. O’Shea kicked a penalty, and then on 71 minutes came the score which secured their victory. When they were awarded a penalty close to the Naas line, the visitors declined the shot at goal and elected to tap. A series of phases followed before Nowak went over from close range. O’Shea converted to complete his side’s ten-point victory.
This brings the season to the half-way stage and sees Naas in seventh position in the league table. After a slow start the Kildare club have gradually worked their way to being just eight points off the play-off places, so there is plenty to look forward to in 2026. They will get a chance to avenge this defeat as next up for them is the reverse fixture away to UCC on January 10th.
Jack Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Dylan O’Keeffe, Tom Monaghan (1 try), Paddy Taylor (2 cons), Tadhg Brophy (1 try), Stephen Lackey, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, James Stockwood, Oisin Halpin, Will O’Brien, Eoin Walsh (1 try).
Tadhg Dooley, Callum Coyne, Paulie Tolofua, Muiris Cleary (1 try), Cormac King, Ethan Travers.
Harry Murphy, Neville O’Leary, Gene O’Leary Kareem, David Cogan, Evan Clarke (1 try), Charlie O’Shea (2 pens, 4 cons), Christopher Barrett, Sean Dunne, Stephen O’Shaughnessy, Danny McCarthy, Sam O’Sullivan, Jason Aherne, Sean Edogbo (1 try), Dawid Nowak, Kamil Nowak (2 tries).
George Rasmussen, Alex Hamilton, Ted O’Callaghan, Michael O’Sullivan, Jack Casey, Conall Cournane.
Daniel Carson.
