Naas lose out to Armagh in a cracking 80-point game in All-Ireland 1B tie

For the third time this season Naas travelled North for an Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture – when they faced Armagh last Saturday afternoon. The Kildare men travelled on the back of a fine victory over Blackrock College in their last outing, but knew that they faced a stern test here against a side that had played in Division 1A for the two previous campaigns.

A decent crowd was at the venue and they witnessed a cracking game of rugby, which saw no less than 80 points scored.
There were no less than 12 tries scored in this game and arguably the pick of them came after just three minutes.

Jack Sheridan received a ball just outside his own 22 and showed blistering pace as he took off down the left wing, before drawing in a defender and passing to his brother Charlie who was supporting on his shoulder. Jack then looped around before taking the return pass from Charlie, and sprinted clear to score under the posts. Paddy Taylor tapped over the conversion and Naas had got off to a dream start, leading by seven points.

However from then on to the interval Armagh completely took over, and by the break they had earned a try scoring bonus point – although Naas were not helped by losing the services of pack members John King, Darragh Murphy and James Stockwood during this period.

The home side got on the score board after 11 minutes when they won a line-out five yards out, and immediately set up a driving maul. Naas did well to contain this surge but James McCormick broke away from the base of it and dived over for a try. Owen O’Kane was off target with his conversion attempt.

Armagh took the lead after 19 minutes. They were camped inside the Naas 22 but were unable to break down a stubborn visitors defence and eventually knocked on. However the reprieve did not last long for Naas. Moments later a clearance kick failed to make touch and Armagh quickly switched the ball into midfield, where Curtis Pollock evaded a couple of tacklers before passing to Noah Bell who raced away to score. This time Owen O’Kane was successful with his conversion attempt and Armagh led by 12 points to seven.

Armagh went further ahead after 28 minutes when Rocky Olsen broke clean through the Naas midfield, before off-loading to the supporting Nick Murray who scored beside the posts, and then on 34 minutes after Naas again did well to contain a driving maul, the home side switched the ball into midfield where Shea O’Brien powered over from close range. With O’Kane converting both tries, the home side now led by 26 points to seven.

Naas were thrown a lifeline just on the stroke of half-time, when Charlie Sheridan did brilliantly to read an Armagh backline move which he intercepted just inside his own half, and he could not be caught by the chasing home defence and scored under the posts. The conversion by Paddy Taylor left the score at half-time: Armagh 26 – Naas 14.
Quick thinking by Tadgh Brophy reduced the lead further after 49 minutes.

Naas were awarded a penalty just outside the Armagh 22, and the scrum-half caught the home defence completely unawares by taking a quick tap. He raced clear before passing inside to the supporting Paddy Taylor, who dived for a try which he converted himself.

However with the earlier enforced changes the Naas pack were beginning to run out of steam, and they had no answer to an Armagh driving maul on 54 minutes which led to another try for James McCormick, but after 67 minutes Naas responded to this try when Tom Monaghan intercepted a pass which he offloaded to Tadgh Brophy, and the latter ran a full sixty yards to score. With both tries being converted – Owen O’Kane for Armagh and Paddy Taylor for Naas – the gap was just five points as the game entered the closing stages – 33-28 in favour of Armagh – and of course this score had secured a try scoring bonus point for Naas.

Driving maul

The power of the Armagh driving maul was again evident after 71 minutes when the home side again set one up from a line-out take close to the Naas line.

The visitors were just about able to stop it short of the line, but referee Max Weston deemed it was done illegally and awarded a penalty try to the home side, and brandished a yellow card to Adam Deay.

But Naas kept coming back for more and scored their fifth try of the afternoon after 78 minutes, when a long pass from Tadhg Brophy to Charlie Sheridan was shipped on to Tom Monaghan, who in turn fed James O’Loughlin who held off a tackle to score in the corner. Although Paddy Taylor was just off the mark with the difficult conversion attempt, Naas were now within seven points – 40-33 – and in line for a losing bonus point.

However they were cruelly denied this in injury time when a break by Josh Cunningham brought play deep into Naas territory, and after a series of phases Josh McKinley got in from close range for the final try of the game. Owen O’Kane again converted to leave the final score 47-33 in favour of Armagh.

There can be no disputing the fact that on the day the better side won, but great credit must go to this young Naas side for picking up the try scoring bonus point. Every point in this tight division is vital, and this one could be of great importance come the end of the season.

Naas face another difficult away assignment next Saturday when they travel to Limerick to face Garryowen. This game has a 2.30pm kick-off, and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

ARMAGH: Shea O’Brien (capt), Josh Cunningham, Rocky Olsen, Timmy McNiece, Matthew Hooks, Owen O’Kane, Nick Murray, Niall Carville, James McCormick, Rory McGuire, Noah Bell, Josh McKinley, John Glasgow, Curtis Pollock, Thomas Dougan. Replacements: Finn Fehnert, Griffin Phillipson, James Anderson, Andrew Willis, Danny Guy, Ross Taylor.

NAAS: Jack Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, David O’Sullivan, Tom Bohan, Tadhg Brophy, John King, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, James Stockwood, Oisin Halpin, Will O’Brien (capt), Darragh Murphy. Replacements: Fintan O’Malley, Stephen Lackey, Paulie Tolofua, Muiris Cleary, Cormac King, Tom Monaghan.

REFEREE: Max Weston.

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