Naas advance to Towns Cup 2nds Final

Naas RFC Men’s J2s produced a total panel performance to defeat a highly rated North Meath RFC firsts squad 37 - 24 in an entertaining semi-final of the Provincial Towns Seconds Cup  last week.
Played at North Kildare RFC the first quarter was dominated by the Meath side who opened an early 10-0 lead.

A brace of tries by AIL veteran David Benn had the Cobras back on deserved level terms. However, just on half time North Meath scored under the posts to lead 17-10 at the half time break.

John Shanahan kicked 2 penalties on 43 and 59 minutes to reduce the lead to a single point 17-16 with 20
minutes to play. The last quarter was owned by Naas where they scored a further three tries
to take and hold the lead to the end.

In the 60 th minute a scintillating attack by John Shanahan opened up the opponents defence and with a deft pass to Andy Murphy the athletic second row left the Meathmen trailing in his wake as he crossed for Naas’s third try
to take the lead 23-17.
On the 71 minute Cobra’s scored a well organised team try. A super kick to the corner off a penalty from 35m set up an opportunity to attack the North Meath try line. Winning the lineout and quickly forming a powerful maul created the opportunity for Philip Jordan to touch down; John Shanahan extended the lead 30-17.

Richie Brophy playing quick ball from the back of a solid Naas scrum gave opportunity to outhalf Josh Murphy to vary his play. The onlooking former Lions, Ireland and Leicester Full Back Geordan Murphy was delighted to witness a couple of long spiral kicks from his nephew Josh causing havoc in the Meath sides defence.
One of these rangy punts was bravely won by speedy winger Lochlann Cawley who got between two North Meath defenders to fetch the ball and following a dazzling run laid off a beautiful inside pass to set up the ever-threatening John Shanahan to score. This was the final Naas score for a 37-17 lead on 74 minutes.
Naas defended so well that they only allowed North Meath team to score in the last play of the game. Although the scoreline read 37 - 24 the game was a much tighter affair. The experience of the Naas veterans alongside their younger teammates controlled the game to see it out to victory.
With a short break to the final, regular starters who are carrying injuries, including Conor Sheridan, Kenneth Gralton and John McKeown, will hope to recover to get back on to the starting 15.

The final will be held on Sunday, 4 May at a venue to be decided. Your support for the only remaining team in action this season would be much appreciated.

Naas: 1. Cian Murphy, 2. Joe McSherry 3. Eoin Tierney (Capt.), 4. Andreas Murphy, 5. David
Benn, 6. Conor McGroary, 7. Aaron Murphy, 8. Evan Coyle, 9. Richie Brophy, 10. Josh
Murphy, 11. Timothy Courtney, 12. Andrew Shanahan, 13. Oisín Tyrrell, 14. James Farrell,
15. John Shanahan, 16. James Choiseul, 17. Michael Barton, 18. Tom Finn, 19. Sean
McNamee, 20. Phillip Jordan, 21. Lochlann Cawley, 22. Jamie McGuirk.

North Meath: 1. Jack Yore, 2. Adam Deighan, 3. Padraic McGurl, 4. Harry Finnegan, 5.
Sam Bashford, 6. Patrick Farnan, 7. Alex Kenny, 8. Peter Flanagan, 9. Louis Finnegan, 10.
Conor Grey, 11. Ricky Hopcroft, 12. Pauric Flanagan, 13. Cian Doogan, 14. Shea McManus,
15. Oisin McDermott, 16. Daniel Adekunle, 17. Sean Gilsenan, 18. Éanna Finn, 19. Eoin
Briody, 20. Simon Deevy, 21. Nathan Kiernan, 22. Carl Mc Govern
Referee: Clive Wardrop.

Match Report: Dermot Benn, Photographs: Naas Rugby Photos