Photo Credit: (C) Bryan Keane INPHO

ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Old Belvedere 25 – Naas 22

After a narrow defeat against Highfield last week, Naas travelled to Ollie Campbell Park last Saturday to face Old Belvedere confident of resuming winning ways. That confidence was not misplaced as they were the better side for the majority of the contest, but somehow they contrived to allow their opponents snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Thankfully a shower of biblical proportions abated about a quarter of an hour before the game started, and a big crowd was present eagerly awaiting the Naas debut of Sean O’Brien.

The earlier shower made conditions tricky for both sides and the home team had the first chances to score. On five minutes Andrew Osborne did well to get back to touchdown the ball ahead of Belvedere’s Michael O’Kennedy who had chipped ahead, and four minutes later O’Kennedy missed a relatively easy penalty attempt. But it was Naas who struck first on the 13th minute mark. A fine break down the right wing by Mark McDermott opened up the Belvedere defence, and when he passed inside Oscar Cawley was on hand to finish off a fine move. Craig Ronaldson added the conversion and Naas led 7-0.

Unfortunately, Naas lost Craig Ronaldson to injury shortly afterwards, then Michael O’Kennedy reduced the margin with a penalty for Belvedere after 16 minutes, before a bizarre 90 seconds saw Naas reduced to 13 men. Firstly, Charlie Sheridan received a yellow card for what referee Andrew Fogarty deemed to be a dangerous tackle. The home side took a scrum from the resulting penalty and moved the ball right, before Mark McDermott knocked on the ball in his attempt to intercept. The referee deemed this was a deliberate knock on and had no hesitation in reaching into his pocket again to brandish another yellow card.

Within two minutes Old Belvedere made their numerical advantage count. From a line-out they moved the ball wide right, where Joe White was in splendid isolation, and he scored in the corner. Michael O’Kennedy added the conversion to give Belvedere a 10-7 lead.

To their credit this was the only score that Naas conceded while down in numbers, and restored to their full complement of players they roared back into the attack, and went back in front on 36 minutes. After winning a penalty on half-way Bryan Croke kicked to the corner. Will O’Brien won the line-out and Naas set up a driving maul which took play right up to the line. The ball was quickly recycled and moved out the back-line to Donal Conroy who dived over in the corner. Although Bryan Croke missed the conversation Naas now led 12-10, which proved to be the half-time score.

Within 60 seconds of the re-start the lead had changed hands. Naas knocked on the kick-off and from the resulting scrum they were penalised for wheeling. Justin Leonard took over the kicking duties for Belvedere and with a fine long range effort, he slotted the penalty to put them 13-12 in front.

Almost immediately Bryan Croke nearly responded for Naas but his penalty attempt missed narrowly to the left of the posts, before the home side were reduced to 14 men when their captain James Bollard received a yellow card for a foot trip. Then on 49 minutes Naas sprung Sean O’Brien from the bench to huge roars from the visiting supporters.

Naas were now on top and their endeavours were rewarded on 58 minutes, although there was an element of luck involved. Some fine handling by the Naas backs moved the ball wide right to Andrew Osborne, who although faced by two defenders was able to brush off their tackles to score under the posts. However it did appear that there was crossing in midfield, which luckily for Naas the referee failed to spot. Bryan Croke tapped over the conversion to give the visitors a 19-13 lead.

It was all Naas now, and it nearly got better for them on 68 minutes. Mark McDermott made a sublime break from his own 22 that left four defenders in his wake, but his offload to Conor Halpenny just failed to go to hand, with a certain try on offer. Then Bryan Croke cut through the home defence but his pass was knocked down by Ariel Robbles. With two men outside of Croke a try looked likely, but the referee Andrew Fogarty took no action to the consternation of the Naas supporters. However on 72 minutes following a high tackle on Sean O’Brien, Bryan Croke kicked a penalty to leave the visitors 22-13 ahead as the game entered its closing stages.

Although Naas lost Sean O’Brien due to a hamstring injury with five minutes left, it was going to take something dramatic for Belvedere to gain victory and somehow it happened. The Naas line-out began to malfunction, giving Belvedere territory and possession . On 78 minutes Jayden Barrett waltzed through some poor Naas defence to score in the corner, and with Jason Leonard kicking the conversion it was 22-20 to the visitors as the game entered injury-time. The comeback was completed three minutes into the additional period. Belvedere, playing with a penalty advantage, moved the ball out to the left wing to their scrum-half Conall Bird, he passed inside to Joe White and the winger just had enough strength to make the line. Although the conversion was missed by Leonard, as soon as the game was restarted the referee blew the full-time whistle, and there was a sense of disbelief around at what we had just witnessed.

This defeat will certainly hurt Naas, as it was a game that should have been won. On the bright side, there is a sense that this team is really beginning to gel and that a winning run is certainly on the horizon. Next up for Naas is a home fixture against Malone on Saturday week, October 29th. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always, all support will be greatly appreciated.

Old Belvedere: David Wilkinson, Ariel Robbles, Jayden Beckett, Justin Leonard, Joe White, Michael O’Kennedy, Conall Bird, Jamie Mulherne, Calum Dowling, James Bollard (capt), Paddy Dowling, Fionn McWey, Will McDonald, Tom Mulcair, Kale Thatcher. Replacements: Cian Cunningham, Anto O’Donnell, Darragh O’Callaghan, Oran O’Brien, Brian Leonard, David Lynch.

Naas: Mark McDermott, Andrew Osborne, Henry Smith, Craig Ronaldson, Donal Conroy, Bryan Croke, Oscar Cawley, Adam Coyle, Conor Doyle, Peter King, Paul Monahan (capt), Patrick O’Flaherty, Eoin Walshe, Will O’Brien, Ryan Casey. Replacements: Nato Kirpati, Jack Barry, Sean O’Brien, Muiris Cleary, Conor Halpenny, Charlie Sheridan.

Referee: Andrew Fogarty.