The final round of fixtures in the 2025/’26 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B saw host Instonians last Saturday afternoon. The scenario was clear for Naas – win and they retained their Division status, lose and they were relying on results elsewhere to see if they had avoided the relegation play-offs. When it mattered most Naas produced their best performance of the season, with their pack supplying a decent amount of ball, their backs produced an exhilarating  display of open, attacking rugby that left Instonians bewildered.

In their wildest dreams Naas would never have imagined that they would be 14 points up after just three minutes, but that is how it played out here. Indeed there was just 50 seconds on the clock when they opened the scoring. Instonians attempted to run a ball from deep in their own 22, but when a pass went astray Jack Sheridan pounced on the loose ball and sprinted away. When he was tackled just short of the line, his brother Charlie was on hand to take his pass, and he in turn found Tadgh Brophy who dived over. Soon afterwards some sublime handling by the Naas backs created space out wide right, before the ball was switched inside to Dylan O’Keeffe who had Tom Monaghan supporting on his left shoulder and the latter finished in style. With Paddy Taylor converting both scores Naas led by 14 points to nil.

Naas were playing with the advantage of the strong breeze at their backs, and were fully intent on making the most of it, and they increased their lead after 18 minutes. Adam Deay managed to get hands on the ball in a ruck, winning his side a penalty in the process. The penalty was dispatched to touch, the subsequent line-out was won by Darragh Murphy and Naas then set up a driving maul. When this was stopped the ball was moved into midfield, where Charlie Sheridan powered through two attempted tackles to score under the posts. Within another two minutes Naas had secured their try bonus scoring point. From a scrum near half-way the Naas backs moved the ball out to Jack Sheridan, who sprinted down the left wing. As he was about to be tackled he put in a brilliant no look pass to his brother Charlie, who in turn found the supporting Tadgh Brophy who raced away to score. Again Paddy Taylor converted both scores to make it 28-0 to Naas.

The home supporters were in dreamland and amazingly they were to score again within 30 seconds. The Instonians restart was caught in the wind, the visitors were unable to gather and the ball fell nicely for Charlie Sheridan who gathered on half-way and raced away for a fifth Naas try of the afternoon. The conversion by Paddy Taylor made the score Naas 35 – Instonians 0.

To their credit the visitors kept plugging away and were rewarded with their first score of the afternoon after 31 minutes. Some good, powerful carries by their pack brought play up to the Naas line, before the ball was released to the backs and their out-half Josh Eagleson showed some good footwork to get in for a try. Although the same player was unable to convert his score, at least his side were on the scoreboard.

But Naas soon resumed their scoring ways and got in for another try after 39 minutes, when following a big carry by Ryan Casey the ball was given to the backs to do damage and they did this, when Jack Sheridan fended off a couple of tackles before scoring. Paddy Taylor converted to make it - Naas 42, Instonians 5 – which proved to be the interval score. Indeed it could have been worse for the visitors as well, as some sublime offloads created space out on the left wing for Will O’Brien who scored in the corner, but the touch judge deemed that he was in touch before grounding the ball.

Even with strong wind advantage it took Instonians 13 minutes of the second period to make inroads into the Naas lead. The score came after the visitors set up a driving maul from a five yard line-out, which inched its way over the Naas line, with Oli Clark being awarded the score, which Andrew Keane converted. However any thoughts of a dramatic comeback were extinguished after 67 minutes, when Naas got in for another try. Tadgh Brophy cleverly switched play and found Darragh Murphy who powered down the right wing. When he was hauled down close to the line the ball was moved into midfield, where Dylan O’Keeffe took a great line to split the visitors defence apart to score. The conversion attempt by Paddy Taylor narrowly drifted wide, but Naas led by 47-12.

To their credit Instonians never stopped trying and were rewarded for their endeavours with tries by Mark Mairs after 75 minutes and Marty Vorster in injury time. Both these scores were converted by Andrew Keane, but these only served to put a bit of respectability on the scoreboard for the visitors, who were eventually beaten by 47 points to 26.

As so the campaign comes to an end with Naas finishing in eighth place. Great credit must go to all the players, management committee and back room staff involved. Division 1B is extremely competitive and of a very high standard, and for Naas to retain their place in it is no mean achievement. Roll on next season!!!

Naas: Tom Monaghan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Dylan O’Keeffe, Jack Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Tadhg Brophy, Dewald Barnard, Graham Reynolds, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin, Darragh Murphy, Will O’Brien (capt), Paulie Tolofua. Replacements: Brad Clements, Stephen Lackey, Muiris Cleary, Ryan Casey, Cormac King, David O’Sullivan.

Instonians: Bradley McNamara, Freddie Clark, Bevan Prinsloo, Mark Keane, Simon McMaster, Josh Eagleson, Andrew Keane, Anton Lupari (capt), Oli Clark, Liam Kaprigiannis, Mark Mairs, Robert Whitten, Mark Lee, Paul Pritchard, Alistair Burke. Replacements: Neil Saulters, Schalk van der Merwe, Marty Vorster, Ed Broom, Danny O’Regan, James Clark.

Referee: Andrew Fogarty.