Former Munster star Murhpy crosses twice as Naas hammer Corinthians

Naas 41

Galway Corinthians 14

Ulster Bank League round 7

Naas senior squad hosted Galway Corinthians for their round 7 Ulster Bank League game at Forenaughts on Saturday afternoon. Despite the wet pre-match conditions, the game kicked off in glorious sunshine and was watched by a large contingent of enthusiastic home and visiting supporters.

Following the kick-off, Corinthians took the early initiative with a superb opening try scored by second-row Sean Connolly. This arose from a line-out on the Naas 22 which was secured and mauled over in the left corner. The conversion attempt by out-half, James Proctor drifted narrowly wide to give Corinthians a 5 point lead in the 4th minute.

In the 10thminute, however Naas responded with an excellent try scored immediately left of goal by their influential wing Johne Murphy which was easily converted by out-half Peter Osborne. This arose from a Naas line-out on the Corinthians 22 which was initially secured by Paul Monahan and after three ruck phases, scrum-half David Barron and Peter Osborne combined to put Johne Murphy through.

For the remainder of the first quarter, Corinthians dominated the play which took place mostly in home territory. Whilst Naas defended well they allowed themselves to get isolated too frequently and conceded two short range penalties. Both of these were accurately kicked by James Proctor in the 15th and 19th minutes, to give Corinthians a 4 point lead ( 7-11).

Naas attacked the right flank from deep, in the 26th minute, as far as the Corinthians 10m line involving Henry Bryce, Peter Osborne and David Barron. However their subsequent line-out throw was not straight preventing further opportunity.

For the remainder of the second quarter Naas struggled to dominate territory and continued to concede penalties by getting isolated at the breakdown and by going offside at the ruck. This presented two further goal kicking opportunities to Corinthians, in the 28th and 30th minutes. Whilst the first of these kicks, by James Proctor drifted narrowly wide from 30m, the second was successful from 40m and extended the Corinthians lead to 7-14.

Naas continued to attack from deep for the remainder of the half with Peter Osborne, Johne Murphy, Fionn Higgins, Rob O’Connor, Henry Bryce, Ben Swindlehurst, David Benn, John Sutton and David Barron all influential. In the 39th minute, Corinthians conceded a penalty for going offside at a ruck and Peter Osborne kicked brilliantly from 35m on the left flank to reduce the interval deficit to 4 points (10-14).

Naas started the second period more confidently and won an early penalty on the Corinthians 5m line. Henry Bryce seized the opportunity with a quick ‘tap and go’ and managed to cross under the posts for an outstanding try which was confidently converted by Peter Osborne to give Naas a 17-14 lead in the 44th minute.

Naas were boosted by this early second period try and in the 50th minute they again attacked when Paul Tolofua broke from halfway to the Corinthians 22. He then combined with Johne Murphy on the right flank and put Fionn Higgins through on the inside for another outstanding try which was superbly converted by Peter Osborne, extending the Naas lead to 24-14.

Naas ramped up the pressure with a further outstanding try scored by Johne Murphy, in the 66th minute to give them a try bonus point. This followed an attack on the left flank involving Niall O’Neill and David Aherne. The touch line conversion by Peter Osborne was brilliant to give Naas a substantial lead of 31-14.

A further scrum penalty was awarded to Naas in the 71st minute, thanks largely to the excellent front row play by Adam Coyle, Charlie Kings and Shane Reilly. This was again kicked confidently by Peter Osborne from the 22 to further extend the Naas lead to 34-14 and effectively ended the game as a contest.

It was Naas who would have the final say when scrum-half Niall O’Neill skilfully forced a knock on at a Corinthians scrum on the Naas 10m line. He then gathered off the Naas scrum and attacked, combining with Fionn Higgins who kicked over the covering wing on halfway and again gathered to cross in the right corner for a brilliant final try which was again superbly converted by Peter Osborne to wrap up the final score at 41-14.

Naas senior squad travel to Limerick on Saturday 28th November, for their round 8 UBL game against Thomand which kicks off at the usual time of 2:30 pm.

Naas Scorers: Peter Osborne 2 pens, 5 cons, Johne Murphy 2 tries, Fionn Higgins 2 tries, Henry Bryce 1 try

Galway Corinthians scorers: James Proctor 3 pens, Sean Connolly 1 try

Naas

Fionn Higgins 14.Johne Murphy 13. Henry Bryce 12. Ben Swindlehurst 11. Rob O’Connor (David Aherne, 60’) 10. Peter Osborne 9. David Barron (Niall O’Neill, 60’) 1. Bob Bryan ( Adam Coyle, 55’) 2. John Sutton (Charles Kings, 55’) 3. Adam Coyle (Shane Reilly, 25’) 4. Paul Monahan 5. David Benn 6. Paul Tolofua ( Ryan Casey, 55’) 7. William O’Brien (Paul Tolofua, 65’) 8. Andrew Kearney (Capt.). Replacements: 16. Charles Kings 17. Shane Reilly 18. Ryan Casey 19. Niall O’Neill 20. David Aherne

Galway Corinthians

Owen Daly 14. David McDermott 13. David Panter 12. Philip Noone 11. Darren Griffin 10. James Proctor 9. Greg Faherty 1. Mark Byrne 2. Alan Walsh 3. Aodhan Glynn 4. Sean Connolly 5. Colin Raftery 6. Patrick O ’Toole 7. Ross Enraght-Moony 8. Donnchadh Phelan. Replacements: 16. Alan Bane 17. Jason Barrett 18. Niall Hogan 19. Eneliko Fa’Atau 20. Kevin Finneran