Second Football Team The second team had a difficult league campaign. Playing in division 3 of the senior league after promotion last year they were meeting most clubs first teams and finished with one victory. In the championship they qualified for the quarter final on score difference. However they provided the shock of the year in defeating a fancied St. Laurences side scoring five goals in a terrific second half performance. In the semifinal they were narrowly defeated by Leixlip. Naas dominated the first half but missed many chances. Well done to the management team of Mick Kane , Jerome Higgins and Ciaran Campion and their players.
Fourth Football Team The fourth team played in Div. 7 of the senior league and finished mid table. They failed to qualify for the quaeterfinals. U21 Football The U21 football championship has just begun and Naas got their campaign off to a good start with a win over Oliver Plunketts in round 1 on 23rd October 2011. Minor Football The minor football team had a mixed league campaign. They prepared well for the championship and got off to a great start with a win over Athy. They lost to Maynooth and Celbridge in rounds 2 and 3, but still qualified for the quarter finals, losing out to eventual finalists Castledermot.
Well done to Eamon Callaghan who put in many fine performances for Kildare again this year. Despite the disappointment of losing to Donegal in the All Ireland quarter final, Callaghan earned himself an All Star nomination and was selected as part of the International Rules squad to travel to Australia to represent Ireland.
Naas U21 Football team who defeated Oliver Plunketts in the first round of championship, October 2011
Minor Football Trip to Cork, July 2011
Senior Football Team Manager and Selectors, August 2011.
Naas Third Football team who won the Reserve D Football Championship , October 2011
Senior Football Championship Action 2011
Senior Football Championship – Round 2 – 22nd August 2011 NAAS 2 - 13
ALLENWOOD
2 - 12
This was a great Naas victory. Five points behind with twelve minutes to go all seemed lost.But with some inspired substitutions and positional switches they gradually reduced the leeway and with seven points without reply edged two points in front. A late Johnny Doyle point could not save the day for the Allenwood men. Naas play with the wind got off to a great start with a Conor Mellett free and a goal by the same player after an Eamonn Callaghan pass. Johnny Doyle reduced the arrears with an Allenwood free. Mellett from a free and Mark Delaney from play swapped points . Naas had their second goal on the 15th.minute when Eoin Doyle burst through the Allenwood defence for a peach of a goal. Mellett from a free put Naas 2 - 3 to 0-2 ahead. Allenwood reduced the arrears with a Niall O'Callaghan goal after 20 minutes. Conor Mellett and Johnny Doyle swapped frees before Naas goalie P.J.Mahoney saved a Jonny Doyle spot kick on the stroke of half-time. Naas led 2 - 4 to 1 - 4 at the interval. With the wind behind them Allenwood started strongly in the second half and two Johnny Doyle points and one from Tom Byrne brought the sides level. Naas regained the lead with a Joey Cocoman point . A couple of minutes later Allenwood were in front when Niall O' Callaghan got his second goal after a mix up in the Naas defence. Allenwood led 2 - 7 to 2 - 5. A Mellett point reduced the arrears to a point. Allenwood got on top now and two points each from Johnny Doyle and Niall O'Callaghan to go five clear with 12 minutes left. However Naas now took control with Neil Higgins, Shane Bergin,Eoin Doyle and Eamonn Callaghan dominant in the middle of the park they kicked seven unanswered points to lead 2 - 13 to 2 - 11. Allenwood's only answer was a late Johnny Doyle point. Naas:P.J.O'Mahoney,Brochan Cocoman, Shane Bergin(0-1), Paul O'Sullivan, David Gahan, Seamie Barrett, Michael Mc Donald, Neal Higgins, Eoin Doyle(1-0), Stephen Piggott, Eamonn Callaghan(0-1), Richie Ormsby, Conor Mellett (1-7), Joey Cocoman (0-1), Ian Kinlon. Subs: Kieran Mc Donagh(0-2), Kevin Curtis(0-1).
Senior Football Team, Round 3 Championship v Allenwood, August 2011
Ladies Football News Under 11 Girls Football The girls finished in style last season as the Spring League Division 4 winners. They won the cup against Clane in a very evenly contested game on a wet and windy June evening and despite the atrocious conditions the team played with great determination and skill. The girls have been back training at least once a week since their summer break and are so far unbeaten in all their matches. Their victories include Ellistown, Moorefield ,Ballykelly and Robert Emmets. Most encouraging for all involved is that the team maintains its core group of players and that it has recently attracted 5 new players. None of the successes of this team could happen without the continued dedication of their mentors; Ger Dunne, Seamus MacGabhann, Paul Duignan (Fitness and Conditioning), Anne Marie O Meara Doyle (PR and logistics) Mags Maher (Financial Director) and Anne Tierney (Head Cheerleader!) who are all ably assisted by a cohort of supportive parents.
The girls should be commended for their enthusiasm and dedication to their team, thank you to all the families involved. There are plans to host an evening of awards for the team soon, more to follow on this….
U13 Girls Football Update
U13 Division 3
This u13 squad ,featuring under 12 and u13 players opened their campaign on a positive note with a hard fought victory against Two Mile House.Naas were well served by their hard working midfield pairing Alison Walsh and Niamh Bergin.Their distribution of the ball was duly rewarded wi a goal from the boot of Laura Messit followed closely by a point from centre forward Mary Creaton. Two Mile House replied with some fine points and Sarah Kelly slotted home a fine goal to extend the lead.Katie Loughran and Niamh Bergin added to more scores to give their team afour point lead at half time. The game flowed very well and the play switched from end to end very rapidly.Both defences played very determinedly and consequently it was a low scoring half with Naas recording a goal while their opponents scored a goal and a point.Naas held their first half lead and were victorious on this occasion but great credit is due to both sides for producing such an exciting match enjoyed by all those present.
This squad has diligently trained every Thursday night and their dedication to training is to be commended. Milltown were the next oponents and it was a lively match with the action switching from side to side .Naas had a lot of possession but they were unable to convert it into scores although they tried very hard while Milltown used their opportunities and overcame a very gallant Naas team on the day.Naas hosted Carbury in their next group match and this was a very enthralling game whch ebbed and flowed and produced some fine scores but the visitors just edged it on the night. Castledermot presented as their next opposition and Naas proved too strong on the night and the entire squad played so well as a unit and were duly rewarded with a convincing victory.The final group match was played in very wet conditions but this did not deter the players from Naas and Suncroft as they contested wholeheartedly and it was in the balance right up to the final whistle and Naas were unlucky in their quest for an equalising goal as they exerted great pressure but it was not to be. The team now await to see if they have a semi final slot as it all hinges on other teams' results but the Naas camp is confident and the management would like to congratulate all the girls on their superb efforts and positive attitude.This squad are capable of reversing the results of some of their closely contested matches
U13 Division 5 This u13 squad include a number of under 12 and under 13 girls.They opened their autumn league with a win against Kilcullen and they consolidated their standing with another victory against Moorefield . Their next encounter pitted them against Monasterevin who were phyisically stronger and used this advantage to emerge victorious on the day.The team ended the group stage on a positive note with a victory against Ballymore . Consequently ,they have qualified for the semi final and look forward to the challenge.All the players should be congratulated for their genuine effort on the field of play and their dedication to training and the best of luck in the forthcoming semi final.
Girls U9 Group : Our U9 members have been very busy since they returned in September. The first matches of the first ever U9 Girls Autumn Football Blitz were played on the 10th of September. Naas U9’s played home to girls from Leixlip and Maynooth. All the girls enjoyed playing football, especially in the sunshine. The second blitz was held on the 17th of September in Johnstownbridge with the Naas U9’s again fielding two teams. Each team played three matches. Great footballing by all involved! The objective of this League is to get children participating in matches and approximately 200 girls played over the first 2 weekends in this Blitz! 23 Naas girls turned out again on the 15th October to play against Robert Emmetts, Leixlip and Ballyna. The girls thoroughly enjoyed playing and even volunteered to rotate onto the Ballyna team to ensure their 6 girls were able to play. We think you’ll definitely agree from the photos that the girls are enjoying themselves and their skills are improving with all the match practice they are getting! Well Done to all the U9 girls who are playing in the Autumn Football Blitz League ! Girls Nursery Group : The numbers continue to increase with several new children having joined the 2004/05/06 group since we restarted in September. This group is concentrating on learning skills, all in the guise of having fun!
U10 Girls Football One of the most pleasing points about our group, would be the numbers we have turning up for training and matches, with average of about 16-18 per week, and even playing in one the recent deluges of rain we had. We’ve had 3 new girls join this week, bringing our panel up to 25 now. We have 4 mentors working well together and feel this a direct result of the girls enjoying the training and the matches. The u10s have entered the u11 league this autumn, and as the matches are 11.00am on Saturday mornings, we decided to switch our training sessions from Sunday mornings, to midweek, to avoid playing 2 days running. We have been training on Monday nights from the start of the summer, and have been joined by the u11 squad, that are also in a different section of the u11 league. We’ve mixed up the 2 groups for training, in an attempt to give the chance of 2 similar age groups to get to know each other, and we think this has worked out well for both groups. As an u10 team in an u11 league, we would be expected to struggle with results in some games, however by “punching above our weight” we feel the girls are having to try harder, and are benefitting from this. There’s been a few big losses, and few tight matches, and a few narrow wins, and we would be happy with how the girls skills are progressing. U16 Girls Football The under 16 girls league was run through the summer this year starting in June with home and away legs. Most teams were missing players at some stage due to holidays etc. Naas started out defending their title with an eleven a side game against Laurences and were beaten, however we came back fighting from that defeat and started a good string of wins beating Sarsfields, Kilcock, Celbridge and Balyna. We lost our return leg to Sarsfields by one point in a brilliant game of skill. We qualified for a semi final against Laurences away and unfortunately it just wasn’t to be this year. Celbridge went on to beat Laurences in the final. This was the last underage league for most of this squad who have been with us since they were six years of age and some of which form part of the senior ladies panel. We are now looking forward to the minor championship in the new year.