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Date Time Competition Season
30 April 2022 2:30 pm AIL Division 1B 2021/22

Match Report

1B Final Prev: Shannon v Naas

A place in the 2022/23 AIL top tier is up for grabs as Naas make the trip to Limerick to face Shannon in the Energia AIL Division 1B final.

Coonagh will host this crucial tie, with Thomond Park’s back pitch involved in the Ed Sheeran concert preparation, so Shannon return to their home ground a few miles down the road.

The winner will join the 1A ranks with the hosts side hoping to return re-join Limerick rivals Young Munster and Garryowen. Shannon suffered relegation in 2019, and were in the mix (3rd) in the covid destroyed 2019/20 season.

Defeating Highfield away last week was a big victory, with their defence sealing the deal late on.

Speaking on FinalWhistle’s The Rugby Show, Shannon’s Pat Brown explained that the club have a plan in place, even beyond this season.

“I think when we appointed Pat O’Connor and Stephen Keogh, the remit we gave them was to be competitive. We have a three year plan and this is year one. Momentum is everything in the AIL. If you have momentum, it is fantastic, if you don’t it is a slippery slope.”

“Is is down to the fact that they (the players) took belief from beating Highfield (before Christmas)”, added Brown.

Naas meanwhile, enjoyed victory over Old Wesley last weekend in an enthralling contest. Winning a game of such magnitude 37-36 will give them confidence but manager

Division 2A winners in 2016, the Kildare outfit are facing into one of their biggest ever ties as a club, as they celebrate 100 years this year. Naas were struggling in 2019/20 but have been an exciting prospect this season and despite finishing fourth, eliminated  table toppers Old Wesley last weekend

Naas’ Andrew Kearney “It was relief, given the way the last 10 minutes went. We were 20 points in front…it was a feeling of relief but massively happy to take another step in our journey.

“We have our own game plans, we know if we stick to them an preform to our best, it doesn’t matter who’s on the otherside. The lads are really enjoying it, and buying into it all.”, he told The Rugby Show.

Naturally, these sides have already met twice this season. Naas won 38-29 at Forenoughts in January, while they also won in Thomond Park in series six. Given the open nature of both sides outings last weekend, it promises to be a high scoring affair, though both management teams will look to

Timeline

Past Meetings

(Round 12)
38 - 29
AIL Division 1B
Forenaughts

Naas v Shannon

(Round 7)
29 - 35
AIL Division 1B
Thomond Park

Shannon v Naas

Ground

Coonagh
Shannon RFC, Coonagh, Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland

Tom is a multimedia reporter and broadcaster based in Limerick. His main focus is Soccer, Gaelic Games and Rugby. He first starting writing reports aged 14. He is no relation to Tom Clancy, American novelist.