By Daire Walsh

Jack Flynn was the hero for Naas RFC at Donnybrook on Bank Holiday Monday, as his hat-trick of tries helped the south Kildare side to secure the McGowan U13 Cup following an intense decider against Gorey.

This was the second piece of silverware picked up by this Naas team in a matters of weeks, as they were also recently crowned U13 Leinster League Premier Division champions thanks to a comprehensive 25-7 success over Portlaoise.

The outstanding Flynn also registered three tries in that encounter, and although Gorey rallied with a late try from number eight Robert Murphy, the pacey winger ultimately proved to be the difference between these two evenly-matched outfits.

In the first of three youth finales taking place in the Dublin 4 venue, Gorey were hoping to kick-start a memorable day for their club, with their U17s taking on Navan in the showpiece event at 4pm. However, their prospects received a significant set-back just two minutes into the contest.

Despite wearing the number 14 jersey, Flynn actually lined-out on the left-wing, and after receiving the ball in space, he embarked on a lung-bursting run up the flank, before weaving through a series of challenges by the Slaneysiders for a breathtaking touch down.

With full-back Jamie Osborne on hand to slot the subsequent conversion between the posts, Naas had developed a positive early platform. The response of their Wexford counterparts to the concession of this seven-point salvo was commendable and a succession of attacks did keep Naas on the back-foot for much of the opening quarter.

Willie Downey’s charges managed to hold firm during a tricky period though and a strong break from deep by centre Daniel Caulfield almost yielded a second try 16 minutes in. Diligent work by the Gorey pack squeezed him out on this occasion, and as the half wore on, much of the play was consigned to the congested midfield sector.

Naas out-half Adam Keating had an excellent chance to move his side even further into the ascendancy at the very end of normal time but, much to the relief of the Gorey faithful, his right-footed effort was short of the target.

They were presented with another three-point opportunity deep into first-half stoppage-time, but despite being at an angle that favoured his left boot, the aforementioned Osborne was also wide of the mark. This ensured that Naas’ lead remained at seven nil as the action resumed, and with Gorey displaying signs of their attacking potential, the game was still firmly in the balance.

Indeed, when Cathal Stokes opted for touch instead of the posts five minutes after the re-start, Gorey forged a passage of play that would help them to finally open their account.

Captain Mark Boyle led by example throughout the tie, and it was fitting that he was the one who crossed over at the end of a prolonged spell of pressure inside the Naas ’22’. An expertly-converted bonus kick courtesy of Boyle’s centre partner Oisin Fortune left the game delicately poised, and also threw down the gauntlet to a previously composed Naas.

However, the Forenaughts boys quickly settled back into their groove, and following an incisive break through the Gorey line 11 minutes from time, Flynn was through for a second superb five-pointer. Once the dynamic winger received the ball close to the posts there was only going to be one result, and although Osborne couldn’t add to his own personal tally with his third kick of the game, the outcome was placed beyond doubt on 46 minutes.

Flynn was once again to go-to man for this decisive move, and he cut inside from a left-hand angle to race through underneath the posts. Osborne’s successful two-pointer offered Naas a seemingly unassailable 12-point advantage (19-7) heading into the closing stages, and left Gorey needing two converted scores if they were to swing the pendulum in their direction.

To their credit, they continued to take the game to Naas right up until the final whistle, and number eight Robert Murphy did power over in additional time, but it wasn’t enough to rein in the charges of the Sam Cahill-led brigade.

NAAS SCORERS: J. Flynn (three tries), J. Osborne (two conversions).

GOREY SCORERS: M. Boyle (try), R. Murphy (try), O. Fortune (two conversions).

NAAS: Jamie Osborne; Jack Flynn, Ben Noone, Daniel Caulfield, Alex Hanley; Adam Keating, Sam Cahill CAPTAIN; Mark Tully, Danny Walsh, Jim Downey; Eoin Valentine, Marcus Kiely; George Lowen, Tiarnan McKnight, Conor McGroarty.

Replacements: Adam Farrell, Cormac King, Jack Carroll, Patrick O’Flaherty, Jamie Gaire, Paddy Kelly, Josh Murphy.

GOREY: Cian Kenny; Mark Doyle, Oisin Fortune, Mark Boyle CAPTAIN, Ryan Kinsella; Cathal Stokes, Michael Kennedy; Myles O’Connor, Adam Simpson, Niall Kenny; Kyle Donnelly, Brian O’Leary; Darragh Canavan, Alex Rothwell, Robert Murphy.

Replacements: Martin O’Loughlin, Sean O’Loughlin, Adam McRedmond, Adam Baily, Adam Byrne, Michael Cushe, Andy Kinsella.

Referee: Carl McIntyre.