Glory Days of Football 1975 - 1995  - A Night to Remember

Naas GAA is inviting all who played and supported football in Naas in the period 1975 to 1995 to a reunion on 1^st October 2011. It is 30 years since the Autumn of 1981 when Naas began the move from Junior B status to the Senior Championship ranks by winning the Junior A Championship in the much reported local derby against neighbours Eadestown. The rivalry of that time has forged many lasting friendships to this day. Naas also won the u16 League and Championship in the same year, laying the foundations for years to follow.

 In 1984 Naas captured the Intermediate Championship. The late Tony Keogh presented the trophy to Naas Captain John O'Rourke, and in his presentation speech reminded Naas of the superstition that Kildare would not win an All Ireland until Naas won the Senior Championship. He said that he had no doubt Naas would rise to the challenge and lift the curse before long.

His confidence in Naas was well founded as the ghost was laid to rest in 1990 when Naas captured the senior title on a most memorable Sunday afternoon in Newbridge. It was the day of Mick O'Dwyer's first visit to Kildare to take over the management of the County Team. The weather was spectacular, Conleth Park was packed and buzzing, and the Naas victory against a powerful Clane team removed the spell that stood in the way of Sam's return to Kildare. The monkey was off the back and Naas had done their bit. That victory and the laying to rest of the hoodoo were mentioned on national media many times in the weeks that followed, including the Late Late Show when Tom Hickey, aka Benjy Riordan, was a guest. He had played for Naas in his younger days, and was immensely proud of his associations.

In that period of the 80's Naas captured two Minor titles and an Under 21 title, as well as an All Ireland U15 Og Sport title in Gormanstown, where Johnny McDonald captured the overall player of the tournament award .

But 1990 was the year to savour. As well as winning the Senior title, Naas also captured the Senior B Title, the Junior C  Title and the Jack Higgins Cup. In effect they scooped all the adult football titles that a club could compete in fielding three adult teams, a feat that has never been equalled to this day, although Sarsfields came close in 1994 only to be denied by Naas in the Junior C final.

On the league side, Naas languished in Division 3 in 1976, but steady progression led them to capture the Leader Cup in 1995, which bookended a Golden Era in the Club's football history.

And so it is that 30 years on from that Junior A success in 1981 and 16 years after the capture of the League Division 1 title in 1995, the Club has decided that it is time to recall those Glory Days by hosting ‘A Night to Remember' at the club's new home on the Sallin's Road on Saturday 1^st October. It is to be a night when all who donned the blue and white hoops, as well as all who supported the teams, are invited to meet and share memories and stories of those times. The aim of the night is to enable all the players managers selectors trainers supporters and friends to meet again and remember the journey they shared in that golden era. For some it will be the first time to visit the new club facilities on the Sallins road which now supports over seventy teams covering all ages in hurling, football, camogie and ladies football. They will travel from all parts of the country and further afield to be there on the night. Photos and game footage will be on display in the clubhouse over that  weekend, and a very large turnout is expected.

The Club is looking forward to the occasion and there is no doubt that the night itself will be ‘A Night To Remember'

See some old photos below -

1984 - Intermediate B Final v Suncroft

Naas GAA: 

1990 - Senior Football Team:

Denis Danagher on the run: