Naas vs Highfield_Match Day Programme_25Oct

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC

HIGHFIELD RFC

Saturday 25 October 2025 Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30 Match Referee: Shane Gaughan

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and in particular our visitors from Highfield and their President Billy Daly to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture.

It is only six months since these two teams played here in Naas, when Highfield won a game for the ages by 43 points to 42, securing their Division 1B status into the bargain.

They have made a decent start to this campaign, having already beaten Queens and Blackrock and will present a stern test for us this afternoon.

Although we have yet to register our first league victory of the season, we showed when narrowly losing to Dublin University in our last fixture that our very young side are beginning to gel together, and I have no doubt that our winning ways will soon resume.

However, regardless of the result, and just as importantly, old acquaintances will be renewed in the clubhouse afterwards.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Paulie Tolofua, who earned his 100th Naas AIL cap against Dublin University. It’s a great milestone and testament to his commitment to AIL rugby. Welcome to the centurion club!

Many thanks to our club sponsors for their continued support. A list of their names is at the back of the programme, and I would encourage you to support them where possible and a special thanks to all our dedicated volunteers, coaches and referees who generously contribute their time to Naas RFC. However, the club always needs more volunteers to help out. If you would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the Executive Committee.

For those of you visiting us here for the first time you are more than welcome, and we look forward to seeing you return soon. Naas RFC held our Annual Business Lunch yesterday and as always it was a roaring success. A special thank you goes to Gerry McGrath who every year delivers a superb day, and his work is greatly appreciated by all in the club.

Naas RFC and the game of rugby itself is founded on the values of integrity and respect.

Can I ask you to take a minute to read through the Naas RFC Code of Conduct in the programme. Please adhere to these guiding principles and especially show respect for our match officials. Without them we would have no game.

After today’s fixture we travel to face Queen's University on November 1st, before our next home fixture against Blackrock College on November 15th and all support will be greatly appreciated.

Enjoy today’s match. Yours in rugby,

Ross Murphy President Naas RFC 2025/26

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK 2

1

3

Stephen Lackey

Brad Clements Perth, Scotland

Clonmore, Carlow

Naas AIL Caps: 60

Naas AIL Caps: 3

Naas AIL Caps: 20

4

5

James O’Loughlin

James Stockwood

Blessington, Wicklow

Naas, Kildare

Bowmanville, Ontario

Naas AIL Caps: 35

Naas AIL Caps: 2

6

8

Oisin Halpin

Colbinstown, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 3

Adam Deay

7

Will O’Brien (Capt)

Paulie Tolofua Auckland, NZ

Naas AIL Caps: 100

Sallins, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 138

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK 9

10

Tadhg Brophy

Kilcullen, Kildare

Tom Bohan

Naas AIL Caps: 17

Ballitore, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 3

12

13

Tom Monaghan Kilcock, Kildare

Paddy Taylor

Naas AIL Caps: 3

Kilcullen, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 20

11

15

Donal Conroy

Jack Sheridan Naas, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 37

14

Charlie Sheridan Naas, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 53

Athgarvan, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 74

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT 16 17 Fintan O’Malley

Johnstown, Kildare

18

Naas AIL Caps: Debut Thomas Adams

Worthing, West Sussex

Naas AIL Caps: 2 Cillian Dempsey

19

Eadestown, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 87

20 Darragh Murphy

Ballyhackett, Carlow

21

Naas AIL Caps: 19 Cormac King Naas, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 21 Reserves

22. Calum Coyne | Old Harlow, Essex 23. Tadhg Dooley | Ballymore Eustace, Kildare 24. Dylan O’Keeffe | Athgarvan, Kildare 25. Jason Cutler | Johannesburg, SA

David O’Sullivan Kilcullen, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 14

HIGHFIELD RFC MATCHDAY SQUAD

1

2

James CRONIN

4 6

Dave O’HALLORAN

Aidan KEANE

9

8 James BRUGGER

12

11

3

Niall DOWLING

5

Dave O’CONNELL

7

Ryan GORDON

10 13

Conor GALVIN

Shane BUCKLEY

Dave O’SULLIVAN

Dave McCARTHY

14

Noah

PATTERSON

15

Darragh FITZGERALD

Nicky GREENE

Jamie SHANAHAN (Capt.)

REPLACEMENTS 16. Mitchell Connolly 19. Chris Banon

17. Cillian Buckley 20. Shane O’Riordan

18. Con Butler 21. Colin O’Neill

RESERVES Eoin Keating

|

Luke Kingston

|

Liam Mc Carthy

Fixtures & Results

Date 27 Sep 04 Oct 11 Oct 25 Oct 01 Nov 15 Nov 29 Nov 06 Dec 13 Dec 10 Jan 24 Jan 31 Jan 07 Feb 28 Feb 07 Mar 21 Mar 28 Mar 04 Apr

Home Instonians Naas Dublin University Naas Queens Naas City of Armagh Garryowen Naas UCC Naas Naas Blackrock College Naas Highfield Naas Old Wesley Naas

Score 32 – 13 15 – 33 21 – 18 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0

Away Naas Old Wesley Naas Highfield Naas Blackrock College Naas Naas UCC Naas Garryowen City of Armagh Naas Queens Naas Dublin University Naas Instonians

Dublin University 21 – 18 Naas | Match Report Week 3 of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B campaign saw Naas travel to Trinity College last Saturday afternoon to face Dublin University.

They arrived in the capital on the back of two previous defeats, and although unable to regain the winning thread here, they went down fighting, after a thrilling game that featured a number of momentum swings. The match was played in ideal weather conditions, with a pristine pitch leading to a fast paced, open game of rugby, that entertained the large attendance present.

Naas were forced to line out without their influential captain Will O’Brien, and to compound matters Ryan Casey was also unable to play due to injury, and they fell behind after just three minutes.

The home side started with real intent, and they immediately went on the attack, and following a half break by Matty Lynch the ball was moved out to Jack O’Neill on the right wing. The Dublin University hooker was hauled down just short of the line, before the ball was quickly recycled.

Scrum-half Oscar Cawley fed the onrushing Artur Smykovskiy who was not to be stopped from diving over from close range for the opening score of the game.

Matty Lynch added the conversion to put the home side seven points in front.

Tom Bohan replied with a penalty for Naas after 14 minutes, but for the next seven minutes they were forced to soak up some tremendous pressure from the home side. However, to their credit the Naas defence stood firm and were rewarded just as it appeared that the students were sure to score.

They were camped on the Naas line before Oscar Cawley passed out to Mark Walsh, but Naas winger Donal Conroy read it brilliantly, managing to intercept and sprinting away. When he was hauled down on half-way he passed inside to the supporting Tom Monaghan, who in turn passed to Paddy Taylor who scored under the posts. Bohan added the conversion and Naas led for the first time in the game by ten points to seven.

From here until the interval it was all Naas, they completely took over and had the home side hanging on for dear life on occasions. Tom Bohan added another penalty after 27 minutes and six minutes later they got in for their second try. After a sustained period of pressure, a long pass by Charlie Sheridan to Eoin Walsh unlocked the home defence, the latter passed on to Donal Conroy - who was in acres of space out wide right - and he dotted down in the corner for a fine score.

Although the conversion was missed by Tom Bohan, Naas now led by 18 points to seven.

Bohan was narrowly wide with a longrange penalty attempt on 37 minutes, a few minutes later Rob McGreer blew for half-time with Naas 11 points in front, a margin which in no way flattered them.

The home side had to up their play in the second half and to their credit they did.

They began to dominate both possession and territory, and long spells of the half were played on their terms. The home side were right back in the game after 47 minutes following a superb try.

From a scrum on their own ten metre line, some quick passes by the students moved the ball to Noah Byrne on the halfway.

Dublin University 21 – 18 Naas | Match Report The full-back then showed blistering pace to race away from the Naas cover to score, and with Matty Lynch converting, the deficit was down to four points.

After that the home side continued to look the more likely to score but were met with some stubborn Naas defence that refused to yield. However, their resistance was broken after 67 minutes, although it was not a score without some controversy. Following a ruck in the Naas 22, the referee McGreer stopped play and had a long discussion with his touch judge.

He then showed the Naas flanker Darragh Murphy a yellow card, and although the player protested his innocence the decision stood, which baffled many of the attendance who could see no infringement.

The home took full advantage of their numerical superiority immediately, The subsequent penalty was kicked to touch, from the line-out a driving maul was set up, when this was stopped the home side stayed patient, until finally Zach Baird was able to crash over from close range. Matty Lynch converted, and the Dublin University were back in front by 21 points to 18.

Naas threw everything at their opponents in the closing stages to rescue victory and caused the home supporters some heart stopping moments as the Dublin University defence looked like being breached on a couple of occasions. However, the visitors simply ran out of time, and at full-time they were still three points short.

Although defeated, this was another major step forward from this young Naas side.

Week on week they are improving, and certainly on this performance it is only a matter of time before they begin to climb up the league table. A special mention must also go to Paulie Tolofua who made his 100th AIL appearance for Naas here – a great achievement.

Next up for them is a home fixture against Highfield. This game is on Saturday week, October 25th with a 2.30pm kick-off, and as always, all support will be greatly appreciated.

Naas: Charlie Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Paddy Taylor, Dylan O’Keeffe, Tom Monaghan, Tom Bohan, Tadhg Brophy, John King, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, James Stockwood, James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin, Eoin Walsh (capt), Paulie Tolofua.

Replacements: Tadhg Dooley, Stephen Lackey, Darragh Murphy, Cillian Dempsey, Cormac King, David O’Sullivan.

Dublin University: Noah Byrne, Davy Colbert, Alex Finlay, Mark Walsh, Johnny O’Sullivan, Matty Lynch, Oscar Cawley, Karl Brennan, Jack O’Neill, Eoin McDermott, Artur Smykovskiy, Tom Davidson, Kevin Jackson, Conall Henchy, David Walsh (capt).

Replacements: Zach Baird, Hunter DeaneJohns, Dan Carroll, Garvan Woodcock, Conor Treacy, Hugh Goddard.

Referee: Rob McGreer Match report: Mark Herbert

Spirit of Rugby

NAAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS, PLAYERS, COACHES & SUPPORTERS A person shall NOT ABUSE, THREATEN OR INTIMIDATE a player, referee, touch judge, match official or steward whether on or off the field of play and on club grounds.

A person (inclusive of players) shall NOT USE RACIAL, CRUDE OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE OR GESTURES TOWARDS a player, referee, touch judge, match official, steward or spectator.

CLUB OFFICIALS AND STEWARDS Shall be entitled to request any person to leave the club grounds for behaviour that they deem to be inappropriate or in breach of the code of conduct.

THE CLUB RESERVES THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REFUSE ADMISSION TO THE GROUNDS.

Respect our Game

Spirit of Rugby

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Spirit of Rugby

Respect our Game

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Respect our Game

Respect our Game

Spirit of Rugby

OUR GENEROUS CLUB SPONSORS Many thanks to all our club sponsors for their continued support. Please, in turn, support them where possible.

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