Saturday 4 April 2026
Forenaughts, Naas, Co Kildare Kick-Off: 14:30
Match Referee: Andrew Fogarty
Naas RFC 2025-26 Senior Mens AIL Squad and coaching and management team – thanks for an entertaining season of sport.
On behalf of Naas Rugby Football Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all, and in particular our visitors from Instonians and their President Graeme McCausland to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture
This is the last game of the regular season, and it is one of utmost importance to us. We currently lie eighth in the table and a victory for us today will guarantee Division 1B rugby for next season. I am sure that all our supporters will really get behind the team and give them every encouragement
It will not be easy as our opponents today are a club that has set a template for success that many are striving to emulate During the 2021-22 season they were not even playing All Ireland League rugby, but since then they have captured the 2C, 2B and 2A titles to catapult themselves into Division 1B this season. They have made an immediate impact in this division, and regardless of today’s result they have ensured themselves a place in the promotion play-offs for Division 1A.
I would like to wish them the best of luck for the remainder of the season, although that obviously starts after this afternoon’s fixture!
Congratulations to the Naas 2nd XV on their tremendous Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup win over Dundalk last Sunday The semi-final against Tullow RFC takes place this evening at 7pm in Oak Park, Carlow If possible, please try to attend after this game to support the lads, who have had a tremendous season to date and hope to continue their great form later.
The U20 squad, who have also had a strong season, take on Buccaneers in the quarter final of the Purcell Cup in Forenaughts on Sunday. The last time these two sides met, it ended in a 28-28 draw. Please support them on Sunday if you can.
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
As today may be my last AIL game as President of Naas RFC, I would like to thank everybody who have helped in any small way to make this season an extremely enjoyable and fruitful one for me
Enjoy today’s match, yours in rugby.
Ross Murphy
President Naas RFC 2025/26
DewaltBarnard
Port Elizabeth, SA
NaasAILCaps:1
GrahamReynolds Enfield, Meath
NaasAILCaps:64
JamesO’Loughlin
Naas, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:50
Darragh Murphy
Ballyhackett, Carlow
Naas AIL Caps: 31
Adam Deay Clonmore, Carlow
NaasAILCaps:32
Oisin Halpin
Colbinstown, Kildare
Naas AIL Caps: 17
PaulieTolofua Auckland, NZ
NaasAILCaps:112
Will O’Brien(Capt)
Sallins, Kildare
NaasAIL Caps: 151
Tadhg Brophy
Kilcullen, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:31
Dylan O’Keeffe
Athgarvan, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:10
PaddyTaylor
Kilcullen, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:34
CharlieSheridan
Naas, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:68
12 10 9 11
JackSheridan
Naas, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:52
15
DonalConroy
Athgarvan, Kildare
Tom Monaghan
Kilcock, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:14
NaasAILCaps:89
Brad Clements
Perth, Scotland
NaasAILCaps:15
StephenLackey
Blessington, Wicklow
Naas AIL Caps: 74
19
Ryan Casey
Naas, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:122
20
CormacKing
Naas, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:34
MuirisCleary
Naas, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:47
21
David O’Sullivan
Kilcullen, Kildare
NaasAILCaps:21
The penultimate weekend of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B saw Naas travel to Energia Park last Saturday to face Old Wesley. This game had major implications at both ends of the league table – Old Wesley went into it leading the league by a point and striving for a victory in their bid for automatic promotion, while Naas were in 8th place and were desperate for a win to help them avoid dropping into the relegation play-offs.
The synthetic pitch in Energia Park leads to open, attractive rugby and this was certainly the case on Saturday with the game being played at a ferocious pace from start to finish. The home side enjoyed early dominance in terms of possession and territory and deservedly took the lead after 18 minutes.
When they were awarded a penalty in the Naas 22 scrum-half Evan Kenny took a quick tap catching the Naas defence unawares He was finally hauled down just short of the line, the ball was recycled and Mahon Ronan crashed over Tom Larke added the conversion. Their lead was doubled just four minutes later From a scrum on the Naas 22, big carries by Ethan Black and Mahon Ronan drove the visitors defence backwards, before Evan Kenny popped a pass to Jamie Clark who sliced through to score. Tom Larke again converted to put his side 14 points ahead.
Naas got the tonic of a great score just before the half-time whistle Will O’Brien won a line-out on the 22 and following it the ball was moved quickly along the backline out to Donal Conroy on the right wing, and he showed great pace to get in at the corner. Although Paddy Taylor was narrowly off the target with his conversion attempt, Naas were back in the game at 14-5, which proved to be the interval score.
Within six minutes of the resumption Naas were in for another try. Old Wesley were penalised for holding on at a ruck on the half-way line, and the subsequent penalty was taken quickly by Tadgh Brophy He then passed to Paddy Taylor who fed Charlie Sheridan, and the latter raced clear taking play into the Old Wesley 22. The ball was then recycled and a long pass by Oisin Halpin found Dewald Barnard out wide, who in turn fed Donal Conroy to dive in at the corner. The conversion by Paddy Taylor was unsuccessful, but Naas had reduced the Old Wesley lead to 14-10.
However, the power of the Old Wesley pack was becoming more and more evident and was leading to the concession of numerous scrum penalties by Naas This gave the home side the platform to attack, and two quick tries midway through the second-half settled the game as a contest.
The first one came after 58 minutes, when big carries by Stephen Smyth and Charlie Hempenstall took play up to the Naas line, before Cathal Kelly picked and crashed over to score. Then after 61 minutes Eoin Deegan made a break on half-way, the ball was then moved out to the left wing to Jarrod Homan who raced away before being stopped just short of the line. However Old Wesley had plenty of players in support and they quickly recycled the ball and found Stephen Smyth who dived over for the try. With Tom Larke converting both scores the home side now led 28-10.
Naas responded after 64 minutes when great hands by Donal Conroy and Paddy Taylor created space for Tadgh Brophy who raced away to score under the posts. Paddy Taylor converted the try
But Old Wesley quelled any thoughts of a sensational comeback when adding a fifth try after 75 minutes, when Jarrod Homan showed great strength to hold off a couple of Naas tacklers to power over. Tom Larke converted to make the score 35-17.
Nonetheless, Naas were not finished and with a minute left they scored what could prove to be an invaluable score Jason Cutler magnificently stripped possession from Billy Corrigan, the ball was then moved out to David O’Sullivan who raced down the left wing before passing to the supporting Paddy Taylor, who held off Jarrod Homan to score in the corner
This try gave Naas a try scoring bonus point which is vital in their bid to retain Division 1B status. Paddy Taylor was unable to convert his try and straight away referee Jack MacNeice blew the full-time whistle leaving a final score of Old Wesley 35 – Naas 22.
Soon afterwards word came through that UCC had lost to Instonians but had secured a losing bonus point, meaning that the positions remain unchanged heading into the last round of fixtures. For Naas matters are in their own hands – a win will see them stay up.
Next Saturday, April 4th they host Instonians, this game has a 2.30pm kick-off, and all support will be greatly appreciated for such a vital game
FOOTNOTE: Congratulations to Eoin Walsh who earned his 100th Naas AIL cap and to James O’Loughlin, who earned his 50th cap.
Old Wesley: Tom Larke, Paidi Farrell, Ethan Black, Eoin Deegan, Charlie Hempenstall, Niall Carroll, Evan Kenny, Jamie Clark, Kieran O’Shea (capt), Kian Regan, Billy Corrigan, Mahon Ronan, Luke O’Connor, Cathal Kelly, Pat McBarron.
Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Ben Popplewell, Dan Campbell, Charlie Meagher, Andrew Doyle, Jarrod Homan.
Naas: Tom Monaghan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Dylan O’Keeffe, Jack Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Tadhg Brophy, Dewald Barnard, Graham Reynolds, Stephen Lackey, James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin, Muiris Cleary, Will O’Brien (capt), Paulie Tolofua.
Replacements: Tadgh Dooley, Patrick Brophy, Eoin Walsh, Jason Cutler, Cormac King, David O’Sullivan.
Referee: Jack MacNeice
Match report: Mark Herbert
Respect our Game Respect our Game
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.
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.
Many thanks to all our club sponsors for their continued support. Please, in turn, support them where possible.
