MATCHDAY — Issue 03 | Newbridge Town FC v UCC AFC

THE OFFICIAL DIGITAL PROGRAMME OF NEWBRIDGE TOWN FC

KILDARE’S CLUB IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

NEWBRIDGE TOWN FC v UCC AFC

FAI NATIONAL LEAGUE

Saturday 3 October 2026 · 5:00pm · Station Road

COMPETITION

FAI National League

DATE

3 October 2026

KICK-OFF

5:00pm

VENUE

Station Road

MATCHDAY FACILITIES

What’s On Today

KIDS’ MATCHDAY TREAT

Free ice cream for the first 50 kids in club colours

Wear your Newbridge Town FC zip top or jersey today and the first 50 kids get a free ice cream from Mr Whizz. Show your colours at the van — while stocks last!

Newbridge Town FC Bar
The clubhouse bar — open before, during and after the match for supporters home and away.

Open
Pulled and Loaded
Food trailer serving pulled meats and loaded fries pitch-side on matchday.
Mr Whizz
Ice cream van serving supporters of all ages at Station Road. Free ice cream for the first 50 kids in NTFC colours today.

Kids’ Treat

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Welcome to Station Road

On behalf of everyone at Newbridge Town FC, I am delighted to welcome our visitors from UCC AFC to Station Road for today’s National League fixture. We also extend a warm welcome to our match day officials.

This is our first meeting with UCC AFC in the National League and we look forward to making the return trip to Cork at the end of October.

Today gives the Club another chance to showcase our facilities to those that may not be familiar with Station Road.

Thanks, as always, to our volunteers, supporters and sponsors for their support, time, energy and commitment to the Club.

We wish both teams the very best of luck for today’s match. I’m sure our lads are looking to put last week’s disappointment behind them and put in a positive performance in front of their home fans. I hope that all of our visitors to Station Road enjoy their match day experience and look forward to welcoming you all again soon.

Colin Edmonds

CHAIRMAN · NEWBRIDGE TOWN FC

TODAY’S MATCH

Newbridge Town FC v UCC AFC

Newbridge Town picked up their first National League point in a 2–2 draw with Killarney Celtic at Station Road, before a heavy defeat away to Villa last weekend. Today is the chance to respond in front of the home crowd as UCC AFC visit Station Road for the first time in the Group 3 campaign.

FROM THE DUGOUT

Martin Russell

HEAD COACH · NEWBRIDGE TOWN FC

“Welcome all to our National League tie against UCC.

UCC have a strong history of competing at high levels, whether as a force in the Munster League or in colleges football. They will today prove a real test.

They, like ourselves, are now challenging in the National League for the first time, and we are both learning lessons in the demands that this competition brings on and off the field.

Since our last home draw, we have travelled to Villa FC and suffered a bad defeat. In particular, the game in Waterford highlights the challenges that we have signed up to in order for our players and our club to grow and become greater. If we want to mix it at this level, or better still higher again, we acknowledge that there are demands in every aspect of being competitive that need to be met.

As I’ve said to our players, this is the highest grade they have so far experienced. To accept, and more importantly work towards, the improvements is the only way. I’ve also mentioned to the group: if playing a high level of football was easy, everyone would be doing it!

We are under no illusion of the task at hand, and are committed to improving our playing standard when resources allow.

There were plenty of clubs who turned down the opportunity to enter the National League; they are happy with their status. That’s fine for them, but Kildare needs a senior National League club doing well, and I’m proud to say Newbridge Town are leading the cause, with good people behind the scenes all working for the benefit of the game in this region. To really enjoy the highs of meaningful success that will one day come, we have to dig deep now and push on through the obstacles that are undoubtedly in our path.

So keep supporting, and thank you for being here at the start. Enjoy the game, Martin”

TODAY’S SQUADS

Squads

NEWBRIDGE TOWN FC

1 Mark O’Connor 30 · IRL
2 Finn Cowper Gray 21 · IRL
3 David Oduntan 20 · IRL
4 Seamus Brown 20 · IRL
5 Eric Munongo 31 · IRL
6 Nathan James McAuley 20 · IRL
7 Moses Alabi 21 · IRL
8 Noah Byrne 20 · IRL
9 Darragh Bolton 19 · IRL
10 Milton Rodrigo Benitez Lirio 40 · PAR
11 Ruairi Brown 23 · IRL
12 Conan Krüger 20 · IRL
13 Ethan Mills 21 · IRL
14 Alex Akinrintoyo 19 · IRL
15 Isaiah Phillips 22 · IRL
16 Shane O’Keeffe 29 · IRL
17 Jack Kenny 20 · IRL
19 Troy O’Dowd 20 · IRL
20 Cian Rushe 18 · IRL
21 Conor Duggan 18 · IRL
25 Sean Martin 23 · IRL

UCC AFC

1 Robert Barry
2 Ronan Murphy
3 Shane O’Neill
4 Mark Carey
5 John O’Donovan (VC)
6 Daniel McCarthy (C)
7 Eanna Fitzgerald
8 Evan Lynch
9 Conor O’Sullivan
10 Ronan O’Shea
11 Darragh Bowdren
12 Noah Sowinski
13 Ethan Ballard
14 Derry Howard
15 Finn Bond-Smith
16 Darragh O’Brien
18 Sam Bailey
19 Oscar Ahern
20 Jorge Ramos
21 Eric O’Sullivan
22 Callum McFadden

PLAYER FOCUS

Mark O’Connor

NO. 1 · GOALKEEPER

Footballing hero?

Shay Given has always been my footballing hero. As a goalkeeper, he was someone I looked up to growing up and he was a huge inspiration for me.

Best player you’ve played with?

Probably Jamie McGrath when I was at Cherry Orchard.

Favourite away ground?

Sligo Rovers. It was a nice ground to play at and has a good atmosphere.

Pre-match routine?

I like to keep things fairly relaxed. I’ll foam roll, make sure I eat plenty of carbs and stay well hydrated.

What does representing Newbridge Town mean to you?

It means a lot to me. I’ve always had a strong connection with Newbridge Town and it’s the club where I’ve always felt most at home. I’ve won a league and a cup here, and now getting the opportunity to represent the club in the National League makes it even more special.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE

Standings — Group 3

#	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Villa	4	3	1	0	+11	10
2	CK United	4	2	2	0	+2	8
3	UCC AFC	3	1	1	1	−1	4
4	Killarney Celtic	3	0	1	2	−2	1
5	Newbridge Town	4	0	1	3	−10	1

FIXTURES & RESULTS

Recent & Upcoming

LAST RESULT — MATCH REPORT

AWAY Villa FC v Newbridge Town 5–0 · FT

Newbridge Town line up away to Villa FC

A disappointing afternoon on the road. Villa took their chances well and scored some excellent goals on the day, and we wish them the very best for the rest of the season. The group regroups at Station Road today.

PREVIOUS RESULT — MATCH REPORT

HOME Newbridge Town v Killarney Celtic 2–2 · FT

Newbridge Town and Killarney Celtic shared the points in an end-to-end game at Station Road. Ruairi Brown and Moses Alabi got the goals for Newbridge, and both sides created plenty of chances in a game that had something for the neutral. The visitors struck in injury time to take a point back to Kerry — but it was Newbridge’s first point of the National League season.

NEXT UP

HOME Newbridge Town v UCC AFC Sat 3 Oct · 5:00pm · Station Road

AWAY Killarney Celtic v Newbridge Town Sat 10 Oct · Celtic Park

HOME Newbridge Town v CK United Sat 17 Oct · Station Road

CLUB NEWS

Our Community. On Our Jersey.

Newbridge Town FC is proud to announce Newbridge Family Resource Centre as our first Our Community, On Our Jersey, partner.

Throughout our National League season, the NFRC logo is being proudly carried on our players’ jerseys, giving visibility to an organisation that has supported individuals, children and families across Newbridge for more than 40 years.

This partnership is about using the platform of our National League team to recognise the people and organisations making a genuine difference in our town.

Our Community. On Our Jersey. will become an annual Newbridge Town FC initiative, allowing us to highlight and support an important community organisation each year.

We are proud that Newbridge Family Resource Centre is the first name to feature.

Our Community. On Our Jersey.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NFRC

AROUND THE CLUB

Our Volunteers

Newbridge Town FC volunteers at Station Road

Behind every matchday at Station Road is a team of volunteers giving up their own time to keep the club running. From pitch and grounds upkeep to matchday operations, their work keeps our facilities in great condition week after week — often without much notice, but never without our appreciation. Thanks to them all.

VOLUNTEER FOCUS

Karl Howe

NATIONAL LEAGUE KIT MAN · NEWBRIDGE TOWN FC

How long have you been involved with the club, and how did you get started?

I’ve been with the club around six years. I got involved because my nephew was with the club, and because of my passion for football in general.

What does a typical matchday look like for you?

A typical matchday for me is getting the kit ready in the dressing room for the team, and checking that I have all the equipment we need for the match ready to go.

What does volunteering your time for Newbridge Town mean to you?

Volunteering my time for Newbridge Town means a lot. I’m learning, giving back to the community and passing my experience on to young people.

What are you looking forward to this season?

I’m looking forward to seeing the team’s progression.

COMMERCIAL PARTNERS