Club News: Week Ending 18.08.13
12th August 2013 By Munster Rugby
This week’s Club News come from Cobh Pirates, Waterford City and Young Munster rugby clubs.
Click here for Waterford City Club News
Click here for Young Munster Club News
Courtesy of Liz Cotter, Club PRO
Club Update
We would to extend our congratulations and best wishes for season 2013/14 to our new Club Captain, John Kidney. John returned to Cobh Pirates a number of season's ago after playing in the All Ireland League with Sunday's Well RFC. Both the J1 & J2 squads are working hard in pre-season at the moment under the eye of new Club Coach, Brendan O'Connor.
The domestic season starts on Sunday September 1st with a big family day planned in the Paddocks for the first game at home to Highfield in the Dennehy Cup. More details nearer the date.
Best of luck to John and the players for the coming season.
Ladies XV
We would like to congratulate Susan Dominey who has been named Ladies XV Captain for season 2013/14. Susan will be supported by two vice captains – Charlotte Skidmore and Claire Keogh. Nichola Power will continue as Ladies Head Coach.
The Ladies team also have a new manager; we would like to welcome Catherine McSweeney to the setup; Catherine returns to the Club, having previously spent many years working with the Juvenile Section. The team are looking forward to the season ahead and are taking with them the great positive attitude, skills development and league finish they had last year.
Best of Luck for the Season Ladies!!
Committee
We would like to welcome Paul Kenny to the Executive Committee. Paul will assume the role of Juvenile Chairman for season 2013/14. He will be assisted by Fiona Perryman, as Mini Rugby Co-ordinator, Kevin O'Keeffe as Munster Branch Delegate and a dedicated sub-committee that will look after the management of the Juvenile section at the Club.
Muiris Mahon will assume the role of delegate to the Munster Association of Referees and the Club Judicial Officer. Muiris joins the Club's Rugby Management sub-committee.
We welcome new coaches, managers, committee members at all levels; especially, coaches at the Mini age grades, 5 – 12 years old. Please contact youths@cobhpirates.com for more details.
We wish both a successful season in their new positions at Cobh Pirates RFC.
Juvenile Tag Starts NEXT MONDAY 12th at 6:30pm
If you have not registered yet, make sure you arrive early, circa 6pm to be allocated a team. We would like to start on time, so co-operation appreciated on early arrival.
We would like to thank our main sponsor Laya Healthcare for getting on board with the club again this year.
There is a lot of activities happening in the club house over the next couple of weekends with both charity events and club events so why not pop up!
If you are interested in participating in our club 100k cycle why not contact the club for more information. It is on the 17th of August, starting at the club and finishing there – Great day should be had by all.
Courtesy of Damien Kennedy, Club PRO
One Day Club Tournament And Galway Trip
On Saturday the 17th of August we will hold a one day tournament consisting of our men's squad, Portarlington RFC from Dublin, Kilfeacle RFC from Tipperary and Gorey RFC from Wexford. The games will be 30mins long with each team playing each other once beginning at 12:00 and ending at 3:00, it will be a great day with some quality rugby played so why not come out and support!!
Club captain Dave O Connor will be collecting the €30 for anyone interested in travelling to Galwegians for the game against their J1 side on Saturday the 7th of September ,this covers the overnight accommodation in Galway. The Galwegians AIL side will also be playing a friendly later that evening so it should make for a great day away ,spaces are limited so get your name in quickly.
Women's Team Return
Our Ladies team returned to preseason training last Wednesday and will continue to train every Wednesday at 7:00 – 8:00 with a fitness class done by Sarah Lavery of Fit for anything, the cost is €€;4 per person and is well worth doing ,if you are interested in trying rugby why not come out and meet the team or check us out on Facebook.
With this statement Young Munster Women's Rugby would like to reflect of the 2012/2013 Season for Young Munster Women's Team. As the squad progressed through the season there high's and low's, some expected and some unexpected.
The campaign began with the appointment of a new committee, manager and coach. Head Coach Greg Costello was joined by Hugh McGrath as Forward's coach, assisting coaches/medic David Keogh and Robert Prendiville and Niall Cunneen as Manager. The committee targeted a recruitment drive over the summer with tag leagues, and stand at Mary Immaculate College Clubs and Society day and so the squad developed for the year.
Every season brings the excitement and nerves of first match, delight and confidence of first win, and of course new gear!!! It was at this time that the committee looked in acquiring a new team kit. It was suggested by Head Coach Costello, that maybe we could look at selecting a local charity to promote on the teams jerseys. It was a short discussion in the committee and a quick phone call to Kieran O'Brien, Peita House Fundraising Coordinator, to ask if we could have the honour of promoting the charity that we knew was providing a fundamental service. And so it was the Peita House Logo was decided to go on the front of the team jersey's – this was a great honour to be promoting awareness of a great service, but doubly had powerful meaning as several player's have lost family, friends and neighbours through suicide.
The team did not do as well as anticipated in the league, concluding with sixth position in the AIL table. However players held out hope for the Cup/Plate, but alas there was no fruits of the labour. With players finishing the season without any silverware it seemed to end all too quickly without really get going. So when the invite to attend the first Invitational Connacht Cup arrived, the team entered with enthusiasm and excitement. The Invitational Cup included games against, Castlebar with an Away Win, and home win against Tuam, this lead to the team qualifying for the final, against Sligo.
So this season has been bigger and better, with the team making it to the Connacht Cup Final, unfortunately conceding the silverware to Sligo. The Cup Final was highlight for many new players giving a hunger to strive for the chance again in the future, and a lasting memory for the players who would be retiring at the end of season.
The experience has left the team on mission to want more, so with Player's Player ~ Sarah Hartigan, Player of the Year ~ Sarah Quin, Best New Player ~ Paula McSweeny, and Most Improved Player ~ Kate Kirby leading the team back on to the field for the 2013/2014 season we know that there are bigger and better achievements for Young Munster's Women's Rugby team in days ahead.
To conclude the season the team participated in a final off the field event – Peita's House Darkness into Light walk/run which took place May 11th. This was a fantastic opportunity as the team completed it in their Peita logoed jersey's.
The Management, Coaches, Committee and Squad would like to thank all those who supported us for the year, the Club and committee's, our sponsor The Library Bar, and most importantly friends and family.
