Club Focus: Galbally RFC

23rd October 2015 By Munster Rugby

Established in 1973 Galbally RFC achieved its first taste of success five years later by winning the Garryowen Cup and since then have gone from strength to strength.

The Co Limerick club competed in Division 3 of the Junior League until 2009, when that season they won the league to gain promotion. Two years later, in 2011, Galbally again achieved promotion, this time to division 1 status.

Galbally RFC have since maintained their position on the league table and Club Treasurer and former senior "Jim

player Jim Stapleton credits their overall success to their ongoing player development plans.

“We lost many of our players to emigration over the 2012/13 season and have struggled over the last couple of years with numbers but thankfully have maintained our division 1 status.

“During that time we brought on a lot of our emerging Under 15, Under 16 and Under 18 players who have now formed the nucleus of our first team.

“The average age of our senior squad is around 22 so we’ve a really young side but they are gaining experience all the time. We struggled in the league in the last couple of years but ultimately we stayed in our division which is what we set out to do.”

Set at the foot of the Galtee Mountains, Galbally RFC is surrounded by four rugby clubs within a short radius and Stapleton said one of the biggest challenges for the club is player recruitment.

“We have Clanwilliam, Kilfeacle, Mitchelstown and Fermoy rugby clubs about eight miles away from us and we’re all pulling for players.

“From September we have our Mini Coordinator going into various schools, just recruiting for the mini age grade and our plan is to hold on to them all the way up.

“We’re edging towards 80 players in our minis now so we’re doing well at that level. Unfortunately we’re struggling at the Under 13 age grade but we have a good Under 15s side that are competing in the league this year.

“We’re fielding two adult teams which is great for the club. This year we have a gap at U18s as our players from last season are playing in our seconds so we expect to be back on track at U18 level again next season.”

With a match quality-floodlit pitch and impressive clubhouse, Stapleton said Galbally are very proud of their facilities but acknowledges the financial challenges in funding a club.

“We’re very proud of the facilities we have” he said. “We have our own playing field and clubhouse and in 2010 we erected match-quality floodlights. We’re just one of the few junior clubs in Munster that can play under lights.

“We have ongoing plans to enhance our facilities – last summer we constructed a gym and next year we hope to develop hospitality facilities within the clubhouse so there are many projects in place.

“Raising funds for our club’s development is a constant struggle, he continued. We still have some debt repayment since 2010 but we’re nearly at the far end now.

“The main fundraiser comes from an annual BBQ at the club and the IRFU development draw returns a few bob every year. We also hold golf classics and various other events throughout the year.”

Looking ahead Stapleton said the club’s biggest challenge is to recruit players from an early age and ensure their progression from youth to adult rugby.

“Galbally’s greatest challenge on-field is to help our players progress from our youths to adult rugby and make sure we have teams competing at all age grades. We must retain our players – if there’s no team for them they will transfer to another club and we can’t afford to lose players.

“We also need to get more kids playing with the club and hopefully get parents to help us with coaching.

“In 2014 our second’s team won the Webb Cup, last season our first team won the Garryowen Cup and our U18s won their league so we can see progression. We are conscious that the success we have in the coming seasons will be as a result of the great work that has been done over the last ten years in bringing players through to the senior squad and we look forward to further achievements.”

Galbally RFC were selected to be one of six clubs in Limerick to partake in the ‘Mind Your Buddy’ programme and will be hosting a charity fashion show tomorrow night, Saturday, 24th October in Ballkisteen House at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door and proceeds will be donated to Pieta House.