Club News W/C 16/5

News from around the clubs for the past week

OLD CRESCENT
Old Crescent RFC hosted a reception in the clubhouse last Monday to mark the departure of Freddie Pucciariello from Old Crescent and from Munster. During his time in Limerick, Freddie was an invaluable member of the Old Crescent first team management and he played some critical games for the Club when his Munster commitments allowed. His experience and motivational skills were never more in evidence when he took charge of our senior team in their spirited display against Cork Constitution in the Munster Senior Cup Final earlier this year, and he contributed hugely to our top four finish in the AIL this season. Pictured at the reception is Freddie Pucciariello receiving a gift from Niall Sheehy, Senior Vice President, Old Crescent RFC. Freddie presented Old Crescent with the jersey he wore when he played for the Barbarians in their defeat of South Africa in December 2007, which will be proudly displayed in the clubhouse.

Another small news item:

As part of a nationwide tour of Irish rugby trophies won this season, the RBS 6 Nations Trophy, the Triple Crown Trophy and the Magners League Trophy, will be on display in the Old Crescent RFC Clubhouse from 5.00pm to 7.00pm on Wednesday, 27th May. All are welcome, bring your cameras.

BRUFF
Well done to all 26 teams who took part in last week’s Tag Finals. Thanks to all players, referees, sponsors, volunteers, You’ve all be fantastic.
NCW Macra were brilliant with their colourful fancy dress and all the karaoke singers and dancing made the night one to remember for quite a while. It was a great night of celebrations! A bus load of city players headed into the ICON nite club after 1am to continue the proceedings while the sing song in the club bar kept going until very late.
Photos are available on the website if you want to have a look. www.bruffrfc.com.
Plans are already underway for our 4th Annual " Bull n Booze" Tag Festival on 15th August, we hope to see all you taggers there again then.
Now onto the Twilight spring league results.

SPRING LEAGUE WINNERS 2009
Many thanks to our intrepid IRB ref George Clancy who presented all of the prizes on the night, He’s the man in the middle for the European Challenge Cup final this coming Friday, prior to his excursion southwards.

B Cup Final – Intel Hoppers
B Plate Final – Bakehouse Bruisers
B Bowl Final -PACE
C1 Cup Final – Recession Runners
C1 Plate Final – Slippery Eels
C1 Bowl Final – Castletroy Teachers
C2 Cup Final – Tottally Inform Taggers
C2 Plate Final – The Who
C2 Bowl Final – Guten Tag
C3 Cup Final – Smilers Specials
C3 Plate Final – Sharkhunters
RUNNER-UP TEAM PRIZE
Snap, Tackle & Pop were the lucky team to be pulled out of the draw to win a behind the scene Stadium & Museum Tour of Thomond Park, compliments of Thomond Park Stadium www.thomondpark.ie
WINNER OF E-MAIL COMPETITION
Jerry Martin from the Newcastle West Macra team was the lucky winner of a pair of tickets to last weekends Munster v Osprey match in Thomond Park where Munster were presented with the Magners League Trophy.
REFEREE PRIZES
Frank Butler (AIL referee) brought along 2 prizes compliments of the IRFU and the lucky Tag Referees were
Pat Reardon – Tracksuit
Stephen Hehir- Pair of Munster Tickets
Next week we have the Annual General meeting on Wednesday 27th at 8:00 p.m., Nominations and notices of motion to be in with the Hon Sec. by Wednesday 20th to be eligible for inclusion at the AGM. And with the AGM we can finally draw a curtain over the 2008-09 season and prepare for 2009-10. We’ll have the usual discussion of the year from all points of view so some along and join us for what should be a great recount of our first ever season in Division 2.

Richard Leonard,
P.R.O. Bruff R.F.C.

KINSALE:
At the Underage Awards night on Friday last, Damien O’Mahony was presented with Overall Club Player of the Year for the second consecutive year – a first in the club.

Damien’s rugby career is moving in leaps and bounds and he was recently selected as a member of the Munster Clubs Under 17’s squad – another club first so well done Damien, keep up the good work and make us proud!


The U14’s took the team of the year award.

KILLORGLIN
Killorglin Rugby Club’s annual Summer Tag Rugby evenings has begun. It takes place every Tuesday evening at 7:30 in the Dragon’s Den All weather pitch. Tag Rugby is non-contact, and is open to both men and women to play.

SHANNON
I suppose it’s a much easier task to hold an AGM with the backdrop of a ninth AIB league title, and against such a high for the club we had another huge turnout which is sign of the health our club is in. However it was also with a sense of sadness as we sympathised with Mick McLoughlin and his family on the tragic, untimely death of his 26 year old daughter Michelle. Such a tragedy puts life into perspective and on behalf of all in Shannon we convey our deepest sympathy to Mick, his wife Fiona and his children Sally and Breen.
With the AIB league trophy gleaming on its pedestal , it sat beside another All Ireland title, the Women’s plate , the charity cup and of course the U/16 league and cup as well the U/14 league. For outgoing president Liam Costello it was certainly an auspicious backdrop to his final official speech. He charted the peaks and troughs of this eventful season and spoke most eloquently of his immense pride in his beloved club. A lot of people played their part in the clubs success and Liam was fulsome in his praise of everyone that contributed to the club in any way no matter how insignificant they may feel it was. It was very apparent to everyone that has worked with Liam throughout the season that the honour of presidency was something he cherished and thankfully his memories can reflect a great year. No doubt his late father Joe would have been so proud of Liam’s wonderful representation of Shannon throughout the season. He thanked his family, particularly his wife Mary for their support of his presidency and with that he handed over the reins to Martin Clancy.
A second term for one of the clubs most loyal servants is a just reward for Martin Clancy. He too is a man with pride and passion for Shannon just bursting through his body and it’s a reflection of this that he was prepared to serve a second stint. A member of our legendry 1960 cup winning side he remembered his colleagues and the wonderful contribution many of them made to the club. It is so fitting that next season we celebrate 50 years since our first Munster cup win with a member of the side holding the office of President and Martin dedicated his year to the memory of those great men, both present and deceased. We wish him a successful and prosperous year and hopefully this time next year he will be reflecting on another great year.
Chairman Jack Keane addressed the meeting and began with memories of this time last year and the questions that were being asked back then which were more than adequately answered with the winning of the AIL . He too thanked all associated with the club and made particular mention of our Club medical Doctor Darragh Little who has given over 35 years unstinting service to the club. In tough economical times he outlined the valuable contribution of our main sponsors O2 and O’ Neill’s, along with others that have assisted financially throughout the year. Going forward he reported on the ongoing developmental plans for Coonagh and Thomond Park and informed the meeting that major pitch improvements are imminent.
Hon. Secretary Tadgh Crowe highlighted the ladies win in the All Ireland plate and the representative honours bestowed on the very many Club players at both underage and senior level. On a negative note he explained the threat that the underage section is under from the proposed schools /clubs agreement which would see a further disenfranchising of the role that clubs play in the overall development of players. He reported that Shannon is actively looking to get this situation revised along with other city clubs. Tim O’Donoghue presented the clubs accounts and advised that although the club is in a reasonably healthy state continual careful management of the clubs resources is paramount if we are to maintain such a state.
The subcommittee reports were delivered in a very positive light reflecting the season past and the full election of the committee followed.
The election of The executive committee in full is President, Martin Clancy, Vice President Pat O’Connor, Junior Vice President Eddie Price. Chairman Jack Keane, Hon Sec. Tadgh Crowe and after an election Ger Mc Closkey was returned as Asst. Hon Sec. Hon. Treasurer Tim O’Donoghue, Asst Hon Treasurer Tom Caulfield. Executive Officer Pat Downey, PRO Andrew Mc Namara
The meeting concluded with a minutes silence for deceased members and obviously particular memories of Frankie were evoked.
Reflection is quite often a very personnel think , but luckily in Shannon we can collectively reflect on a superb season , the pinnacle of which came in Thomond park last Saturday week. It’s true to say that the sum of the small parts make the greater good and never has this been as true as it is in our club.
From the U/6 coaches all the way up to Geoff and his management team, each every contributor is deserving of praise. The wining of trophies and competitions isn’t always a mark of a successful season. Coupled with Shannon’s continual ambition for success, a key to our ethos is the development of young players both athletically and personally. We are again most fortunate to have a wonderful group of underage coaches that cater for the needs of almost 500 players. It’s actually mind boggling to see the exponential growth of our mini and youth section in the last number of years and the administration of such numbers is a monumental task. Mike Ryan headed up the underage for the last two years and along with his hard working committee ensured that the registration, organisation and catering for such numbers was carried out in an efficient and diligent manner. A great debt of gratitude is owed to everyone involved.
Underage coaches aren’t alone in the sacrifices made in the name of Shannon, our adult coaches, managers and back up personnel to male and female sides are equally committed to the cause. Even if silverware wasn’t gleaned, they too played their part and the general body of membership should be incepted to these selfless people.
Players are obviously central to any rugby club and with the example of our senior side filtering throughout the club we are in good stead for the future. It’s the players that win and lose on the pitch but regardless of achievements it is the players that will remain at the core of Shannon.
We dealt with extra ordinary highs this year and a number of lows. Frankie past on, Mick Bourke past on, but the club remains, and will continue to do so, but we will always remember our friends past. The obvious high was the AIB league, but for me a very close second was the awarding of club persons of the year to Ann and Violet on the presidents night. It was such a special occasion and the reactions of both ladies showed what the club meant to them, but more importantly the ovation they received showed them what they mean to the club.
I’d like to thank Des O’Dea for his work on our website and send out a request for assistance to anyone interested in helping us upgrade the site during the summer and maintaining it during the season.
Finally, I’d personally like to thank everyone in the club for making this another memorable season. To the media and news outlets for their coverage and assistance throughout the year and to all that have helped me throughout another busy season, a big thank you.
Enjoy the summer and we’ll see you all in September.

SUNDAYS WELL
The Club A.G.M. will be held in the Clubhouse on the Tuesday 26th of May at 8pm sharp.
The Presidents Dinner will be held in the Clubhouse on Thursday the 21st of May at 8pm.
Dress code is informal and the cost is €45 and €35 for players. Please contact Clair Powell on her email address for more particulars and to book your seat. Clair needs final numbers as soon as possible so.
BOOK NOW AT cmpowell02@gmail.com
Or Paul Keating on his mobile at 0868151501

Date Change Summer Camps
Tommy Crowe runs the REBEL summer Rugby Camps in Musgrave Park every year with huge numbers and this year is no exception, the camp will be on from Monday the 6th July to Friday the 10th of July in Musgrave Park
Contact Tommy on Ph no 087 2367994
The cost is €60 for the week.
Places are being filled very quickly so book early