Club News W/C 23/5

News from around the clubs.

HIGHFIELD

The AGM was held on May 15th before a large attendance. The following Officers were elected for the coming season:

President: Harry Matson Vice President: Billy Moriarty Chairman: Jack O’Keeffe
Hon Secretary: Fergus O’Mahony Hon Treasurer: Gerry Griffin

Hire of Facilities

Our premises are available to hire for meetings, functions of all kinds, birthday celebrations and so on. We have a large hall with a kitchen off and comfortable lounge bars. For further inquiries contact Eddie at 021 4541293 after 8.00pm.

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. The Rugby Club Underage Awards night takes place this Friday night at The Intermediate School at 8.30pm. All players, parents and friends welcome.
38 of our Under 10 and 12 players were brought by the club to Thomond Park for the final game of the season, to see Munster beat Ospreys.
We had a memorable night, meeting Mick Galway before the game, seeing Munster win and receiving the Celtic League trophy afterwards.
After a run on the pitch we met up with Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
John Costello, Youth Officer and the coaches would like to thank the parents who travelled with the squad for their assistance. In yet another momentous week for Irish Rugby, Killorglin got their own piece of history as for the first time the Triple Crown, Six Nations and Magners League trophies came to the area.
To have all of these historic trophies together was a great honour following our club’s being awarded the Munster Youth Club of the Year for last season.
The trophies visited Kilgobnet NS, Scoil Mhuire, Intermediate School and the Community College. The club would like to thank all pupils, teachers, parents and friends who attended and to all that ensured that the small amount of time we had with the trophies was used as efficiently as possible.

KILFEACLE and DISTRICT RFC welcome the 6 Nations Trophies to Morrissey Park!

Kilfeacle and District RFC welcome the 6 Nations Trophies to Morrissey Park on Thursday the 28th of May between the hours of 5.00pm and 7.00pm. all are welcome to attend and be present to see these historic trophies first hand in what has been an historic year for Irish rugby! It promises to be a festive atmosphere, so bring your friends and family along and get your photographs taken with the trophies for posterity in what will be a lovely community atmosphere.
Kilfeacle and District RFC’s season has ended and what a season it has been. Although it has not been our most successful year, there are definite indicators that the club is moving in the correct direction. Clubs like Kilfeacle will always be measured by the performance and success of their First team. Third in the league, and beaten quarter finalists in the Munster Junior Cup is very respectable but doesn’t tell the true story of an improving team’s efforts for the year. The league position could have been a lot higher when one considers that there were defeats against top of the table opponents in which the margin was less than a single score. The Munster Junior Cup quarter final will always be remembered as "the one that got away" but the team lifted the expectations of the club by performances that injected a new sense of belief in the possibilities for the upcoming season. When this team starts next years season with the same passion, determination, skill and endeavour they will be a force to be reckoned with.
To reflect on the season in full and do justice to all involved would be impossible. The club can look back on a year where the underage system has caught the eye of many as one to be admired. The support structure from the club through parents, coaches, selectors, patrons and supporters is immense and something to be proud of. They are the pulse and the lifeline, of the club, to the future and what a future it promises to be. Every team from the 7’s, 8’s, 10’s, 12’s, 14’s, 16’s, 18’s, 20’s and Seconds have done the club proud. The numbers of players on the Hill on those cold Friday nights was nothing short of inspiring. Special mention must go to the Under 16’s and 18’s teams and coaches for having excellent seasons which just goes to show the strength in depth in the club and the talent that permeates through the different teams that wear the Blue for the Little Club on the Hill! The player’s commitment to the club, on the pitch, is obvious for all to see and could not be questioned, however this year the committee have an initiative in place to build on all the positives from the previous season and with the players help, drive the club in the right direction.
The club has grown from a fledgling team, with a big heart, to an established club, with great ideals. This has only happened because of the work, commitment and endeavour of many people, past and present. The committee can confidently predict that the future is a secure and promising one because of the effort put in by our players and coaches, the backing shown repeatedly by patrons and sponsors, the flourishing underage system and our resolute, passionate supporters. We would like to take this opportunity to single out and thank one of our underage main sponsors, Whitney Fun Fair, who sponsored sets of Jerseys for our Under 14 team. It is such community involvement and commitment that helps Kilfeacle and District RFC provide the quality of services it does for the young people of the area.

Kilfeacle and District RFC loses a valued friend!

It was with great sadness that members of Kilfeacle and District RFC learned of the passing of our great friend and mentor Johnny Woods. Johnny was involved with Kilfeacle from it’s inseption right up until he lost his longterm battle with illness. Johnny was admired and respected by everyone and well known in rugby circles. He will be missed. May he rest in Peace!

SHANNON

Shannon Basque in further Glory – Basque Invitational Challenge

Gernika 40 Shannon 42

After claiming their ninth AIB league title, Shannon can now lay claim to another cup win, this time with an international dimension.

As All Ireland league champions, Shannon represented the IRFU in the Basque region last weekend and concluded a great season by beating the Basque regional champions Gernika in an 11 try thrilling invitational Challenge match.

The Basque region has a very proud tradition of rugby and share a very common ethos to Irish club rugby and such are the similarities. the Invitational challenge match proved an enormous success on and off the field.

Travelling with the majority of their league winning side, Shannon were in a somewhat of a wind down mode, but still managed to overcome their dogmatic opponents in a thrilling 42-40 victory.

A draw looked very much on the cards after the home side scored a late try, but the conversion attempt drifted wide and Shannon could celebrate yet another success.

The game started in sweltering heat and dehydration posed a potential problem for Shannon, but they managed to storm into an early lead through a Richie Mullane try , however the home side soon put paid to any notions that this would be an easy run for Shannon. They game turned out to be a real ding dong affair which was punctuated with some brilliant flare and individual skills. A super cross field kick from Bennett found the waiting David O’Donovan who gathered and scored his side’s second try but it looked like Gernika would hold their 21-14 lead until the break.

Shannon rallied though, with Emmet Mc Loughlin crossing before five time AIB league winner Frankie Mc Namara landed a spectacular drop goal from just inside his own half which certainly proved an inspiration for his colleagues. Then it was the turn of Tadgh Bennett who jinked and glided over the line to give Shannon a 24-21 half time lead.

Gernika matched Shannon’s physicality at times, but found it hard to cope with the pace and could do little to halt Shannon’s gathering momentum in the second half. The visitors stormed into the lead with additional tries from Fionn Mc Loughlin, Eoghan Grace and Paul Loughnane and now it looked as if Shannon would win easily.

Whether Shannon took their foot off the gas or it was the home sides pride and fear of defeat, but with 10 minutes remaining it was Gernika that made all the running. They stormed their way back into contention as the visibly tired Shannon side began to wilt a little in the heat.

New to Shannon’s senior ranks and playing their first senior games replacements Sean Duggan and John Deegan made a difference when they were introduced and their energetic contribution ensured the rest of the Shannon side kept with the intensifying pressure

In the end Gernika’s late flurry added huge excitement to the game, but as the conversion drifted wide, the consensus amongst the 1100 or so spectators was that Shannon were worthy of the win.

The Shannon travelling party was lead by Coach Geoff Moylan who was fulsome in his praise for the whole event, "This was a fantastic way to reward the seasons efforts by the lads and the IRFU are to be credited for their input. The hospitality from the locals was brilliant and given the long season we’ve had, it’s great to add another trophy to the cabinet"

He went on to say, " I’m very proud of the way the lads represented not only the club , but Ireland and hopefully this competition will be continued in the coming years "

Shannon’s 33 strong travelling party included Club officials and newly elected President Martin Clancy who was also fulsome in his praise for the event," we had a wonderful IRFU liaison in Sinead Bennett who was the epitome of professionalism and we thank her sincerely for the immense contribution she made to a very enjoyable weekend. The winning of the Basque cup was the icing on the cake and we would hope to return to the region as AIL champions in the future.

Shannon Travelling Squad

Frankie Mc Namara, David O’Donovan, Fionn Mc Loughlin, Jason Cronin, Padraic O’Brien, Fiach O’Loughlin, Marcus O’Driscoll, Sean Duggan, Joe Manual, Emmet Mc Loughlin, Tadgh Bennett, Niall O’Brien, Danny Bedford, Paul Loughnane, Kevin Griffin, John Clogan, Frank Broderick, Eoghan Grace, Richie Mullane, Leonard Mullane, Killian O’Neill, Fergal Walsh, John Deegan, George Murray.