Club News Weekending 30th Sept 2007

Catch up on the latest news reports from clubs around the province

OLD CRESCENT RFC

Pat Rickard PRO

Due to postponements and walkovers it was a quiet week on the playing front with only 1 adult team in action. The 3rd XV opened their season in the Gleeson League with a trip to Fitzgerald Park on Saturday evening last to play Thomond. Thomond who had some impressive results in the pre seasons games took the lead early on with an unconverted try. Thereafter the first half followed in typical early season fashion with error from both sides the most common feature of the play.
In the second half Thomond used the wind to better effect that our side had done in the opening period, and it was against the run of play that following a fine break out of defense by Steven Conway, John Leonard crossed under the posts and Brian Clancy added the conversion to being us into the lead at 7 points to 5. But that was as good as it got from our side as Thomond’s better organisation on the way pushed them on and they scored 17 points without reply and gave them the points by 22 points to 7. This weekend the 3rds continue their Gleeson League programme with a home fixture against Shannon at noon on Saturday in Rosbrien.

The 1st XV commence their quest for the ODM Munster Senior Cup on Saturday with Nenagh Ormond the visitors to Rosbrien at 2.30pm. The under 20 XV are also in action on Saturday in the North Munster League with near neighbours Garryowen the visitors to Rosbrien. Kick off time for this game has not been confirmed at the time of going to press, please consult our website www.oldcrescentrfc.com for further details.

It was a busy week on the under age front. For the first time in many year we are fielding an under 18 team in the league and great credit is due to Jim Keane & Dermot Davis for their efforts in making this possible. It was a baptism of fire for our side with Bruff, last seasons champions the opponents on Sunday last. We were unlucky to conceded an soft try in the early stages but we regained our composure and went close ourselves on a number of occasions later in the first half. In the second half we continued where we left off and all in all it was a very enthusiastic performance which should stand to them as they progress through their league campaign. This weekend opponents are Garryowen and kickoff for this game is 11am on Sunday in Rosbrien.

The under 15 defeated UL Bohs in a friendly on Sunday while the under 13s put in a brave performance in going down to Garryowen in their opening league game. The under 12 s hosted Bruff & UL Bohs in a club day and all three Old Crescent teams in action performed well.

This weekend the under 11 are hosting a club day with training for under 6 through 12 taking place at 9.45am on Sunday.

Finally the club the hosting a World Cup tag rugby blitz on Sunday from 11.30am in the club with a BBQ from 2pm and the critical World Cup game between Ireland vs Argentina on the big screen in the clubhouse @ 4pm. Hopefully Eoin Reddan and the Irish team will achieve the miracle result to progress to the quarter finals. We wish Them the best of luck!.

CLONAKILTY RFC
PRO Loosehead

Under Age Rugby
Clonakilty RFC will be holding a Registration Morning for all under age aspiring rugby players. It will be held at the clubhouse in The Vale on 29th Sept. from 11.00 to 11.30am.
Boys and girls from under 7s to under 18s are all welcome.
For further details contact Clonakilty RFC Under Age Chairman, Willie Wilcox on 086- 6071626.
Why not return later to support Clonakilty Seniors as they take on the might of Shannon in the Munster Senior Cup at 2.30pm.

UL BOHEMIAN RFC
Denis Ryan PRO

In the Charity Cup Final against Bruff UL Bohs started very confidently and within 2 minutes were 7-0 up, with a well worked try scored by Ian Hanley and converted by Fergal Lawler. This lead was then increased to 10-0 with a penalty by Fergal. Aided by a strong breeze Bohs continued to dominate and Ed Torrie just missed scoring a try after a very promising move. However, as the half wore on Bruff began to grow in confidence although the score at half time remained 10-0. Shortly after the restart Bruff opened their scoring following sustained pressure with a converted try but Bohs responded soon after with an unconverted try by Martin McPhail to leave the score 15-7. From then to the final whistle Bruff began to come more into the game and the young UL Bohs squad made many unforced mistakes and too often took wrong options. Three converted penalties sent Bruff into the lead 15-16. Bohs rallied during the last 5 minutes but were unable to restore the lead. This weekend UL Bohs get a chance for early revenge when they travel to Bruff in the Munster Senior Cup.
In the Transfield Cup Final it was further bad news for UL Bohs as we seem to have hit a slight hiatus in our progress, something like Ireland at the moment. Shannon emerged victors by 28-15 in a game which we seemed to be handling comfortably early in proceedings. UL Bohs started brightly and were quickly 7-0 up thanks to a try scored by Sean McMahon converted by Aiden McNulty. However after 19 minutes Shannon equalised with a converted try against the run of play. Then A McNulty kicked a penalty soon followed by an excellent unconverted try by Paul Rowley. Just before half time Shannon replied with a penalty to leave the score at the break UL-Bohs 15-Shannon 10 Aided by a strong wind Shannon took control and dominated the second half. They scored a try within 5 minutes of the second half and took the lead on the 25 minute with a converted try after sustained pressure (15-22). UL Bohs found it very difficult to get out of their own half and on the 30th and 38th minute Shannon increased their lead with two converted penalties to give a final score of UL-Bohs 15 – Shannon 28.
In the North Munster U-20 League UL Bohs got some slight measure of revenge by beating Shannon 26-21 in a closely fought game. On Saturday Thomond provide the opposition in Annacotty.
The 3rd XV got off to a winning start in the Gleeson League away to St Senan’s on a score of 23-14. Try scorers were Pat Bird, Rob Tierney, and Mike Gibbons. UL Bohs were playing catch up until the final quarter when fitness eventually got us over the line.
In the under 15 League UL Bohs beat Newcastlewest by 34-07. Scorers; Enda Carroll, Shane Madden, Darren Nolan 1 try each, Kevin Phelan 2 tries, Barry Neville: 1 penalty & 3 conversions.
It is good to see Munster doing so well at this early stage of the season, and particularly young Tommy O’Donnell, not to mention the slightly more experienced Shaun Payne and Paul Warwick.

KILLORGLIN RFC
Aidan Clifford PRO

Killorglin Rugby Club travelled to rugby hotbed, Limerick City on Sunday last to play a challenge game against Presentation RFC as a warm-up to the upcoming season. The game was a very competitive affair as both teams were looking for early season bragging rights. The first half was very tight, and it took 20 minutes for the first score to be registered. Killorglin were penalised for playing the ball on the ground in the ruck, and Presentation’s out-half slotted the kick in front of the posts. Ten minutes later Killorglin took the lead with a try. Fly-half Trevor West showed great technique in offloading the ball as he went into a tackle and winger Jody Riordan latched onto the ball and sprinted to the line from 35 metres out. Debut winger Colin O’Connor slotted a super conversion to make the half time score 7-3.
Killorglin pulled away in the second half, scoring two more tries and holding the Pres scoreless. Killorglin’s second try of the day came from a great break from scrum-half David Coffey. Coffey broke from the base of a scrum and sprinted towards the corner flag. Declining the definite try in the corner, he showed selflessness and pass to his fellow half back West who jogged under the posts to touch down. O’Connor added the easy conversion. The final try was scored by substitute hooker Steve Cotter who was making his senior debut. He touched down in the corner after some solid handling from the entire team. A great performance all round.
Killorglin Team:- 1 J O’Sullivan, 2 D Flynn, 3 F Foley, 4 C Stevens, 5 C Conway, 6 R Kelliher, 7 M Aherne, 8 M Breen, 9 D Coffey, 10 T West, 11 J Riordan, 12 A O’Reilly(c), 13 T Healy, 14 C O’Connor, 15 E O’Shea.
Substitutes: KJ Daly for O’Sullivan, A Clifford for Foley, S Cotter for Flynn, A Spring for Conway, S Joy for Kelliher, S Ireland for Riordan

Membership for Killorglin Rugby Club is open for the 2007/08 season. Killorglin RFC always welcomes new members, both playing and non-playing, to follow the ongoing development of the club as it has been promoted to Junior League 1 status this year. For a club that reformed only eight years ago, this is a great achievement. A full membership of the club costs €30, a family membership costs €50, and juvenile membership costs €10. The club would also like to meet anybody interested in under-age coaching. Anybody interested can contact club PRO Aidan Clifford at 0879065927, or alternatively leave a message with club secretary Madeline Foley (066) 9762102.
Senior Team training takes place every Tuesday at 7pm and Friday at 6:30, at the Dragon’s Den All-weather pitch on Iveragh Road. New faces are always welcome and the club is happy to introduce new players to the game of rugby.
Training of Juvenile teams will takes place every Saturday at the Dragon’s Den. Under12s, 13s, & 14s train at 11am and the Under 16s & 18s train at 1pm. All players are welcome to play. For information, contact Youth Officer John Costello on 0863558185.

SHANNON RFC
Andrew McNamara PRO

It’s great to be starting the notes so early in the season writing about winning silverware lets hope it will continue.
The seconds are the first team to be inscribed on the 2007/08 roll of honour after their superb performance in the Transfield cup final last Sunday. Although the competition may well be regarded as a minor competition these days, it’s still a great way to start the season, not only for the seconds, but for the club in general. UL/Bohs have provided stiff opposition at second’s grade over the last few seasons, and Sunday’s final was no different. It was they that started much better and crossed the try line as early as the 5th minute. Even allowing for the fact that they were playing with the stiffish breeze, early indications were that we could be in for a torrid afternoon, but gradually the lads became accustomed to the requirements of the game. Despite having a lack of sustainable possession we did draw level with an exquisite try from Richie Mullane to which a huge contribution came from Mark Tuohy. It was a short lived parity however as we went behind first to a penalty and then to a try which came more from our lack of communication than anything else. But again, there was no panic buttons pushed and the lads began to command and dictate the game as the first half entered the closing stages. Tadgh Bennett was to be a big influence on the remainder of proceedings and with his penalty we headed into the break at 15-10 in arrears. Not an insurmountable lead by any means, especially with the elements in our favour. Such was the convincing Shannon performance in the second half, UL/Bohs were held, by and large in their own half of the field throughout the second 40. Mark Tuohy drew us level with a well earned try and it was newcomer Dave Barry who gained us the all important lead with a typical snipping scrumhalf try. A conversion and two further penalties from Tadgh ensured captain Alan Kennedy took possession of the cup for the tenth time in the clubs history. No one in the seconds will get carried away with this early success, but nonetheless it’s a good indication of what the lads are capable of.
Four newcomers to the club started their Shannon careers with silverware, Paddy and Leonard O’Sullivan, Dave Barry and Joey Moran all played in the game and I’m sure they’ll be learning The Isle soon.
The Thirds began the defence of the Gleeson league with a hard fought win over a tenacious St Mary’s side by a scoreline or 14-8. It’s probably no bad thing that the thirds got a tough opener in the league as it will give them a clear indication that they are there to be dethroned and that the other competing clubs will raise their own standards when playing them. It was a difficult opening half and St Mary’s held us scoreless, but a more productive half followed. First Mike Flood crossed the line after a great break by Stephen Garvey, who put in a superb performance along with his centre partner Stephen O’Brien. It was a settling score and our pack began to up the tempo. Mark Adams was on hand to get the second try after the pack laid the platform and Two excellent conversions by Graham Culliton brought the score to 14 points and with it a satisfactory start to the campaign. Next up is Old Crescent next Saturday in Rosbrien at 12pm.
The U/20’s disappointingly lost to UL/Bohs in the North Munster league by 21-25 in Coonagh last Saturday. It was one of those games where things didn’t click, but this was a game with plenty to get frustrated over. An unusually high penalty count against the lads led to certain aspects of frustration, but in fairness half of them were justified. Again it’s early season rugby for the 20’s and there’s plenty of room for improvement. They have no game this week.
The seniors had a good workout against Young Munster last Saturday prior to this weekend’s Munster Senior Cup game. Jason Cronin had a good day at hooker and crossed for two tries, while Andrew Finn, David Quinlan and Tadgh Bennett also successfully crossed the try line. It’s a long trip to Clonakilty on Saturday for a 2.30 start in the Cup where no doubt a very difficult game awaits.
The U15’s had another comprehensive win in the league while the Under 13’s began their League campaign with an emphatic 40-12 victory over Ennis. Tries from Tim Sheahan, Andrew Cusack, Coarie O’Keeffe, Russell Msakwa (2) and Jack Kearney were added to by five conversions by Captain Ronan McKenna. Our forwards played particularly well, having a distinct advantage over Ennis at the set piece. This week they continue they league with a home game against Garryowen while the only other underage fixture sees the U/18’s begin their league against Richmond.

CARRICK ON SUIR RFC

Carrick had two run outs last weekend, with a second’s cup game and a first’s challenge match.

On Saturday evening, in an event that we hope to repeat over the season, the Carrick first XV hosted Waterford city and eventually ran out winners after falling behind late in the first half. Carrick came back with tries from James Wallace and Jamie Steele and a penalty by JP Wallace saw the Carrick team secure a win for the third time in four games.

The second XV took to the field on Sunday afternoon and faced a Waterpark XV in the first round of the Tybroughney cup. Some of the seconds had lined out with the first 15 the previous night and surly this took its toll on a number of the team. Carrick were always playing catch up and fell behind quiet early to a nice move by Park. Carrick struggled slightly in the lineout with jumpers and thrower out of sync, but at least this can be addressed with more training. Carrick did apply more pressure on Park in the second half and came away with a couple of tries, but the effort was mostly in vain. Park ran out 30-15 winners. It was pleasing to see so many subs on the line and hopefully we can maintain those numbers for the year. Credit must go to the captain Roger Gough, for getting as many bodies together for the game as he did. This was Roger’s first outing as second team captain.

Subs are due by all seniors in the next couple of weeks. Along with subs this year the players will also receive training gear at a small fee. The committee will be present at all training sessions to receive payment and issue the gear.

The underage coaching is now back in full swing on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. Match is fast approaching so continued attendance is required.

Congratulations to former captain John O’Keeffe and his wife Cathy on the birth of their first child and best of luck to Mark, Jamie and Peader who have played their last games for the club for the foreseeable future. Thanks for all the efforts lads.

BALLINCOLLIG RFC
Linda Kennedy PRO

Ballincollig had a run out against Division 2 rivals Youghal on Sunday the 23rd September. The revamped home side showed familiar faces from former Division 1 side Clonakilty including the referee former Baillincollig and Clonakilty player Kate McCarthy.

This year Ballincollig welcomes a new coaching set up, with Donal O’Driscoll and Theresa Nolan on board. Donal has been a member of Highfield Rugby club for many years, and coached Under 16, Junior Rugby within the club, before moving into the Munster Under 18 and Irish Under 18 set-up. Subsequently he moved over to AIL Division 1 side Sundays Well where he coached for 2 years, followed by a head coach situation in Douglas RFC. At this point in his coaching career he moved back to Highfield where he joined the Under 20’s as head coach, moving then to the women’s set up there. Under his guidance the ladies there one All Ireland Cup, 2 Super Cup’s (AIL Division One Cup Competition) and one Munster Senior Cup Competitions, he now coaches the under age Ladies set-up in Munster as well as the Senior Ladies side.

Theresa Nolan joins us as backs coach, from a five year stint with Stade Renee in Brittany, where she won a rugby scholarship having been spotted playing for Highfield against the French team during their tour in Ireland. Theresa is an accomplished player, where she started in the number 10 role has played in all back positions ending up in full-back. Taking a year out due to injury, Ballincollig is delighted to welcome both coaches in what hopes to be a come-back year.

This merging of a new panel must have been quite successful when looking at the scoresheet, with Clonakilty trio Aoife Deasy, Denise Jennings scoring, whilst Karen Fitzpatrick scored 2. Total newcomer to full contact rugby Melanie Champertault also arrived on the scoresheet with some more familiar names to the club, Siobhan O’Leary, Joanne Brown and Gemma Crowley also going over the line. Of the conversions Gemma converted five of seven making the total tally of 50 points to nil.

The team also welcomes newcomers to the club Kate O’Brien, Claire McCarthy also from Clonakilty, Geraldine Gallahue, Inge Ammerman from Germany and Rachel Wood from New Zealand.

Ballincollig play in Division 2 Munster League with Youghal, Nenagh and Waterpark, the next fixture is Sunday week, the seventh of October home to Nenagh.

Team:
Denise Jennings (1), Trish Drinan (2), Linda Kennedy (3), Ciara Prendergast (4)
Joanne Browne (5), Siobhan O’Leary (6), Rachel Wood (7), Anna Healy (8),
Dely Stevenson (9), Gemma Crowley (10), Clare McCarthy (11), Kate O’Brien (12), Lillian Whooley (13), Aoife Deasy (14), Karen Fitzpatrick (15)
Subs: Anne-Marie Kelly, Geraldine Gallahue, Audrey McSweeney, Inge Ammerman, Melanie Champbertault