Club News Weekending 5th August 2007

The countdown to the Metor Munster Sevens has begun as the Senior clubs in Munster make final preparations for the inaugural competition on August 11th.

MUNSTER METEOR SEVENS

The inaugural Metor Munster Sevens takes place on Saturday 11th August next in Old Crescent RFC with each of the 16 Senior clubs in the province entering teams. It promises to be a fantastic day of entertainment on and off the field, with plenty of activity for all the family including bouncy castles and a big screen for supporters to watch Ireland’s World Cup warm up game against Scotland.

Registration starts from 11am with the first games taking place at midday. Games will run throughout the day with the Cup final taking place at 6.15pm.

KILLORGLIN RFC

Membership for Killorglin Rugby Club has opened 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 in becoming a member can contact club PRO Aidan Clifford at 0879065927, or alternatively leave a message with club secretary Madeline Foley (066) 9762102.
Senior Team training has begun for the pre-season. It takes place at 7pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Killorglin Community College pitch on Langford Street. New faces are always welcome and the club is happy to introduce new players to the game of rugby.
Tag Rugby has also begun for this summer. It takes place every Tuesday evening at 7pm, in the Dragon’s Den All-weather pitch. This non-contact form of the sport is a fun way of staying fit, and offers a great social outlet also. Both men and women are invited to play.
Killorglin Rugby Club are also looking for our youth players from last season to contact their coaches about their availability for the coming season. We are also looking for youth players to take part in the Puck Fair parade under the club banner.

SHANNON RFC

Tough Start To AIB League For Shannon

Although the beginning of the AIB league is still a little under three months away, the 48 competing teams will have already begun their team preparations, but with the release of the league schedule yesterday, the managers and backroom staff can begin now the logistical preparations.

Shannon will be looking to make amends for the disappointment of not reaching the top four last season, but their ambitions will be severely tested in the opening rounds of the campaign.

They face five trips in total to Dublin, four before Christmas, one journey North of the Border and one to Cork, the outcome of which means that Shannon will have seven games in Coonagh and eight away games

There will be no easing in period for the eight times champions as they face two consecutive away trips in the opening rounds with newly promoted Old Belvedere as Shannon’s first obstacle. The Dublin club will no doubt want to make an impression in the first Division. Promoted to Davison One in the 94-95 season, they spent 3 years in the first division.

The current standard bearers of the club game, Garryowen are next up in Dooradoyle followed by a home game to UL/Bohemian while Shannon’s final game in the opening block of the AIB League sees them travel to Clontarf.

Three more games take place before Christmas, Blackrock at home and St Mary’s and Lansdowne in Dublin on consecutive weeks.

January will see Shannon host Cork Con and Galwegians, with a trip to Dungannon sandwiched between the two home games. Coonagh will host the only game in February with Ballymena the opposition.

The league will no doubt be hotting up as we enter the final four games, three of which are in March. Terenure at home will start the run in for Shannon followed by two away trips to Dolphin and UCD.

The final game of the campaign ends for Shannon on April 19th similar to where in begins with a game against another newly promoted side, Greystones, a side who spent just two seasons in the AIL from 1992-1994

Full Shannon AIB League Fixtures

October 27th Old Belvedere Away

November 3rd Garryowen Away

10th UL/Bohemian Home

17th Clontarf Away

December 1st Blackrock Home

8th St Mary’s College Away

15th Lansdowne Away

January 12th Cork Con Home

19th Dungannon Away

26th Galwegians Home

February 16th Ballymena Home

March 1st Terenure College Home

22nd Dolphin Away

29th UCD Away

April 19th Greystones Home

May 3rd Semi finals

10th Final

** All Fixtures and dates are subject to change, (but going on past experience, this is unlikely)

Andrew Mc Namara

Shannon RFC PRO