Club News Weekending Sept 7th 2008

Catch up on some of the latest club news from around the province

KILLORGLIN RFC
Aidan Clifford PRO

Killorglin Rugby Club Senior Team Training has begun. It takes place every Tuesday & Friday at the Killorglin Community College grounds at 7:30pm. New players are most welcome and our coaches are happy to introduce novice players to the game. Killorglin Rugby Club’s fundraising draw continues, with a chance to be part of history as its prize. For a price of €10, you are in with a chance to win two tickets to the historic Munster v All Blacks game in the newly revamped Thomond Park on Tuesday, November 18th, along with one night’s accommodation in Limerick’s Clarion Hotel. This may be the official opening of the new Thomond Park and marks the 30th anniversary of Munster’s finest hour, when they beat the All Blacks on 31st October 1978. For more information, you can call or text Aidan Clifford on 0879065927 or Jerome O’Sullivan on 0873710104. Alternatively, contact any committee member. All money raised will go towards developing the new home ground.
Killorglin RFC is looking for people who have an interest in under-age coaching. Underage training will be beginning in early September and will run every Saturday morning for the season. Contact the above numbers for information.
Membership for Killorglin Rugby Club is now open for the 2008-2009 season. Family membership costs €50, a single membership costs €30, while a juvenile membership costs €10. The above numbers can be contacted also for more information.
Tag Rugby has finished for this year. Killorglin RFC thanks everybody who took part and look forward to see you all again next summer.

SHANNON RFC
Andrew McNamara PRO

Fiach to Lead Shannon for New Season

The honour of captaining Shannon for the coming season has been bestowed upon Fiach O’Loughlin after his playing colleagues gave him the vote of confidence last weekend.

The 26 year old scrum half takes over from David Quinlan who last season lead Shannon to the AIB Cup for the first time, and the Munster senior cup for the 19th time in the clubs illustrious history.

Fiach’s association with Shannon began the day he was born with both his parents steeped in the Shannon tradition, but it took a few years before he actually began to play with the club as a 7 year old.

After leaving Shannon at the end of 2005 he rejoined the club at the beginning of last season after spending two years in the capital playing with Clontarf and was an almost permanent fixture on Shannon’s team sheet apart from injury enforced absences during the campaign last year.

Although taking the reins at Shannon for the first time Fiach is no stranger to captaincy.
The prestige of captaining at National level came when he represented Ireland at U/19 level in 2000 and he further added to his international experience when he played for the U/21’s subsequently. His latest venture into the international arena came in 2007 when he lined out for the AIB Club international side.
During his sabbatical from Shannon he captained Clontarf in 2006-07 when they won the Leinster Senior cup.

A winner of 3 AIB league titles, 5 Munster senior cup titles and an AIB Cup winners medal with Shannon, Fiach also has Munster and Leinster ‘A’ experience behind him.

An obviously delighted O’Loughlin spoke of his pride in the appointment.
"I’m thrilled an honoured to be given such an honour by my teammates. It has always been an ambition of mine to captain such a great club and I will certainly strive to maintain the high standards of those leaders that have gone before.
I may be the appointed Captain, but I know that this Shannon team has many great leaders and I will not be shy in utilising the wealth of experience that those around me have etched out."

Fiach is currently a Youth Development Officer with the Munster Branch.