Club News Weekending September 16th 2007

The latest club news, views and reviews from around the province.

THOMOND RFC NOTES
John Ryan PRO

It was a case of all roads to Coonagh last week with all three of our senior teams in action against Shannon.
On Friday night our senior team were in action in the Charity Cup going down 26-6 to Shannon. Thomond opened the scoring after just 4 minutes when Mark Phayer successfully kicked a penalty, but Shannon replied with two converted tries before another successful Mark Phayer penalty left the half time score 14-6. Despite some pressure at the start of the second half we failed to reduce Shannon’s lead who went on to score two further tries. All in all it was a good display for our first competitive game. We have a number of players coming from last year’s U20s and also some new players who are starting to blend with our team and hopefully over the coming weeks more progress will be made. Martin Ryan and Niall McNamara take the team this Saturday to Nenagh to play a friendly.
On Sunday we returned to Coonagh to play in the Transfield Cup. We went down to the home side 23-15 but the game was very close and could have gone either way for a long time. A lot of players were playing with Junior team for the first time and it was a very good performance with many players new to each other. Over the coming weeks this team will gel under Mike Grimes and his backup team. This weekend the seconds team will play Charleville in a friendly in Fitzgerald Park at 12pm on Sunday.
Last Wednesday our Thirds team started our matches with Shannon with a 10-3 victory over their Shannon counterparts in a friendly. Darren Clancy scored a try with Kenneth McNamara kicking a penalty and a conversion. This Saturday the thirds play St. Senans in a friendly in Shannon at 3pm. Adrian McInerney once again is coach of the thirds and is being assisted this year by Tony McInerney. The thirds currently train Tuesday and Thursday ay 7pm in Woodview North, all new and past players who have yet to return training are welcome.
This Friday night at 7pm our U20s play Young Munster in the inaugural Bud O’Halloran Memorial Cup in Greenfields. This cup was kindly put up by O’Halloran family. Proceeds from the gate receipt will go the charity so all are encouraged to attend which should be an exciting encounter.
We would like to congratulate Declan Cusack and Mark Cosgrave for the current involvement in the Munster U20 team during the interpros.

SHANNON RFC
Andrew McNamara PRO

The seniors got their competitive season off to a flying start when they accounted fro Thomond in the Charity cup last Friday evening. Games against Thomond are always tricky and Friday was no different. Winning by 26 points to 6, it certainly wasn’t one way traffic and the visitors made the lads work hard for their win. It was great to see several of our new players get some game time with Second row Francis Broderick and back row Cian O’Connor both acquitting themselves well. It was however a player who we can hardly call new, but nonetheless has returned to Shannon, Fiach O’Loughlin that opened our account with a typical scrumhalf try. This came after Thomond opened the scoring with a penalty and it took until late into the first half before we breached the try line again. Gavin Murphy was on hand to take the final pass after a scrappy enough lineout close to Thomond’s line. The second half began with little in the way of possession for our lads, but despite this Thomond failed to add to their six points. Andrew Finn came off the bench and was in excellent form and almost immediately made a difference. Despite the lack of possession, when we did have the ball it was used efficiently and effectively. Andrew scored a try after his excellent break from his own half set up a scrum on the Thomond line, and then as the game entered injury time he struck again.
Given this was practically the first game of the season, it was a more than competent performance but bigger tests are certainly on the cards. The next round sees us play UL Bohs this Saturday in Coonagh at 3pm.
The seconds faced the same opposition in the Transfield cup and the game went much the same way as the seniors. It was the usual bruising encounter between the sides and at one stage we trailed by 10-6 after a rather dubious penalty try was awarded against our lads. They clawed their way back into the game with Joey Moran, one of our new summer signings giving a faultless kicking display when landing two conversions and three penalties. Once again Andrew Finn got on the score sheet when he crossed the line and along with Philly O’Connor’s effort we eventually won by 23-10. There was plenty of enterprising play in the game to pleased about with the lads showing a great ability to run the ball from deep. The set piece was also an area of pleasure all of which bodes well. Next up me the Transfield Cup semi final is Garryowen in Dooradoyle on Sunday at 3pm.
The U20’s have been training hard all summer and are rearing to go. They don’t start competitive action for a few weeks yet, but on Saturday at 12.30 they play Garryowen in a friendly in Coonagh.

The U/15’s kept up their impressive start to the season up when they went to Annacotty and beat ULBohs in the league, by 15-10. As usual; with these two sides there wasn’t much to separate them, but a tremendous display saw our lads win out the day. There’s no let up in fixtures for the 15’s as they face Bruff this Sunday, again in the league, in Coonagh at 11.30.
The U16’s and 18’s entertained Galwegians in training fixtures with a win for the 18’s and a loss for the 16’s. On Sunday the 18’s play a Highfield side coached by a former club player, hooker Nigel Daly.
Club Registrar, Ger McCloskey would like to remind members that the membership cards have yet to be printed, but as soon as they are, he will send them out to members who have paid their subscriptions. The membership book will be your receipt.
Finally we send our hearty congratulations to Tony Buckley and his partner Elaine on their new addition to their family. Baby Ella was born last weekend and all is well.

OLD CRESCENT RFC
Pat Rickard

The season took its first tentative steps last weekend with our 1st XV in action for the first time this season in a competitive game. Young Munster were the visitors to Rosbrien for the 1st round fixture in the Limerick Charity Cup on Saturday. This was a typical early season performance by both sides filled with stop start action and defences ruling the roost. A positive aspect of the teams display was the way they maintained good discipline throughout the eighty minutes. All the points in the game came from penalty goals with the visitors edging out a victory by 12 points to 9. There are no fixtures thsi weekend for the adult teams.

Our under age section returned to action on Sunday after the summer break and it was great to see so many new faces (both players &
coaches) attend for training at the various age groups. It is also great to see that the club have for the first time in many years have revived an under 18 team and we wish Jim Keane and his team every success over the coming season. Our under 16s travelled to the Bayonne region of France last weekend for a mini tour and attended the Ireland vs Namibia game on Sunday. Training for under 6s to under 12s takes place on Sundays at 9.45am with the youth age groups at 11.15am.

UL BOHEMIAN RFC NEWS

Denis Ryan PRO

UL Bohs commenced the defence of the Limerick Charity Cup with a good 41-19 win over a determined Nenagh side in beautiful weather in Annacotty. The home side got off to a flier when first captain Martin McPhail and then full back Myles O’Riordan crossed for tries. Further tries in the first half came from Fergal Lawlor, Ronan Parkes and David Moloney with 3 conversions by Mark Butler before Nenagh replied. An intercept led to a breakaway score between the posts, duly converted, before a well worked lineout close to the UL Bohs line resulted in another touchdown, leaving the score at the break 31-12 in favour of UL Bohs. A try shortly after the resumption by Anthony Hartigan, and a forwards try credited to Mike Long completed the UL Bohs scoring, but Nenagh hit back with a spectacular try just before the end to show the threat their backline contains. The reward for UL Bohs is a semi-final meeting with Shannon in Coonagh on Saturday.
The 2nd XV followed up the good win over Young Munster in the Transfield Cup with another hard earned victory, this time over Richmond in Annacotty. The final scoreline, 22-17, suggests just what a close affair it was with the lead changing hands several times. In the end, UL Bohs got in for the vital score in the last few minutes, and now progress to meet Bruff in the next round. This will take place in Bruff on Saturday, kick-off 1.30pm.
The 3rd XV have moved training back to Annacotty for the winter, and Alan Frahill reminds all current and prospective players to be on the pitch at 7pm sharp on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
The underage has also resumed, with hundreds enjoying themselves in Annacotty on Sunday mornings. An excellent reason to get out of bed early and enjoy the fresh air and action.

CLONMEL RFC YOUTH RUGBY

Training got off to great start last Saturday with very large numbers turning up for the various age groups. It must have been World Cup fever though I hope recent events have not curbed their enthusiasm. Training again this Saturday at 10.30. We need copies of birth certificates as soon as possible for all players, whether previously registered or not.

CARRICK ON SUIR RFC

Carrick crash out of Challenge Cup

Carrick’s assault on the Munster Junior Challenge cup came to an end at the first hurdle last Sunday. Kinsale came to Tybroughney and beat Carrick by seven points.

In a disappointing outing by Carrick, the Cork side was never led and Carrick were constantly chasing the game. One of the only pluses for the home side is that they did chase and chased hard. Kinsale were tactically more astute and without doubt more organised, but through sheer will Carrick remained in the contest.

The second half produced two tries for Carrick through flanker Jamie Walsh and prop Benny Woods, but both these scores only gave Carrick the chance to get back in the game, rather than apply pressure on the travelling team.

Carrick will be disappointed, a well trained well organised team beat a gallant but futile effort from the home team who performed under par and left the field disappointed. Carrick played poorly and still could have won, but ultimately mistakes at crucial times let them down.

Carrick had put them in with a chance through a Benny Woods try four minutes from time, but failed to capitalise. The kick off was not secured and the Kinsale out half slotted into a deep position and slotted home a handy drop gaol to leave a seven point gap. Carrick could not get good ball on the resumption and the game petered out. The final score being Carrick 15 Kinsale 22.

Both players and supporters were disappointed by this result, although Kinsale were more prepared and very efficient, Carrick left something behind and did not play up to standard. There needs to be some fine tuning developed on the training grounds for Carrick to reach the standard the whole team knows it can achieve.

Underage training is set to resume this weekend, with a full programme arranged for all players from under 8’s to under 18’s. The 14’s, 16’s and 18’s are to resume training on Friday the 14th, lucky for some. Training starts at 6 and the bus will leave the barracks at 5:45.

Sunday morning at 10:30 our 8’s, 10’s and 12’s are back. All new players are welcome. All details of registration will be given at the training sessions.

On a final note, look out for the degenerates flag during the World Cup being proudly balanced by some of our club members. They have wisely set up a blog of activities on tour, we shall browse the site for validation before unleashing the address on the public.

Finally the Fantasy rugby World cup is up and running, thank you to all who took part. It just goes to show sometimes, some players just don’t understand the game.

SHANNON RFC NEWS
Andrew McNamara PRO

Shannon Progress in Limerick Charity Cup

Shannon began their competitive season with a 26-6 victory over Thomond the Limerick Charity cup last Friday evening. The home side scored four tries, two either side of half time to safely secure passage to the next round.
Thomond opened the scoring after just 4 minutes when Mark Phayer successfully kicked a penalty, but it didn’t tale long before Shannon took the lead that would remain intact for the remainder of the game. Fiach O’Loughlin went over practically unopposed after his forward unit paved the way but it took until the 33rd minute before Shannon extended their lead thorough wing forward Gavin Murphy. Andrew Thompson converted both. Thomond were battling hard on all fronts and Phayer reduced the gap with another penalty in first half injury time. The soda cakes should have crossed the line on a few occasions after the restart, but despite almost exclusive possession in the third quarter they failed to take advantage.
Shannon’s more clinical approach was Thomond’s ultimate downfall and it was Andrew Finn that scored the two tries to put the result beyond doubt.

KILLORGLIN RFC NOTES
Aidan Clifford PRO

Killorglin Rugby Club played their first game of the season on Thursday evening last, 6th Sept, in a friendly against Tralee. The match was a good spirited affair with the hosts Tralee coming out on top 17-6.
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.
Tag Rugby has finished for the summer. Thanks to everyone who took part and we look forward to seeing you again next summer.