Club Notes: Week Ending 05.05.13
1st May 2013 By Munster Rugby
This week’s Club Notes come from Shannon and Young Munster Rugby Clubs.
Click here for Shannon Club Notes
Click here for Young Munster Club Notes
SHANNON RFC: Courtesy of Siofra Scanlan, PRO
We have a crucial game on Saturday and would ask everyone who can, to come out and support our Senior players, coaches and management.
Events and News
Dates for the Diary
Golf Classic: Friday June 21st. Shannon RFC Golf Classic at Shannon Golf Club.
Shannon RFC AGM
Shannon RFC will be hosting their AGM on the 15th of May at 8pm sharp in Shannon RFC Clubhouse. Any submissions in relation to this AGM are to be logged with Tadhg Crowe, Club Secretary, no later than close of business on the 1st May. Please contact Tadhg Crowe directly at tadhgcrowe@yahoo.com or 087-6524958
We Need Your Support
Come out and show YOUR SUPPORT FOR YOUR CLUB AND PLAYERS on Saturday 4th May at 2.30pm in Coonagh as Shannon play UCD in the AIL play-off. YOU THE SUPPORTERS DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO COME ALONG AND CHEER OUR LADS ON.
Pre-Match Lunch
There will be a pre-match lunch in Shannon RFC clubhouse on Saturday before the play-off at 12.30. Tickets are priced €20 per person and include lunch, return bus to Coonagh from Shannon RFC clubhouse and entry to the match. Anyone who wishes to reserve please call John Leahy on 0862562730. We would ask everyone to please take care and slow down through Coonagh Village on the way to and from the Match.
All at Shannon RFC would like to thank everyone for their support for all events for 2012 and would urge anyone interested in helping out at the club in 2013 to contact any of the committee members. All contact details are on our website www.shannonrfc.com
Lotto Results 25th April 2013
No Jackpot Winner!
Numbers Drawn: 7,18,19,21
€50 Consolation Prize Winners
1.A&D AHERNE_______ ___ C/O JOHN LEAHY
2.KEN O BRIEN___________ C/O JOHNNY FORTUNE
3. RAZOR'S BARBER SHOP__C/O PADDY TOBIN
NEXT WEEKS DRAW 2nd MAY 2013 @THE CAULDRON
Next Weeks Jackpot: €8,900
*DON'T FORGET TO SUPPORT YOUR CLUB WITH SHANNON RFC CLUB CALENDERS AVAILABLE NOW.*
Please keep in mind the Shannon RFC clubhouse for any event, birthdays celebrations or office parties. All contact details can be found at
http://www.shannonrfc.com/club/parties-a-functions.htm
Please find the Senior fixtures and Youth Training as follows:
Wednesday May 1st
U19-Open Cup Final- Shannon V Garryowen, Grove Island 7pm
Saturday May 4th
AIL- Senior XV- Shannon V UCD, Coonagh 2.30pm
Thought For The Week
Never underestimate the power of determination and the influence of the human spirit. The potential for greatness lives within each of us.
Club Shop
Please keep in mind for Birthdays and special occasions we have a great selection of Shannon RFC clubware available from the club shop.
Now in Stock:
Windbreakers, Club Gearbags and small size club jerseys and shorts.
The shop is open in Coonagh every Sunday from 10am to 12pm.
Anyone who wishes to order any items please contact Audry Yeoman on yeomanhannon@gmail.com or 087 6293002
Prendergast Last Game:- By Killian McCarthy
It was the classic game of two halves at Templeville Road on Saturday last; except that there were 10 minutes tacked on at the end to provide a sting in the tail.
In the South Dublin sunshine, with the season all but over, and assuredly safe from the dreaded drop there was little for either side to get excited about on the face of it.
With that being said, there's no shortage of history between Young Munster and St. Mary's, whose impressive clubhouse was paid for (in cash) some time in the mid-90s.
Add into the mix that this was Mike Prendergast's last time turning out in black and amber, and that some promising youngsters were eager to stake a claim for their place come the autumn, and suddenly any fears of a drab spectacle could be summarily dismissed.
The Cookies kicked off facing into a strong, blustery breeze that seemed like it could be worth about 10 points to whichever side had it at their backs. 20 minutes in, that was the advantage the hosts held thanks to a Conor Hogan try in the left corner, and two expertly judged Gavin Dunne kicks.
Twenty minutes later and that lead stood at a whopping 29 points after Steve Toal-Lennon, Arthur Lyons and Hogan again had all notched five-pointers, two of which had been converted by Corkman Dunne.
Many of the small band of travelling supporters were scanning Twitter for updates on how Shannon and Bohs were faring and probably thinking ahead to next season as Munsters emptied the bench in their efforts to retrieve something, anything, from the game.
Shane O'Leary slotted in comfortably at 10, with Declan Bannon making way and Prendy shifting inside to his more accustomed scrum-half role. Darragh Cantillon managed to put the squeeze on the home scrum, and young centre Greg Barry caught the eye with some barnstorming runs in midfield.
Just before half-time a fine Luke Russell break brought play into the St. Mary's 22', causing No.8 Darragh Keller to stray offside and get himself dispatched to the sin bin by referee Leo Colgan.
In his absence – and with the sun still shining – Munsters made hay; a wonderful Seán Duggan offload putting Darragh O'Neill over in the right corner. With the wind against him Derry O'Connor tacked on the extras from a difficult angle and there was some semblance of life in the team as they huddled up at the break.
The full back – who does a handy sideline as a Gaelic Footballer – was to turn provider after the turnaround as he broke up the right hand touchline before feeding right-winger Craig O'Hanlon who jinked his way over to score.
Derry's conversion narrowed the gap to fifteen as Keller returned to the fray, and he would repeat the trick five minutes later after Darragh O'Neill had burrowed over for a brace of tries. Perhaps exorcising demons from 12 months ago, the diminutive winger was hungry for work throughout and after Shane O'Leary had taken play right up to the line, Darragh made sure to dot down over it.
On the hour the home crowd's nerves really started to jangle as Derry O'Connor narrowed the gap to five, slotting his most routine kick of the day. The normally vocal home contingent were conspicuously silent as Munsters sniffed blood, that is until Mike Prendergast saw yellow for killing the ball in the 66th minute. Dunne punished the transgression and left the Cookies with it all to do as the clock wound down.
Reduced to fourteen and at the end of a long season it proved a bridge too far for the Boys from the Yellow Road. A brace of Rob Hudson tries for St. Mary's put paid to any hopes of a further revival, but having looked dead and buried early on, the character shown by the players to turn the game into a contest was hugely laudable and a testament to the jersey.
The performances of stalwarts like Hugh McGrath, Ger Slattery, and others up front were complemented by impressive turns from young guns Shane O'Leary, Greg Barry, and Derry O'Connor behind, all of whom got their first taste of senior AIL action this term. Lest we forget, both starting wingers also got on the scoresheet.
Indeed, as Mike Prendergast moves on to Grenoble after serving the club with distinction down the years, he leaves behind an experienced nucleus of players upon whom a solid foundation has been built. With no shortage of young players putting their hands up for selection, there is every cause for optimism as we sign off on the 2012/13 season, and look forward eagerly to doing it all again in the autumn.
Young Munster: Derry O'Connor, Craig O'Hanlon, Harry McNulty, Mark Doyle, Darragh O'Neill, Mike Prendergast, Declan Bannon, Alan Cotter, Ger Slattery, Hugh McGrath, Seán Duggan, Mike Madden, Mark Rowley, Luke Russell, Neville Melbourne.
Subs: Daniel Montgomery, Darragh Cantillon, Tom Goggin, Greg Barry, Shane O'Leary.
St. Mary's: Gavin Dunne, Steve Toal-Lennon, Darragh Fanning, Rob Hudson, Conor Hogan, Philip Brophy, Matt D'Arcy, Colm Mc Mahon, Richard Sweeney, Arthur Lyons, Ciaran Ruddock, Gerry Sexton, Kevin Sheahan, Gareth Austen, Darragh Keller.
Subs: Chris Lilly, Gareth Logan, Mark Fallon, Dylan Fawsitt, Andrew Burke.
———————–
Young Munster win Munster Seconds Cup
By Killian McCarthy
On Sunday, our seconds contested the final of the North Munster Senior Seconds Cup with UL Bohemians the visitors to Greenfields.
A cagey opening half saw Munsters take a 6-0 lead through two Shane O'Leary penalties but two tries from the visitors had them ahead at the break 13-12.
Munsters upped the tempo in the second half and put the squeeze on the Red Robins up front, leading to two tries after sustained spells of pressure. Ger Flaherty was the first to burst over, with Darren Ryan picking from the base of the dominant scrum to grab the second.
Bohs were game and battled hard right to the end but a Paul Allen turnover was the last action at the end of an interminable amount of injury time.
Accepting the plaque, out-half and stand-in captain Shane O'Leary thanked all concerned for a fine campaign and echoed the thoughts of all involved in dedicating the success to flanker Ger Ryan who would assuredly have been on speech duties were it not for illness.
