Club Notes: Week Ending 11.08.16

This week’s club notes come from Thurles RFC and Newcastle West RFC.

Thurles RFC

Courtesy of: Brian Scanlon, Club PRO

Garryowen Cup quarter-final: Thurles RFC 19-10 Kilfeacle & Disctrict RFC
Following up on their impressive win over Galbally, who finished 3rd in the First Division last season, Thurles were again entertaining First Division opposition in the shape of local rivals Kilfeacle RFC who finished just shy of a top 4 finish last year. Thurles were missing 10 players from last week's squad versus Galbally for various reasons and again for this Garryowen Cup clash, Thurles were down numbers mainly due to Electric Picnic go-ers and sunshine Tipperary hurling supporters who decided to take off 24hrs in advance of the All Ireland Decider.

In total, Thurles made 10 changes from last week’s win, 7 new personnel & 3 positional changes, which saw the evergreen Charlie Langley & Brian Lyons make yet another seasonal debut and the versatile Ciaran Ryan moving from Flanker to form a centre partnership with Mark Cummins who usually operates as a scrum half/winger.

Kilfeacle kicked off & settled a lot faster than the home side, winning a lot of the early exchanges but similar to last week, the Thurles defence held strong limiting the Kilfeacle men a penalty early on, which was missed in front of the posts by the opposition out half. This gave the Thurles men a lift as they re-started by booting long down the field.

As both teams started to find their feet, there were great hits going in from both sides all combined with a little niggle that comes with a local derby. Thurles kept the intensity & pressure going in defence and were duly rewarded when Brandon Shanahan pick pocketed the Kilfeacle back line as he intercepted on the half way line & sprinted on to touchdown in the corner, John Lillis converted excellently from the corner for the maximum, 7-0.

Thurles received the ball back and the half back combination of Nicky Irwin & Aidan Dwyer, who dictated proceedings throughout the game, helped get Thurles back into an attacking position almost immediately. The home side stole a Kilfeacle lineout with Charlie Langley awake at the back, from the resultant play, Thurles were awarded a penalty, Lillis did the honours again & slotted the kick over the black spot from near the corner, 10-0.

The final 10 minutes of the half saw both teams pick up scores but it was Kilfeacle who had their best run of play in the game during this time, using their experience in the pack, they produced an excellent line move to touch down in the corner, to reduce the deficit, the extras were missed so the score remained 10-5. Thurles battled hard from the kick off to re-gain possession through some great work from Phil & Luke Kelly. Thurles were awarded another penalty for a player not releasing in the tackle, Lillis duly obliged again to push out the score to 13-5.

In the closing minutes of the half, Kilfeacle gained possession once again in the Thurles 22, their pack showed a lot of patience in attack and got their reward with another touchdown out wide, again the kick was missed which saw the half time score stand at 13-10 to Thurles.

The second half was played in similar terms to the first, both teams seemed well up for this early season encounter & at times tempers threatened to boil over but credit to the referee, the game was well marshalled & nothing of note materialised from the tensions that come with the territory of local derbies and cup rugby.

Thurles were excellent in the second half, with Shane Nugent, Michael Ely & Ciaran Ryan, some of the younger contingent impressing in particular, Dylan Dorney was introduced in the front row for his 1st team debut and will no doubt continue his rise through the ranks throughout the year.

Thurles had a number of try scoring chances in the 2nd half, as did the men from West Tipperary but it was Thurles who took their chances and added 2 further penalties from John Lillis, who ensured his 100% kicking record remained intact from 2 outings this year, this saw Thurles end the game in impressive fashion on a 19-10 score line and securing their place in the Semi of the Garryowen Cup.

This was a very impressive win for Thurles, no doubt Kilfeacle would have had a number of absentees for similar reasons to Thurles, but looking at both sides on paper prior to kick off, even the most diehard Loughtagalla stalwarts may have predicated a win for the visitors. This shows the importance of having close to 30 men training on Wednesday & Fridays nights, that any player can step in to get the job done and it was great so see the momentum carried on from last season and is credit to the work being done by John Lillis Snr & his team which includes Kevin O’Dwyer & Shay Scanlon.

Thurles now advance to meet Clanwilliam in the Semi Final of the Garryowen Cup which will take place in the Tipperary Town venue this coming Sunday, 11th September most likely with a 2.30pmKick off. All Support would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks to all those who have come up to support the team during the last two outings, it was much appreciated by the players & management.

Thurles Scorers: Brandon Shanahan (1 Try), John Lillis (4 Penalties & 1 Conversions).
Thurles Starting XV vs Kilfeacle: 1. Charlie Langley 2. Shane Nugent 3. Michael Ely 4. Frank Touhy 5. Brian Lyons 6. Phil Kelly 7. Paddy Phelan (c) 8. Luke Kelly 9. Nicky Irwin 10. Aidan Dwyer 11. Tommy Connolly 12. Ciaran Ryan 13. Mark Cummins 14. Brandon Shanahan 15. John Lillis Subs Used: Dylan Dorney & Dean McCormack.


Training
Underage Training Times for the new season
@ Thurles Rugby Club are as follows

U7 – U12 Saturday Morning 12:00 – 1:15
Boys U14 Monday & Thursday 7:15
Boys U16 Tuesday & Friday 7:15
Boys U18 Tuesday & Thursday 7:15
Girls U15 Tuesday & Thursday 7:15
Girls U18 Tuesday & Thursday 7:15

Lotto
Thurles RFC Lotto 29th August 2016
Lotto Numbers: 9, 13, 20, 29
No Jackpot Winner
Match 3 Numbers: Yvonne Maher
Next Jackpot: €;5,850.00
Lotto Draw takes place at Thurles Rugby Clubhouse @ 7.30pm every Monday night
Tickets (€;2) are on sale in the following locations;
· O’ Dwyer’s Centra
· Kennedy’s Tower Lounge
· Hickey’s Pub
· Runnerbean Coffee Shop
To join the Thurles Rugby Club Lotto Syndicate and be in with a chance to win in 156 Draws, download the form at http://thurlesrfc.com/lotto/
Thank you for your continued support!

Thurles RFC Summer Camp
Some of the boys and girls that tool part in this years Summer Camp. Many thanks to Ely's Centra for the very generous goody bags for all the budding rugby stars of the future.

Newcastle West RFC Notes

Courtesy of: Eoin Cahill

U18s
Old Crescent RFC 10-21 Newcastle West Estuary RFC
We travelled to Rosbrien for an U18 challenge match on Sunday and came away convincing winners.
The team came out of the blocks quickly and were fast to put pressure on the opposition try line. However Old Crescent stood firm and in 10 attacking inside our twenty-two. Good work from Ryan White and Pat Cremin saw a turnover to NCW/E. Charlie O’Doherty at scrum half then released the ball which travelled through the hands of Cillian Ferris, Liam Tierney and Stephen Lyons who drew his man and popped to Stephen Hennessy who still had work to do to get a great try which was converted by Charlie. Old Crescent hit back on twenty-five minutes and engineered an overlap to score an unconverted try in the corner. Old Crescent now hit a purple patch and excellent and excellent tackling by the back row Noelie Griffin, Adam Flanagan and Michéal Murphy was needed to keep us the two points ahead at half-time.

Old Crescent came out strong in the second half and within two minutes had scored a try from a kick on. Cillian Fitzgerald blocked down the conversion and the big man featured eight minutes later when he went over for a try after some good driving by Conor Brosnan and David O’Donovan.
The game was still finely balanced at 10 to 14 with old crescent fighting hard in front of a vociferous home crowd when they were silenced by a Charlie O’Doherty intercept which ended in a try under the posts converted by Micheal Begley. This was the final score and a result of a full team effort. There is a very talented panel and everyone is wanted for what will be a long season. Training on Wednesday to be on the pitch at 7.30pm. Well done to all.

Team: Killian Fitzgearld, Paudie Flavin, Conor Brosnan (captain), Ryan White, Pat Cremin, Noelie Griffin, Adam Flannagan, Micheal Murphy, Charlie O’Doherty, Micheal Begley, Cillian Ferris, Liam Tierney, Jack Kelly, Stephen Hennessy, Stephen Lyons, Dawid Marcinjak, Gurvan Ferron, Cian Walsh, David Condon, Eamon Ambrose, John McCoy, David O’Donovan, Liam McSweeney.

Mini Rugby begins again on Sunday, September 11
Training time is 10:30 – 11:30 each Sunday beginning Sun 11-Sep in Killeline Pitch. New members welcome (Boys or Girls U6 – U12 incl.)

Training
The Junior Training continues every Tuesday and Friday night in Killeline @ 7.30pm

McInerney Cup
Newcastle West will play at home in Cullinagh to UL Bohemian’s on Saturday 10th September @ 2.30 pm.

Lotto
Results from Friday 9th September Lotto Draw in Mag’s Bar

Numbers Drawn 3, 4, 8 & 12 – NO WINNER

Lucky Dip Winners:
1. Eileen O’ Donovan c/o Ballintemple Inn
2. Sarah Creedon, Castlemahon
3. Ciara Madigan, Ballingarry
4. Cíobha & Johnny c/o Silver Dollar Bar
5. Amos Reidy, Rathina, Newcastle West
6. Holly & Freda Lane, Assumpta Park, Newcastle West
7. Dave Cremin c/o Eoin Cahill

Promoters Prize: Tony Hayes

Next week’s draw will be held in the Strand Bar on Friday 9th September, the jackpot stands at €;5.800.

Congratulation to Cian Magner Flynn on lining out for Limerick Minor’s in the All Ireland Minor Hurling Final. Cian is one of the few players who has togged out in both Croke Park and Thomond Park, a great achievement.
Congratulations also to George Walker Magner and Kate on the birth of their son. Watch this space!
On a sad note the club offers our sincere condolence to Pat & Mary Daly on the death of Mary’s mother Catherine Mulcahy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha.