Club Notes Week Ending 22.04.12

This week’s Club Notes come from Clonakilty RFC, Shannon RFC, Waterpark RFC and Young Munster RFC.

Clonakilty RFC

Paul Twomey Cup Added to Clonakilty’s Trophy Cupboard

Clonakilty’s youthful Development Squad added the Paul Twomey Cup to their Mick Barry Cup in a hard fought final against neighbours Bandon last Saturday. In a season so marked by disappointment it is no harm to highlight that there are some good news stories. The development squad have been competing at J2 level and this format has provided an excellent vehicle to introduce 18 to 21 year olds to adult rugby. Their success has been a great boost for the club as it strives to rebuild following a couple of seasons when emigration hit playing numbers so devastatingly. At underage the Under 17s had brought the South Munster Cup to The Vale and this Friday the Under 13s have the opportunity to make it a fourth piece of silverware for the club when they take on Skibbereen in their league final tonight (Friday) in Skibbereen at 6.30pm.

The local derby with Bandon for the Paul Twomey Cup was an entertaining affair which was in the balance for most of the game. Bandon had the better of the early exchanges but constant harassment by Clon on their possession prevented Bandon from opening up and earned Clon a couple of penalties for not releasing. The first was narrowly wide from a very difficult angle but Gearoid Calnan obliged with the second to put Clon into a 3 – 0 lead arguably against the run of play. Bandon went into the lead when David Aherne took full advantage of poor defensive organisation by Clon to weave through the defence for a fine try. The conversion by Andrew Willis gave Bandon a 3 – 7 lead after 20 minutes. Clon regained the lead just before half time with a try by Calnan following some great drives from Donal Dignan and a break by Gar Boohig.

Clon continued to put pressure on their visitors and were rewarded by a Sam Dignan try in the corner following a good run by Alan Harte to put Clon ahead 13 – 7 after five minutes of the second half. The game deteriorated somewhat as both sides slipped into an error-strewn period that left neither supporters confident of victory. Clon had the edge in the scrum, which even the introduction of veteran prop John O’Connell could not overturn, but Bandon looked extremely dangerous when they had their rolling maul and loose forwards in possession. However, it was Clon that got their game together in the end when two mesmeric runs by Boohig, a typical surge from Peter Deane and good work in support by Gavin Moore set Alfie Harte up to cap a cameo performance in his first game in over a year with a try. The conversion by Shane Newman put the result beyond Bandon at 7 – 20 with time running out.

The squad was Richie Gaskin, John Collins, Richie Ellis, Sam Dignan, Donal Dignan, Cathal O’Regan, Gavin Moore, John Kingston, Paul O’Donovan, Gar Boohig, Peter Deane, Brendan Canty, Gearóid Calnan, Alan Harte, Alfie Harte, Paul O’Donovan, Adrian Fleming, Mike Murphy, David Healy and Shane Newman.

Events for your Diary

Friday

Under 13s League Final Skibbereen 6.30pm

Saturday

Informal End of Season Social and BBQ hosted by Under 13s coach Maurice Shanley in Shanleys at 8.00pm

Tuesday 15th May

Fundraiser with Neven Maguire in Fernhill Hotel.
Tickets are available at Burke by Design, Fuchsia Footwear, Scannells Bar Clonakilty, Deasy’s Pharmacy Bandon, Designs Gift Shop, Skibbereen & The Gallery, Kinsale.All proceeds in aid of the Rugby club and its underage section. More details next week.

Friday 25th May

(Provisional) AGM

Shannon RFC

What hurts you can only make you stronger, and yes we were hurting. Hurting that we ended up on the last day fighting for survival, but can we get stronger. Well to answer that, I'll take you into the post match dressing room, before the multitude of well wishers were given access to their hero's. Now there’ll be no divulgence of the actual words spoken, but to witness the emotive, stirring and heartfelt eloquence of a few of the personal in that dressing room was a privilege. Yea, yea, we know talk is cheap and all that, but this was more than talk. It was a passionate plea to this talented group of players to dwell on what had just past, and what their unfulfilled potential could reap in the coming years. The most senior of these players have done it all, but glancing around the room, the realisation, that in the main, we were dealing with a group of players with more than a few years on the clock , then you felt that these words of profound wisdom would settle, and ultimately impact the future careers of this squad.

We celebrated for sure, but it wasn't the celebrations of victories past. We had survived and maintained our top flight status and that was an event to celebrate no doubt, but again we will always point to the fact that our club demands success. Merely sustaining our constant presence in the top flight is not considered a success. This was in essence, a victory of survival, and like all facets of life, when one manages to dodge the bullet we sit back in relief and calculate how to not to locate ourselves in its firing line again.

To answer what we started with; there is no doubt that these young men will get stronger, better, and more prepared for what becomes a whole new campaign next season. We have been beset my misfortunate and while detractors and friends alike will point to the fact that any creation of luck, is entirely within your own remit ,there are certain factors which cannot be legislated for when the planning and target setting began way back when. Injuries, emigration and other such circumstances had us working of a numerically limited squad by the time mid season hit. But that's another days thinking.

Three opening round wins had us a little giddy, but when reality hit, it was a tough and fraught campaign at times punctuated on occasion with glimpses of this squad's potential. We were a better team than our position suggested and we can and will rise above the spectre of unfulfilled ambition which has dogged us for a couple of seasons. The merit of such a statement can be witnessed in our last two games when the sense of purpose combined in a seamless transition to results. The game last Saturday was always potentially fraught with danger, but while Dolphin did offer stern resistance, there was really nothing they could do to cope with the sheer determination of the lads.
28-3, three tries, and we were safe. Belvo hadn't done enough a couple of miles down the road and our rousing support was rewarded for their faith in the lads. They too played an enormous part in Saturday's victory ; when they lined the route back to the dressing room after the warm up, and stayed until the march to the game itself the players , if they needed reminding, knew what, and who they were playing for and they let no one down. The bequeathing of hindsight is beyond us, but we actually knew we wouldn't be left down.

Tadgh's early drop goals, Quinny's pre half time try all settled us and only for the briefest of periods did we see a slight waver, but it was just that, brief. Clogan barged over, Tadgh knocked over the penalties and in the end Alan Bennies try wasn't all that important, despite its greatness!!!

We can ride off into the sunset contented that we achieved what will always be a primary goal, staying up. Sure, we would have liked it to come a bit sooner in the season, but there was immense satisfaction that we managed to fight another day in Division 1A regardless.There was talk of players finishing their careers in that dressing room last Saturday, and hopefully the emotion of the occasion will be seen for what it was in the clear light of day, and those thoughts will transpose into a determination once summer boredom kicks in.

However, for one player, there was an unequivocal rejection of any notion of a return to the training fields of Coonagh, as a player anyway, and in truth he owes Shannon RFC absolutely nothing. In fact it is us that should find ourselves in the debtor’s column when he tots up his personal accounts. David Quinlan will stand head and shoulders above the vast multitude of club players that have adorned our hooped attire when we recount our influential players for years to come. We've certainly had more high profile, and dare we suggest more talented back row players who have graced the international stage, but for sheer longevity, for sheer determination, for service to our club, Quinny is almost peerless.

He already packed the boots away once, but it was all those admirable traits that drew him back for one more shot .In the face of adversity he probably gave more to the cause this season than ever before, and for that each and every one of us who count ourselves as folk of Shannon should be eternally grateful. Rugby hero's adorn our every turn these days, but more often than not they're clad in red or green, but Shannon RFC have , and will continue to have heroes, and in this scribes humble opinion , David Quinlan can justifiably rise out of their shadows and stand, with a proud sense of entitlement in their presence. Thank you Quinny, for everything you have given to so many of us.

We also take the opportunity to thank all the players for their efforts throughout the season. We had many make the big jump from U/21's to senior a little earlier than expected , but each and every one of those young men will stand with greater purpose in the coming years now they've had a taste of senior rugby. To Stephen Keogh, Eoin Cahill, Niall Cowhey, Pat Murray and Noel Healy we sincerely thank ye for the season's efforts.

Such a team of players and management are backed up by more men that are unequivocal in their support to them, and we are more than fortunate to have the likes of Mike Goode, Seamus Whelton, Martin Flannery, Damian Mordon and our Doc, John O'Dea for the work that, to the great many goes unnoticed. Make no mistake that without all these people, our difficulties would have been exacerbated

It was simply one of those weekends when almost everything fell into place and our underage sides played a huge part in the happy, glowing feeling we have around the club as the week began.

While in the main there was no silverware handed out in our weekend successes, we did start off Saturday morning with the U/11's celebrating their success and setting a wonderful tone for others to follow.

The morning began with a great U/11 display in the inaugural Garryowen tournament. Two teams under the black's and blue's banner took part. Four games for each side culminated in a shield semi final for each of our teams and the anticipation of an all Shannon final was fever pitch.

It was however, not to be but we did manage to get one of our sides into the final. The Blues were defeated by Richmond, but the Blacks put in a great effort to win their semi final over Thomond.

The final was a tense affair and Richmond were tough opposition, but one last supreme effort from our lads ensured that we could begin the weekend with Shannon team lifting silverware. It was a great boost for everyone and news filtered through to the travelling senior team bus, which was taken as a great omen for the day ahead, and it certainly turned out that way.

We were in Cork with the seniors, but were glued to our Twitter feed where Gordon Britchfield was updating us on the Progress of the U/19's who played Monivea in the AIL semi final. We fretted a little, before the game; unknown qualities are always difficult to judge pre match and Monivea had sailed through their regional leagues, but as it turned out, we need not have worried too much. Patches of Monivea pressure came sporadically between our three tries and a performance that saw Shannon/St Marys comfortably into the All Ireland Final. Even an early sin bin for us wasn't enough to stop the progress. That was preceded by a Shane Ryan try, and with a dominant scrum, a dominant lineout and a back line that was precise in their actions, the Galway side had little chance.

A 45-meter drive from the pack just before the break saw Tim Tobin add to the scoreline and with Conor Burns conversion; a 12-0 score line at the break was more than an adequate return. More points came soon after the resumption when Conor Burns added a penalty and despite some line pressure from Monivea the Shannon/St Mary's try line remained untainted.

The insurance try came when again, the Parish lads were rewarded for set piece superiority and Devlin Price barged over to see his side clear with a 20-point lead and safe passage to an All Ireland final. That Final takes place in Nass RFC next Saturday at 2.30pm against Malone.

Sunday saw a plethora of underage semi finals with the 19's open cup, 14's and 15's all in action.

Rosbrien was the venue for the U/14's and they were forced to negotiate a very tricky Old Crescent side. It was nip and tuck all the way and it took a penalty try in our favour to separate the sides. 12-7 was the final score ion this very keenly fought contest and a quick turnaround will see them play the Final on Wednesday evening.

Over in Dooradoyle the U/15's had to hold a resilient Garryowen side at bay for a long period of the second half after they had built a 15 nil lead. This game was a rematch of the leaguer final were the light blues lifted the silverware on that occasions, so motivation was no problem for our lads. While it was a great team performance, we had one star player who scored a remarkable hat trick. Conor Fitzgerald crossed for three tries in the 20-14 victory where bodies were thrown about with abandonment for safety. James Brennan added another great try to endorse his tremendous contribution to the cause. Such was the desire to progress to the final; the Shannon boys were as committed as they were dogmatic.

Even when the light blues struck for two second have tries in lighting time, the lads dug deep into their resolve to halt any further breeches on the line. It was easier said than done though, but even with just a slender 1-point lead, the Shannon boys kept their nerve even in the face of obstinate attacks. The knife edge was polished and in use when the lads struck late in the game for a great try which then gave them a 6 point cushion, but such was the nature of the game, the result could not be taken for granted until the referee blew the full time whistle.

It was a stirring display and one which had us all proud on the sidelines, but all no shiny cup was presented in Dooradoyle , and they'll just have to do it all again in the final .

On wards to Annacotty where the U/19's took to the field for the second semi final in as many days. The Open cup allows clubs to play schools tied players, so it was practically a completely new team than the previous day, but the momentum was well and truly in our favour. Ul/Bohs were also well stacked with schools players and it made for a tight and tough game. Jack Dineen was a powerhouse for us and crossed for a try in either half, which along with the successful kicks from Ben Cody gave us a great 17-10 win.

So we see our U/19 squad with a very busy schedule in the next few weeks. A north Munster cup semi final, an All Ireland final and an open cup final to play in a short period. It’s a fantastic achievement and a great reflection on our underage section that we have such a busy and demanding week as the season draws to a climax and we wish all the lads the very best. Hopefully next weeks notes will be as equally positive.

The women’s concluded their season with a defeat out on Galbally, but I’ve mentioned this on numerous occasions that they are an improving side and have plenty to look ahead to. We’ll take more detailed look at their season when we do our wrap up notes in a few weeks time.

Tadgh Crowe has a limited number of Category A tickets for the Rabo Pro 12 game v Ulster and anyone interested should contact him ASAP. 087 6524958.

Finally, we remind you all the AGM takes place on Wednesday 23rd of May in the club house at 8pm. The usual nomination and motion submission procedure applies (i.e. no later than two weeks prior to the AGM)

Underage fixtures

Wednesday 25th April

Under 17 Open Cup Semi Final – Shannon V Thomond 7pm Coonagh

Friday 27th April

Under 14 Cup Final – Shannon V UL Bohs 7pm Dooradoyle

Saturday 28th April

Under 19 All Ireland Final – Shannon/St Mary's V Malone 2.30pm Naas RFC

Sunday 29th April

Under 17 Open Cup Final – Shannon or Thomond V Old Crescent 11am Richmond/Canal Bank
Under 19 Open Cup Final – Shannon/St Mary's V Old Crescent 12.45pm Richmond/Canal Bank

Tuesday 1st May

Under 15 Cup Final – Shannon V Young Munsters 7pm Annacotty
Under 19 Cup Semi Final – Shannon V Garryowen Coonagh

Waterpark RFC

J2 Cup Final

Waterpark will travel to Cork on Sunday 28th April to contest the J2 South Munster Cup final, Old Christians will provide the opposition. The location for the match will be either Musgrave Park or Middelton RFC. Please check our Facebook page or the Waterpark website to confirm the venue and kick off time.

The team has advanced to the final following good victories over Bandon, Cork Con and Tralee. Hopefully the side can continue their winning ways next Sunday and return to Ballinakill with the trophy. This will be the first time a number of the older players on the team have contested a Munster branch final while the younger guys on the team are used to such occasions from Waterpark’s Munster league under 17’s and 19’s winning teams.

As ever the team will need the full support of the club members, so please make an effort to attend this cup final weather you’re a pass member or a current member.

Munster Junior

Congratulations to Murray Kinsella on making the final squad for the Munster Junior panel, this team is selected from the best players in all the Junior leagues. By all accounts Murray was the man of the match in a recent warm up game against the Munster Colleges

2012 Fixtures for the Munster Junior

• 28th of April KO 4pm vs Leinster in Edenderry RFC
• 5th of May KO 2.30pm vs Ulster in Kanturk RFC
• 12th of May KO 2.30pm vs Connacht in Castleisland RFC

Under 17’s

Waterpark 32- Lansdowne 7

Waterpark played Lansdowne in an end of season friendly in Waterpark last Saturday. Dave Kavanagh Waterpark’s outhalf put on a great display scoring 2 tries and creating 2 more as well as kicking 3 conversions and one penalty. A good end to the season for the team with the majority of the squad under age again next season.

Under 12’s

Waterpark played Killkenny last Saturday at home. The team played on the full size pitch with 15 men a side in preparation for the next season. Most of the players used the space available to create chances for their teammates that lead to an entertaining game.

Mini’s End of season

The minis end of season presentation will take place in Waterpark next Saturday morning at 10am, all players and parents are asked to attend.

Young Munster

Young Munster take it to Mary’s in Ulster Bank League title decider

From the first lineout in the first minute of our last Ulster Bank League match of the season last Saturday, we showed we were there to play. Third place was the best we could hope for in the league standing, and the cup was already in St. Mary’s with the palpable sense of expectation in the air.

Leading by example, our captain Shane O’Neill was a dynamo in the lineout dominating in the air. A break up the left wing in the third minute showed Darragh O’Neill looked like he would cause problems for Mary’s but in the fifth minute, the problem was our own as O’Neill was sent off for a tip tackle. While the tackle was obviously without malice, referee Peter Fitzgibbon produced the red card on the advice of his touch ref. The tip tackle is the subject of much debate at the moment in rugby corners with the IRB stating that a tackle of this type should be punished with a straight red card. While many quarters feel the referee should be given a degree of freedom to rule on the level of punishment depending on the intent or malice of the tackle, this debate did little to help our cause last Saturday as we found ourselves a man down after six minutes.

Instead of taking the wind out of our sails however, the sending off seemed to rally our troops on the pitch as each man stepped up to the task of working that much harder to replace the man off the field. Our pressure was rewarded with a penalty after 8 minutes, a long shot just inside the Mary’s half with swirling wind to contend with but Staunton lined it up regardless, the kick not connecting properly with the ball to let Mary’s off this time.

The team was reshuffled somewhat for the fixture with Ray Moloney stepping in at first centre joining Andrew Burke outside, and last year’s school’s star Brian Haugh starting at scrum-half with Mike Prendergast not naming himself for the second week in succession.

We were first off the scoreboard 9 minutes in with a penalty slotted over by Willie Staunton. Staunton launched a long pass out to Decy Bannon on 13 minutes and Decy got a great little grubber kick through, chasing towards their 22, before being cut off by the Mary’s full back who received a yellow card for interfering with the chase. Staunton knocked it over to make the score 6-0 in our favour.

Our boys were immense at the breakdown on the day, especially the back row of Liam Og Murphy, James ‘Ham’ O’Neill and Mark Rowley who were contesting at every opportunity. Mark Doyle and Neville Melbourne were the same, and in the first quarter their hard work at the ruck turned over possession, presenting the loose ball for prop Ger Flaherty to clean up. Another turnover minutes later set up a Young Munster attack into the Mary’s 22, and several pick-and-gos to the line nearly saw us over though we were just denied when penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground.

The first try of the game came on 23 minutes when a lineout just outside the 5m line saw Shane O’Neill bring down the ball and set up the maul, O’Neill orchestrating with Ger Slattery at the back with the ball in a clean set piece straight off the training pitch. The pack pumped the legs to drive over the line and Slattery got the touch down which Staunton converted bring the score to 13-0 to us, in a hushed Templeville Road.

St, Mary’s threatened a break at our line five minutes later but Ray Moloney had it covered. We proceeded to win a penalty at the scrum in our own 22 to take play out of the danger zone and Brian Haugh cleared to take play up to halfway.

On 32mins a Mary’s attack looked ominous as a break saw their winger head for the corner but Willie Staunton showed his tremendous pace to get back before the Mary’s man reached the corner, putting in a super tackle, and, with the support of Declan Bannon, Staunton held up both man and ball over the line and saved a certain try.

Buoyed by this attacking chance, Mary’s upped the pressure till the end of the first half as we had to withstand 10 minutes of increasing pressure before half time with only 3 points conceded when our openside flanker James O’Neill interfered with the ruck and received ten minutes in the bin.

Another long range penalty kick didn’t find its target for Staunton before the break when excellent work by Declan Bannon and Ray Moloney earned us the penalty. Half time score was St. Mary’s 3 – 13 Young Munster.

We weren’t long into the second half when our rolling maul found its momentum again, stopping just 5m short and we may well have threatened their line as all the signs were on for it, were it not for a knock on from the volley pass from Murphy to Slattery.

We had another penalty find its target from Staunton on 49 minutes but, two minutes later, Mary’s finally found the gap with the extra man as Sexton sliced through our defence and over the line. Dunne converted to make it 16-10 to us.

A turnover in the 57th minute resulted in a penalty for us in front of the posts which Staunton saw to with ease (bringing his personal tally to 199 points for the season, the highest points scorer in the league) but Dunne got one back moments later, and on 66 minutes another penalty for Mary’s brought the gap to just three points at 19-16 in our favour.

A great break from Mark Doyle ensued that looked like we could be about to set something up again, and was followed by a well read lineout steal by Shane O’Neill on 69 minutes. Our possession didn’t find touch however when kicked downfield to the corner, and the reply kick was collected but not cleared by Staunton or Bannon as both half backs were put under pressure in our own half.

As we faced into the last ten minutes, the effort of stepping up the workrate to fill the gap of the extra man must have started to take its toll on our boys. Not that they showed it, Mark Doyle executed a stupendous turnover in the 73rd minute, and Aaron Carroll’s cover tackle sent a Mary’s player into touch in the right corner, dislodging the ball and saving a sure try.

Into the last five minutes and Mary’s heaped on the pressure, we held them short several times before the killer try came, but it eventually did, six or seven phases later, their super-sub Sexton scored again, and Dunne converted to bring the score to 23-19 to the home side, and that was how the game finished.

There were dejected faces on the pitch in black and amber, and in the dressing room afterwards, but our boys have to take some solace in that performance. Liam Og Murphy got the RTE Man of the Match award, and we all know how rare it is that these awards go to the losing side. The fact that they got a standing ovation from the Mary’s supporters as they left the pitch in the heart of South Dublin is testament to the effort each player put in that day, and the heart and pride each showed.

It was a great day for club rugby, and a great day for Young Munster. Not our best, we would always prefer to come away the victors, but definitely one for the storybooks. Now if we had beaten Mary’s in Dublin with just 14 men… that would have been the stuff of legend – we’d have been talking about it for years! It wasn’t to be, not this year. But we have to take the positives, and we showed what we were made of last Saturday. Congratulation to St. Mary’s, and congratulations to our coaches Mike Prendergast and John Broderick on a great season; third in the league, and the top club in Munster. And the Charity Cup in still at Greenfields. Not bad at all for a season, we’ll take it. And we’ll be back at full throttle next year!

Scorers:

Young Munster:
Try: Ger Slattery; Con: Willie Staunton; Pens: Willie Staunton 4

St Mary's:
Tries: Mark Sexton 2; Cons: Gavin Dunne 2; Pens: Gavin Dunne 3

Young Munster: Declan Bannon; Mark Doyle, Andrew Burke, Ray Moloney, Darragh O'Neill; Willie Staunton, Brian Haugh; Ger Flaherty, Ger Slattery, Hugh McGrath, Neville Melbourne, Shane O'Neill (capt), Liam Og Murphy, James O'Neill, Mark Rowley. Replacements used: Aaron Carroll for Haugh (54 mins), Sean Duggan for Melbourne (64), Ger Bourke for Slattery (73), Craig O'Hanlon for Moloney (76).

St Mary's: Gavin Dunne; Darren Hudson, Stephen Grissing, Marcus O'Driscoll, Conor Hogan; Philip Brophy, Matt D'Arcy; Colm McMahon, Richie Sweeney, Rob Sweeney, Damian Hall, Stephen Bradshaw, Barry O'Flanagan, Gareth Austin, Hugh Hogan (capt).
Replacements used: Ciaran Ruddock for O'Flanagan (24 mins), Mark Sexton for O'Driscoll (49), Chris Lilly for Dunne (80+1), Barry O'Flanagan for Hall (80+3).

Munster Seconds League & Transfield Cup Final

Our Seconds lost out to Cork Constitution in the Munster Seconds League semi-final in Cork last Sunday as our youthful side took on a more experienced Con team but the experience of that match should really stand to the young guys we fielded.

We contest the Transfield Cup Final next Tuesday May 1st taking on Richmond at Grove Island in the home ground of St. Mary’s RFC. Kick off is 6.45pm with extra time to be played if necessary. Support greatly appreciated.

Women’s League

Congratulations to our Women’s side who finished fourth in their Division 2S table. This is our highest ranking in the league since the formation of our women’s team in 2007. Congratulations to the girls who are going from strength to strength each season.

Underage News

U11s Tournament at Garryowen FC

Congratulations to our Under 11s on a great performance in Dooradoyle. We entered two teams one as Black and one Amber. Our Black team played Old Crescent and lost by one try to nil and then beat Shannon 4-3. In the semi final of the Plate we had a draw against Garryowen 2-2 but Garryowen went through on the first try scored rule. Our Amber team went one better in getting to the Cup Final. Enroute they beat Garryowen 1-0 and beat Thomond 2-0. In the semi final of the Cup we drew with Presentation 1-1 but we went through to the final on the first try scored rule. In the final we went down to a very good Old Crescent team who went on to win 3-0 but great credit to our team who just ran out of steam. Once again we showed some great courage and were weakend by entering two teams on the day but it shows what a great bunch we have in our panel and were by far the best club team in the tournament. Thanks again to the U10s for the loan of four of their players. Well done to all!

U12s Brian Fitzgerald Memorial Shield

The Brian Fitzgerald Memorial Shield was played recently with St Mary's hosting Young Munster U12s. Weather conditions were the four seasons but both teams put on a thrilling game with Young Munster the eventual winners 17-8. Credit must go to all the players who gave a great display for their first entry into a fifteen man match. Young Munster started well and lead 17-3 at half time and in the second half a spirited St Mary's brought the game back to an exciting last 10 minutes. Thanks to all who organised a great day. Final congratulations to Alex Fitzgerald who played a great game.

Under 8s Blitz

The Young Munster U8's who hosted Shannon and Ennis in the final blitz of the season. Well done to all on a great day.

Underage Fixtures

Sunday 29th April

Underage Club Day starting at 10am
Games, Fun Bouncing Castles, B & Q etc all are welcome so come along.

McCarthy Cup U14s
Young Munster Vs Richmond 1.45pm, Tom Clifford Park

Tuesday 1st May

U15s Cup Final
Young Munster Vs Shannon, venue: UL/Bohs Annacotty 6.45pm