Club Notes: Week Ending 24.08.14

This week’s club notes come from Carrick-on-Suir and Old Crescent rugby clubs.

Carrick-On-Suir RFC

Courtesy of Dermot Keyes, Club PRO

Carrick RFC’s Ladies Keep Raising The Bar!

What a summer it’s been for the trailblazing ladies of Carrick-on-Suir RFC!
The sensational progress made by the club's female playing contingent in recent seasons has been rewarded with not one but two of our outstanding senior prospects graduating to the Munster Senior Ladies squad.

Meanwhile, three more Carrick players have won selection to the Ireland Under-18s Sevens Squad which will compete in the UK Schools Games as well as the FIRA Under-18 Tournament next month.
Flanker Faye Drohan (19) and flanker/Number Eight Aoife Moore (18) will find themselves in the illustrious company of World Cup semi-finalists when Munster’s Ireland contingent link up with the province ahead of the Interprovincial Championship, which runs over three weekends in September (6th, 13th and 20th).

Nine clubs, including Carrick-on-Suir RFC, are represented in the squad, which is being coached by Wayne Falvey (Highfield RFC), along with Aidan McNulty (Backs Coach), Daniella Cunningham (Strength and Conditioning) and former Ireland internationals Helen Brosnan and Marie Barrett. "It is a huge honour and I am delighted to be appointed Munster Senior Women's Coach for the coming season", said Wayne, who represented Munster at Youths and Under-19 levels, along with gaining Irish honours in the Colleges and University ranks.

"This is a great opportunity to develop new players coming through while some of our squad will be taking part in the Women's World Cup this August,” said the coach, who oversaw a series of trial matches and skill sessions throughout July before finalising his squad.

Aofie and Faye progressed to the Munster squad after being selected for the expanded squad of 38, which was cut by a further six on July 30th.

And both, it goes without saying, are thrilled to have made the final cut, a reward for their fantastic consistency in club colours over the past few seasons.

Faye, who played a significant role in Carrick’s Under-18 Munster League successes at both 15’s and Sevens’ levels, won Under-18 provincial honours for Munster last season when lining out against Connacht.

Aoife, who was club captain in the previous two seasons, was also part of Carrick’s double-winning effort and played in all of Munster’s U-18 Interprovincial matches last season, and skippered the side against the western province.

Each Monday and Wednesday, both train with their new Munster colleagues in Fermoy, a serious commitment for both Faye and Aoife along with their proud and supportive families.

But nothing worth doing ever came easy, and one hopes that their fellow club mates (from all grades!) will try to make it to some of Munster’s Interpro outings this September.

Congratulations are also extended to Carrick-on-Suir RFC’s Chloe Blackmore, Kate English and Zoe Lynch on their selection to the Ireland Under-18 Sevens Squad.

To reach the extended squad of 24 from an initial screening process which took in 200 players from across the four provinces represents a fantastic achievement on behalf of Chloe, Kate and Zoe, as well as their mentors at Tybroughney who have honed their footballing talents in recent seasons.
The trio’s selection underlines the astonishing strides made by our girls’ playing contingent in an incredibly narrow window of playing time, making the progress of Carrick-on-Suir RFC at juvenile level one of the success stories not only within Munster Rugby circles, but throughout the country.

Congratulations to Chloe, Kate, Zoe, Aoife and Faye and many thanks to all five for the distinction and pride they have brought to the red and blue jersey.

That the quintet’s success was widely heralded locally was stunningly illustrated by the staggering 5,300 (approx) individual visits to Carrick RFC’s Facebook page within 24 hours last week to salute their summer of progress. Best of luck to you all – and up Carrick!

* And many congratulations to Maria Foley from neighbouring Dungarvan RFC, who has also been selected for the senior provincial 32!

Old Crescent RFC

Courtesy of:- Frank Larkin, Club PRO

Old Crescent RFC hold successful golf classic at Limerick Golf Club, 15 August 2014

Old Crescent RFC held a very successful Golf Classic at Limerick Golf Club last Thursday and Friday, 14th and 15th August. The annual fund raising event, held in association with the St Vincent De Paul Society, was well supported with 50 teams taking part. Participants enjoyed excellent golf in sunshine and the occasional shower.

The eventual winners were a team from Lahinch led by long time Old Crescent supporter, Micheal Vaughan, and he was joined by K Brown and F O’Meara. Takomi led by Gerry Reynolds, with Shane O’Neill and Gerry Kavanagh took second place. In third place were Sean Scanlon, Pat O’Brien and Tony Clancy.

The prizes were presented in Limerick Golf Club by Dr Michael O’Flynn, President of Old Crescent RFC, and Derek Dundon of Keane’s Jewellers, Limerick, main sponsors of the Old Crescent RFC Golf Classic.

Old Crescent RFC Golf Classic, l-r, Derek Dundon, Keanes jewellers, main sponsors, Eamon O’Dowd, Roadbridge, fourth place, and Dr Michael O’Flynn, President, Old Crescent RFC.