Season Preparations For Clonakilty RFC

All Ireland division two side Clonakilty RFC return to training next week as they commence preparations for season 10/11.

Club Notes by Roy Maguire

New Season On The Horizon
Clonakilty Rugby Club will commence preparations for the 2010-2011 season this Monday night, the 2nd of August, at 7.15pm at The Vale complex.

It is the tenth season in the All Ireland League and Clon will be hoping to mark it with a top four finish. This will be no easy task as every other club in the sixteen club division will be targeting the same goal like no other season. A top four finish used to mean the play-offs and the chance to be crowned champions but this season it takes on a historical added significance. The reason for this is that the leagues will change the following season with the top division being divided into two sections, each consisting of ten teams, as one of the alterations.

This means that the top four teams in Division Two, instead of the usual two, will all be promoted to Division One for season 2011-2012. Clon’s coach David O’Mahony has put together a new coaching and management structure, and recruitment to the cause has been very healthy during the off season.

New players are very welcome to arrive on the night and last year’s squad will be strengthened by the addition of new players from Cork city and county and also from abroad. More on this and the AGM next week.

Summer Camp for Children
The future of Clonakilty and its current success has always been based on its vibrant underage section. The senior squad has always reflected this with 80 per cent of its members having come through the system. From Mon, Aug 2nd to Fri, Aug 6th Clonakilty Rugby Club is running its annual summer camp for young children from six to fourteen years of age.

A Summer Camp Pack with shorts, Socks and T-Shirt is provided for each child. This is an ideal opportunity for children to make new friends and be introduced to the basics in a non-contact, fun and disciplined atmosphere. An impressive team of coaches will be on hand and Clonakilty Mayor, Cllr. Kevin O’Regan, will leave his robe and chain of office in the dressing room as he dons his other uniform as Youth Development Officer again for the coming season. For further details please contact Willie Wilcox at wwilcox@eircom.net or +353-(0)86-6071626.

Lotto
The new club lotto which has contributed greatly to the funding of the club presented its first jackpot cheque for €;6,100.00 to Seán O’Donnell in Scannells Bar recently. It was a most popular win as Seán is the father of John O’Donnell, Clon’s prolific try-scorer, and Seán and Mary have been regular supporters at Clonakilty games all over the country. Lotto Manager, Bernard Harte, was delighted to hand over the cheque, in the presence of Munster and Ireland powerhouse prop, Tony Buckley. Please support the Lotto as it is an essential source of revenue. Tickets are available from a number of outlets in the town including Scannells Bar, De Barra's, The Phoenix, BK Shoes and more. Tickets cost €;2 each or 3 for €;5 and a yearly/quarterly direct debit option is also available and this includes membership to Clonakilty RFC as a bonus. Contact Bernard on +353 (0) 86 834 6923. The results of the weekly lottery draw on Saturday 24th of July 2010 for a Jackpot of €;1,500 were as follows; numbers drawn were 7, 8, 9, and 17 and there was no winner. Lucky dip winners were Micheal Anthony Walsh, Anna Shannon, John Condon, John Callaghan and Jean Houlihan. Next draw will be on Saturday 31st of July 2010 in Scannells Bar at 10.00pm for a €;1,600.00 Jackpot.