1st XV v Clontarf (H) – 21.09.2024
St Mary’s College RFC V Clontarf FC
27 31
Energia AIL Division 1A
21st September 2024
Preamble
Every year bar this, the AIL season kicks off in October, however this year when it was clear that Marys were back in 1A, with a superb squad, they could not wait, so here we are. They even arranged a decent bit of weather for us.
We will have a look at what has changed, before having a word on the game.
Well quite a bit has changed and quite a bit remains the same, only different.
We have a shiny new president and committee. Paudge McGill is our new president. All will know Paudge, he was a notable senior prop and has been an outstanding manager of the senior squad for several seasons. He and his family have been a long standing and integral part of our club. He is highly knowledgeable and committed, he is also personable and is determined to support his teams at all levels and continue on the exciting club developmental pathway initiated by his esteemed predecessors. He has with him the same chairman, Brendan Spring, who is an ideal role model having been president when we first won AIL, 2000.
Most importantly too we have brand new old pitches. A superb job has been done in restoring to perfection the main pitch and the roadside pitch. House and Grounds Officer, Aaron (Ironman) Hudson has meticulously overseen and checked each stage and each aspect of the process involving laying a complete new drainage system and a new surface. It is almost miraculous, that over one summer all of this has been achieved to such a high level, and ready for action in mid-September. The main pitch is now Pitch Perfect ♫. Gratitude and congratulations are due Aaron and his team.
We are highly fortunate in having the coaching team which brought us from a mid-table 1B team to a sparkling 1A team. Mark McHugh, former Irish International and AIL, 1A, medal winning outhalf, with St Marys in 1999-2000, and experienced, successful coach, continues the impressive journey, where he left off last April. He is determined to bring us further to greater successes. Head Coach, Mark has his trusted and talented colleagues in support. Once again, insightful top-class coach, Jamie Cornett, is the defence coach, motivational Marcus (Modser) O’Driscoll, (former club captain and AIL, 1A winner, 2012), is the strength and conditioning coach. Greg Jones is a highly regarded player coach and Lineout expert, who is taking up that role with St Marys, fresh from a spell at Ulster Rugby. Robert (Chops) Sweeney, another AIL, 1A, medal winner 2012 and former club captain, excitingly, comes in as scrum coach. And Eanna Clynes, recently retired from playing, will be coaching the J1s contingent.
Most important in the voyage from 1B to 1A, was DoR and Rugby Chairman Alan Shirley, with his Rugby Council (RC). Alan has been there for ten years and has guided them upward to Elysium. Fortunately, he was persuaded to remain in the role for the upcoming season. He has been indispensable in rugby terms, to this progress within the club.
Without an integrated and hard-working management structure, nothing can run harmoniously or effectively. The proof is in the results and outcome of the last few seasons, when senior manager, Paul Pender not only expertly and smoothly ensured all the moving parts meshed, but was a hard working committee man, he was involved in the impressive, main and junior pitches, refurbishments. Paul is fortunate to have a superb cohort of outstanding colleagues in namesake Paul Conlon, Conor O’Neill and Harry Ebbs. They have been fortunate too in having Darren Walker over the past number of seasons, to look after the affairs of the J1s, where he has performed one of the most difficult roles in the club with alacrity. He has been joined this year by ubiquitous and ever willing, Garry Manning.
We continue to have a dedicated rota of doctors, physiotherapists, video experts and other support systems.
All have a big season ahead.
We have of course the same brilliant captain, Ronan Watters, on his exceptional third year in a row as Club Captain. He has been the keystone to the metamorphosis from mid 1B to 1A. Not only has he been an inspirational leader and strong decision maker, but also the consistently outstanding player. He will indubitably lead his men as a fearless paladin, to a successful and enjoyable season; and all in the club will be with him.
Ronan, with head coach, Mark and DoR, Alan, in particular have been remarkably successful in player recruitment. Only four of the senior squad have gone, Daniel Sancery has retired, Leroy Jacks has returned to Spain to play, Ben Taylor has returned to England to pursue his flying career and Senan Phelan is taking a spell with his university, UCD. So the super troopers who have brought us to our Elysium, are intact and ready for action. In addition, the following have joined the ranks and all are highly impressive:-
Name:- Andrew Keating, Prop
Nickname : Panda
Weight : 134kg
Previous Clubs : Navan RFC, DUFC (Trinity), Garryowen, Terenure
Honours: Irish Clubs x3, AIL champion, Bateman Cup x2, Munster Senior Cup, Leinster Senior Cup
Name: Lucas Culliton 2nd Row.
Weight : 107kg
Previous Clubs :- Galwegians RFC, Wanderers FC, Lansdowne FC
Honours: Senior Cup Captain CCR, Connacht u19s Player of the year, Connacht sub-academy & Eagles.
Name: Howard Noonan, Hooker
Age: 22
Height: 6ft
Weight: 110kg
Educated at Temple Carrig School, represented Leinster at u18s, u19s and u20s
and Irish U20s. Old Wesley, three seasons.
Name: Greg Jones, Forward, Back Five. (Player Coach)
Weight: 104
Height: 195
Clubs: Ulster, UCD, Blackrock (minis)
Name: Paul Deeny 2nd Row
Height: 193cm
Weight: 112kg
Previous clubs: Wexford Wanderers, Clontarf
Name: Paddy Garvey, Front Row
Weight: 121kg
Height: 188cm
Previous clubs: Corrib RFC, UL Bohs (20s)
Name: Aaron O’Brien, Backrow.
Weight: 110kg
Height: 190cm
School: St Mary’s College
Previous club: St Mary’s College RFC minis
Leinster 18s and 19s, Ireland 18s and 19s and Leinster sub academy. (Aaron’s father Niall, played senior rugby (scrumhalf) for a number of years at the club)
Dan Goggin, Centre
Weight 105 K
Height 187cm
Munster rugby, Montauban, Young Munster.
British & Irish cup, URC Champions 2023, Munster young player of the year 2019, Irish 20s & 7s.
Name: Michael Silvester, Back Three
Nickname : Silvo
Weight : 84kg
Height: 183cm
Previous Clubs : DUFC (Trinity), Lansdowne
Honours: Ireland U20s, Leinster, Bateman Cup
Name: Zack Hopkins, Back Three
Weight.92 KG
School: St Mary’s College
Previous club: St Mary’s minis
Honours: Ireland 19s, Leinster sub academy
Name: Richie Bergin, Hooker.
Weight: 91
Height: 178
Previous teams: Marys’ minis, St. Mary’s College, UCD
Shane McGrath Scrumhalf
82 Kg
172 Cm
Former St Mary’s College SCT.
Also, Gavin O’Brien Hooker/Prop, has returned after two seasons out injured.
Ronan Foley (No 8) has returned to the club from Dallas, David (Doc) O’Connor, 2nd Row has returned after a spell at Ulster and Ealing Trailfinders, and Colm Reilly (Scrumhalf) from Buccaneers. Each of them has previously made exceptional contributions on the field for St Marys, and their return is celebrated.
Essential to the successful running of the senior or flagship squad, is the entire club system, including the U20s, where Vinnie Murray is Director of Rugby and Sean Healy and Finn Burke are the coaches. They have recruited well this year and are hopeful of a big season in Tier 2 JP Fanagan. A number of players will alternate between senior and U20 rugby.
Referees serve an aspect of the game which is vital and often not appreciated enough. St Marys has fine record of supplying referees at all levels up to International. IRFU Head of Referees is our own esteemed, Dudley Phillips, and he ensures that our players are well briefed on rule changes and nuances, so keeping up to date. Ian Bloomer is the Referee Liaison Officer and 4th Official. He serves a most important role, one he has done for many years now. Frequently, his renowned diplomatic skills are called into play.
The St Marys’ Stars, a team of special needs players, which has been formed by the phenomenal work of Robbie O’Neill, (with the help of his great pal Charlie Ryan) who had for many years with Paul Pender run Youth Rugby. The work with these wonderful young players is specialised and requires an extremely sensitive and patient touch. The club is very proud of this group and Robbie.
Without Junior Rugby there would be no club for many obvious reasons, amongst which is that most of the volunteers usually come from this group. Former Club President and junior rugby hero, Kevin Conboy, is Director of Junior Rugby.
Ladies and girls rugby is a growing area in our club and elsewhere, and the Director is Sarah (nee Brennan) Fallon, who has played for many years at the club and has toiled long to keep women’s and girls’ rugby alive and growing.
The future star players and alickadoos of the club are the Youths and Minis of today. Impressive and enthusiastic Connor Kinnear is Director, a big job, and it is very well served by Connor.
The sponsors too, help carry the financial burden of the club, which it is greatly indebted to Maples (main sponsor) G-Mack, Fanagans, NFP, H&M Ironworks, Chawke Group, Frank Keane Manverton and other specific teams and aspects sponsors. Manverton sponsor the MoM award as SoftCo have withdrawn.
The club treasures all.
All said, there is an exciting and promising season ahead. There will be a need to readjust to 1A and its greater bulk, skills and pace. In the Leinster Senior Cup we have already shown how we can thrive with the 1A teams, and when we bed in, I would expect we will not languish but rather move steadily upward and end up safely in the top half at least. Mark and his colleagues will seek to play with extra pace and innovation to offset the heavier teams of 1A. The fast and skilful pack and sizzling backline, led by, probably the best outhalf (Conor Dean) in the AIL, this is a very realistic ambition. The players will have to compete with for places, but as shown by the exceptional camaraderie and integration of all the new players, they will compete but conflict. Again 1A can be attritional, and to thrive, a comprehensive squad is required to negotiate an 18 match league with possible play-offs. We have that and the back up to go with it. So let the games begin.
The game
After all the work, the surface looked pitch perfect. The entire club wore its best bib and tucker and with a crammed car park and flags fluttering in a gentle breeze, all was set fair. Clontarf FC are old rivals and strong friends and it was exciting to be facing them again in AIL 1A. Indeed, there was almost Santa Claus excitement flitting around the large crowd on the terrace. The day obliged and so all was ready. The game too obliged with an apposite encounter, packed with high tempo rugby and full and fair competition for favour and position. As expected, Clontarf were worthy competition, with a fast, heavy pack, strong scrum, a fine outhalf with a subtle boot, and adventurous back three. Their lineout had wobbles however, and they had a tendency to lose the ball in the tackle. That rustiness led to an inordinate number of scrums. In fact those scrums proved to be highly competitive, with the experience of the home front row (in spite of our star tight head Michael McCormack out injured), showing. The home team’s set pieces, generally were secure. The Marys pack was excellent with that brilliant backrow, including the welcome introduction of new school graduate, Aaron O’Brien during the game. A shiny new second row fitted in well, both worked hard. Lucas Culliton, showed that he was cut from the same quality cloth as his grandfather, the legendary International second row, Gerry Culliton. He was indomitable, skilful and extremely impressive. All his duties he carried out with aplomb. In the loose he was a battler and never a bottler. He has real pace and power and showed deft touches as well clever decision making. He never stopped grafting from the start to the finish, scored a superb try and clearly deserved the Manverton MoM Award.
Behind the scrum the halves showed their quality Deano cherishing the quality service from Richie Fahy. Mick O’Gara, often the unsung hero, fitted snugly with daunting Dan Goggin while the wings soared. Leandro is a tangle of eels. Mark Fogarty was mesmerising to watch with terpsichorean feet and beautiful balance. He has the power of surface missile and is fearless. He was brilliant today.
Well what do you expect with Conor Hayes behind ready to explode into action? He was his usual dazzling, dancing self and scored what well might have been the clincher, but for unfortunate fate.
You don’t want anyone to go off and still with the bench of brilliance, you cannot wait for introductions. No one could have been disappointed with either.
Scoring.
Both teams scored four tries each and one penalty goal each.
Tarf attacked strongly early on, but a poor lineout let Marys out, up field, and a quick tap went through hands to Mark Fogarty, who skittled his man and scored at the Cabbage Patch end, 7-0 from Mick O’Gara’s conversion.
There were high tempo interactions, swaying one way and the other until 26 minutes, when from a penalty just inside the Marys half, gave Clontarf a lineout inside the 22 and from the lineout a maul formed, which after an initial stall, got going and the powerful pack ran over the line and it was 7-7.
The half hour saw Mick O’Gara land a sweet penalty, 10-7. With Tarf doing likewise on 33 minutes, 10-10.
It was 37 minutes, when Conor Hayes took a ball, then once again Fogey made a bursting break; the recycled ball made ground through Lucas Culliton, then Leandro skimmed up the wing, an inside ball went back to Lucas, who hit the turbo, brushed off a tackler and zoomed along the edge with winger’s pace and scored at the Cabbage Patch end, wow, that was thriller. 17-10. Who thought we would not be comfortable in 1A? Soon it was the end of a half of fast fizzing rugby and a skip load of scrums.
The second half was equally exciting, on 47 minutes, Dan Goggin sliced through and linked with Lucas. He was stopped close in, and Marys put heavy pressure on the opposing line with drives, then when playing an advantage, Deano did his dink over to Fogey, who drew, and gave to pal Leandro, who used his power and punch to get over in Carvill Corner. 22-10.
51 minutes, Left wing King, scored a fine try for Tarf, 22-17.
Unfortunately, on 59 minutes, disaster struck. Our Captain, Ronan Watters, who was as usual, playing and leading with élan, was red carded for an illegal tackle. It was completely accidental but ended up requiring a sending off. Happily, the Tarf player was able to continue. Ronan was heartbroken.
Adding extra time, the team had then to play 27 minutes with 14 men against a heavy Clontarf team. Mission Impossible?
On 64 minutes from a penalty and lineout, Tarf mauled another try, 22-24. Marys kept playing with deep drive and desire and on 70 minutes after considerable pressure and skill, Deano did his business again with a delightful cross kick, and Conor Hayes again amazed, deftly whipping the ball from the air and whipping the defence to score in Carvill Corner. 27-24.
Of course, Tarf is a formidable outfit, and prodded with patience and power to get back. Time crawled on, Marys were holding well. Full Time on the clock, breaths were shortened and stertorous, both on the field and on the terraces, where the support for both sides was frantic and uplifting. This was a club rugby match in all its glory. The clock ticked laboriously on, then Tarf camped on the Marys’ line, bodies were flung, as a groyne, in the paths of Tarf Titans. Penalties started to mount up. More shudders and shakes from the faithful. Another penalty taken short, repulsed, then another penalty. Would they use their numbers up, to scrum on the line and pulverise us, or hold it in, then out to space? No, neither, they went short again. Defence was heroic, the battle of Thermopylae, did not rate. Again and again, the hot mass of bodies heaved and swayed in almost eternal effort. One more heave and Tarf had scored. A deep sigh hit the blue and rapture rent the Red in rhapsody.
An epic battle of two strong and sporting teams. We shall meet again along the line.
Epilogue.
We got a deserved two points from a try bonus point and one for within seven difference. We are up and running. There was a great deal to celebrate in overall rugby terms and in home team terms. We see the latent and kinetic talent and it clearly shows upwards. Most regrettably we well may be short our Skipper for a little while, but he will be there in support. We face two away matches, Armagh and Ballynahinch, before returning to our home. Last year you were marvellous, even turning up for away games when it was clear that we had achieved all goals. The same support is again called for if we want to be part of a great adventure, and to support a group of young men of character an honour, who will make our club proud. so like last season Come on and Roar on Ronan.
D O’Brien
Team
15 C Hayes, 14 M Fogarty, 13 D Goggin, 12 M O’Gara, 11 L Ramirez, 10 C Dean, 9 R Fahy, 8 R Foley, 7 R Watters (Capt.), 6 G Jones, 5 P Deeny, 4 L Culliton, 3 A Keating, 2 J Nelson-Murray, 1 T O’Reilly. 16 H Noonan, 17 J Reidy-Walsh, 18 E Baxter, 19 A O’Brien. 20 A McEvoy, 21 M Silvester.