1st XV v Cork Constitution (H) AIL Semi Final by D. O’Brien – 19.04.2025
St Mary’s College RFC V Cork Constitution RFC
8 16
Energia AIL Division 1A
Semi-final
2nd V 3rd
Templeville Road
Saturday 19th April 2025
Overall
A torrent of mixed emotions, smiles and tears all coalescing to spell out a battle of epic proportions between two soaring sides, with millimetres mattering. This was a worthy match of second in the final league table V third. Both sides were unremitting and served up a treasure to savour, and preserve in the emotional annals.
In spite of two days of unrelenting rain the grounds were sparkling and all facets were in place. Big praise is due to Gary Croke, John Bainbridge, John Stapleton and their team. Every AIL game they stand for over three hours, manning the gates and dealing with the public, some of whom can be difficult in many ways. They miss much of the matches and contribute greatly. The scent of burgers and coffee, the sight of face painters and flag sellers along with the excited babble added to the stirring nerves.
Inside President Paudge McGill and Cork Constitution’s President Charlie Murphy shared anecdotes and swapped special life mementoes of their shared season. The crowd swelled, rivalling Dundrum Centre’s Christmas Eve, as the marshalled clubhouse exits spewed out fans. Soon Ronnie McBrien was announcing teams and kind advice. A tremor, a frisson rippled through the heaving terraces and we were off, in one of the most important matches Templeville Road has witnessed in nigh on 55 years. Whee! Although there was mist there was no rain during the game.
On the terraces a mighty crowd murmured, and stirred, then with deep throated roars and chants and counter chants and songs and oohs and aahs. Mirabile Dictu, this was rugby rapture. Two clans mingling in joust, vigorous and vociferous but never vicious or unsporting. Their colours raised, they were flying proudly. This continued all game. That is the valued virtue of rugby union.
The first half produced a fine offensive defensive performance by the home side led by heroic Skipper Ronan, who has been one of the most iconic captains in our history and is an equally fine player and person. The visitors edged the possession and they used their big runners well. These were scythed down, they were flailed, they were propelled backwards, driven earthwards. Our ruckers were hitting Mk1 on the clean. This gave possession and the backs were running piercing vectors. The backs en bloc were sharp and were unfortunate not to score a number of times. The scrums were well contested by both sides with the front row of Tommer O’Reilly, Jack Nelson Murray and Mighty Mick McCormack, shading it. Whenever Con set up their vaunted maul, Greg Jones plotted, organised and effected an adamantine defence. His organisation of the Marys’ own mauls was excellent, one of which gave the opportunity to Ethan to drive off the back and score in the Well Corner. That was with nine minutes gone. Greg also organised the lineout to ensure Marys put pressure on the Con throw, and with Jack, to ensure a highly successful afternoon on their own throw. Additionally, Greg’s own lineout contribution was notable and he had a very fine game all round. His contribution in several ways during this match, as it has been throughout the season, was invaluable and so he was awarded the semi-final bonus Manverton MoM Award. (See Photo of popular and regular Scottish, Marys Supporter, Tony Flynn presenting the Award to Greg)
Ethan had to withdraw on the half hour from a recurrence of a hamstring strain. Luckily, top performer Lucas Culliton was ready for action and came on; he joined athletic Daniel Leane, who was working to drop, in the second row and Greg went to Six. Dan Goggin was having an impressive first half too, keeping pressure on the Con defence. Con did not wilt and kept working hard using their big runners and moving the ball as it fell. Their highly regarded outhalf James Taylor converted a penalty on 36 minutes. The earlier try meant the half ended 5-3 with the signs propitious for the second.
Unfortunately, brilliant hard tacklers in the modern game can become victims of their own success. Marys were most unfortunate to lose invaluable Skipper Ronan, to a very harsh yellow before half time. We lost Conor Hayes to a yellow in the second half. This meant Marys were without two outstanding players for a quarter of the game, playing with 14 men. That could never be easy against a team of Cork Con’s credentials. Clever deployment of forces by Mark et al managed the situation commendably. Unfortunately, we did not do well with decisions today.
As the second half commenced there seemed reason to be cautiously optimistic and indeed even when down to 14 we were putting on pressure and containing affairs well. However, when 15 minutes were gone, Con got a breakthrough after a lineout, and the captain and Number 8 David Hyland, was on hand to gallop over at the Cabbage Patch End to make the score 5-10. They added a penalty on 64 minutes and Conor Hayes pulled one back on 67 minutes, 8-13. The Marys crowd were in full voice and supported their team with thunderous roars at every chance and Rynner led Marys-Marys Marys! We missed a few opportunities from play, but it was Con who struck again with Taylor adding three more points before the end, 8-16 was how it ended and really we could not complain. Con were worthy winners and deserve their final place V Clontarf.
We must however, spare a thought for Mark McHugh and Ronan especially, the intensity of their work and dedication over three years have been sensational and no matter how sporting, it is a spear in the heart. Likewise it is painful for each in the squad and all involved, Jamie, Marcus, Robert and Eanna. Alan who has been DoR for ten years now, and has been part of the development all along he is suffering as are Paul Pender, Conor O’Neill, Paul Conlon, Harry Ebbs and Darren Walker and Garry Manning. We know your love for the club will rekindle the fire of desire. You can all be proud.
The nature of club friendships rose after the game with the bars rattling and stories prattling, and waves through crowds, and forgotten names, and coffee forbidden. It was especially good to see families there relaxed. Tony, as he has for many years now did herculean work in serving and organising the bars, Bob McHugh was busy too. Gillian was also up to her ears in it, as were Comms Bronagh Logan and Rebecca Edgeworth, also Deirdre Stapleton and Catherina Pender, all ensuring the evening went smoothly. As the club has evolved, we have been most fortunate in the involvement of women in our club. Marvellous Marie Hammond admired throughout the rugby world, erudite Aoife O’Donnell our first Hon Secretary, Pearl Healy Child Welfare Officer. Sarah Brennan-Fallon Women’s Rugby Director, Sue Carty in IRFU. VP Gareth Logan, JVP Stephen Shirley, Hon Sec Gavin McConnell, and Treasurer ubiquitous Mossy Davin (also Social media and Archivist) were there as usual working.
Later there was a presentation to a special Marys’ Man, Ian Bloomer. He has been our dedicated Fourth Official and Referee Liaison Officer (RLO) for many years now. He is stepping down as Fourth Official, but fortunately will remain as RLO, where is greatly appreciated by the referees. His charm, hospitality and tact are enviable. He is handing over the Fourth Official role to Paul Conlon.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
Yes, again thank you team and squad and coaches and managers, ancillaries, presidents, DoR, RC, sponsors and committees, volunteers and supporters and well-wishers. Yes Thank you team, thank you for two years with the feel of two months. Thank you for the anticipations, the fears, thank you for the held breaths, weak knees, tippy-toes, heads down, breathless excitement, precipitous pulse, heart rush, thank you for smiles and cheers, freezing fears and hot flushes and the odd tear. And special thanks for embracing your supporters with generous interaction and appreciation. You are gentlemen, you are battlers, you are artists; you are fearless fighters and peerless sportsmen. You have brought us uplifting joy and hope. You have given us pride and you deserve that same pride, which may have been equalled but never surpassed. And how well your predecessors have reacted to you. It was inspiring to see great St Marys’ sportsmen of the past all there to support their successors. Among those from earlier years, of course were JB Sweeney and Frank Kennedy, superb Lions scrumhalf and winger, John Moloney, International Terry Kennedy, Charlie Barry, John Muldoon, Kevin Potts, Arthur McEvoy (who is father of fast developing scrum half in the match day panel Adam), Johnny Kennedy (who is father of promising young winger Stephen), Niall O’Brien (who is father of highly promising and pre-Christmas star Aaron still out injured, but there with his teammates) Kevin Conboy, David Donoghue, Brent Pope and the great Steven Hennessy. From the first club AIL victory in 2000, Lion and superb athlete Denis Hickie, also peerless Peter Smyth, Philip Lynch and John McWeeney. Later times, Alan Shirley now our Director of Rugby. Our marvellous bunch from the victorious 2012 AIL team were there, including Paul (Nasher) Nash, Dr Barry O’Flanagan, John and David Kilbride, Mark Donnellan, Dr Richard Sweeney, Conor Hogan. And of 2012 players closely associated with the present squad, Robert Sweeney and Marcus O’Driscoll (Now Coaches) and Vice President Gareth Logan were needless to say all there. Remember, current star Tommer O’Reilly was in the wider 2012 squad. Those noted from more recent times were David Fanagan, Nick (The Warrior) McCarthy and Richard Halpin. That was just a glimpse of the tremendous turnout of players, as well as the hundreds of supporters and volunteers who keep the club alive. Some of them, fresh from yesterday’s super clean up in the rain, led by Senior Manager Paul Pender (plus family) and VP Gareth Logan (plus family). All season, Aaron Hudson (House and Grounds Officer) has kept the club campus in top condition. He was there too, to lend his considerable power and experience to the job. They cleaned and polished and picked and scraped and clipped. Professor Mick Farrell even came on his bike.
This wonderful meandering path to now, is not the end of a journey but to the start of a sustainable, full club embracing, highway to continuing success at all levels and sectors, and a confident prosperous future. So thank you all.
Please see the message from our Head Coach and former Outhalf and 2000, AIL winner
Message from Head Coach Mark McHugh
Head Coach Mark McHugh: “On behalf of the senior squad, a massive thank you to everyone behind the scenes in the club who supported us this year. We are devastated that we couldn’t repay your faith and support by giving you a final appearance in the Aviva. But rest assured that preparations have already begun for an assault on next season’s AIL and following a few weeks rest we will be back out on pitch making sure we are as well prepared as possible. We will be leaving no stone unturned in our quest to make you proud of our team and our great team.
To everyone who turned out on the terraces of Templeville Road and beyond to cheer us on, thank you.”
Team (12 changes during the game) (note 8 substitutes as it is a semi-final)
15 C Hayes, 14 M Fogarty, 13 M Carey, 12 M O’Gara, 11 M Silvester, 10 C Dean 9 R Fahy, 8 D Goggin, 7 E Baxter, 6 R Watters (Capt.), 5 G Jones, 4 D Leane, 3 M McCormack, 2 J Nelson-Murray, 1 T O’Reilly, 16 R Bergin, 17 C Scott, 18 C Pierce, 19 L Culliton, 20 A O’Neill, 21 A McEvoy, 22 A Keating 23, L Ramirez.
D O’Brien
A personal thank you to all who have accepted and supported me in many ways over the years; those who kindly spotted errors in text and have troubled to read, sometimes boring reports. I have enjoyed doing the reports for the website since it was first formed and previously when required for the hard copy newsletters. Thank you for joining in the fun of odd words and for putting up with me. D.