AIL 2025-2026 Round 3 – First XV V Old Belvedere FC
St Mary’s College RFC V Old Belvedere RFC
34 17
Energia AIL Division 1 A
Templeville Road
11th October 2025
Pre-Match
Whether the Lodge or Templeville Road, there is an aura of intense excitement and anticipation around the grounds before AIL matches. There is a friendship of ages going back to the times of the Belvo Beltons, Madigans, McAleeses, Karl Mullin and Tony O’Reilly, Lexie Tynan to Ollie Campbell; and Mary’s Matt Gilsenan, Joe Fanagan, Sean Cooke, Sean Lynch, John Moloney, Gracer, the Kennedys, Ciaran Fitzgerald to Paul Dean and so on. That makes for a most agreeable aggregation. It also makes the pre-match lunches bubble and sizzle when the Kennedys, Ollie et al, meet up and have a beautiful bash, and all mix together, the rugby aristocracy and the hoi polloi.
Great credit is due to Cathriona Pender, Jack Ebbs, Katie Conlon and Gillian Shakespeare who organise and run the lunches. The generous work they do for their club is essential to the social health of the club. It has to be said that the entire Pender, Ebbs and Conlon families contribute to all aspects of club activity.
The lunch today was reported to be up to the highest standard of cuisine, deportment and enjoyment, with impressive President Gareth Logan welcoming his counterpart Kevin O’Brien. They both swapped anecdotes and complimentary references to those bonds over the ages, and the continuing friendship and healthy rivalry on the pitch. It was good to see IRFU Vice President, genial Tony O’Beirne (Old Belvedere) there enjoying old friendships, which he averred, he most certainly did.
Overall
A calm day, before the bright blizzard of action that was the first half of this commendable match. That bright though sunless day seemed to heighten the match anticipation. Both teams leading the AIL, 1A, pack with 9 points each, were going to joust for that decisive top spot. The pace of the game was solar speed with both teams playing direct hard running rugby. It was a phantasmagoria of brilliant rugby with the Mary’s backs cleaving through. Myles Carey was a blue blur as he skimmed the turf with brilliant vectors. He was sensational. Unfortunately, he took a knee knock and had to go off temporarily, only to get a heavy hit to the head on return; and had to withdraw permanently. Mark Fogarty was as a vigilante as he picked up everything from loose balls to loose runners, once again he was titanium in the tackle and like an apoplectic antelope in attack. To have the piercing pace of Ruairi Shields in support is a bonus.
After five minutes, Mary’s ran the ball back, arrow like, through Aaron O’Sullivan, who every game is showing more why he was on the international 7s panel. The ball was taken up twice, then marvellous Mick O’Gara received the ball from a ruck, he swung it deftly to his skipper Deano, who made as though to pass out the back, prised a gap, he skipped through that gap at Mk1 and ran a scintillating slalom through the cover, he had the ever alert Rob Gilsenan up in support. Deano flicked it inside to Rob, who whipped through the cover to score close in.
Seldom will one have the pleasure to see the skill and judgement that try required by Conor Dean. He is the master of skill, ball control and game management. He always has space, time and precise wide vision. His passing ability is superlative. Today his strategic kicking and generalship was decisive in a very valuable victory. He received the Manverton MoM Award (See Photo of presentation by Ms Aoife O’Donnell). 
The try was converted by Mick O’Gara, who showed again today why he is the epitome of an unselfish 12. He just never stopped working in attack and defence, fearlessly, with top skill and punch. His place kicking is invaluable. Five minutes after that conversion, Mick kicked a penalty to make the score, 10-0. Belvo were not lying down with a Havana Roll, while all this was passing. They have a big mobile pack and run hard and straight. Their biggest problem today was their lineout performance; they could not catch a ball in a billiard frame. It was not all their fault. The value of Greg Jones is inestimable, He is of course a top quality player in tight and loose, a valuable leader and coach and is a genius-level strategist. His ability to direct lineouts, control mauls and line defence, is nearing preternatural. He was at his best today, a wonderful performance. Indeed all the pack shone brightly, rejoicing at having their iconic Ronan back, who had a rocket game. Added Josh and Dan made a phenomenal backrow. Oisin Michel is showing his quality, industry and adaptability and Jack Nelson-Murray had a most impressive game.
On 16 minutes Belvo’s David Wilkinson converted a penalty to keep in touch, 10-3
When it was 24 minutes gone, Greg led a sortie into the Belvo half, in a mixed high paced forwards/backs melange. It stopped 20 metres out, Deano made a piercing break almost to the Belvo line in the Gate corner. After two or three picks and drives, Mighty Mick McCormack broke out diagonally to the right, then with the pressure coming against him, he changed vector, used his and their power to veer to the left and over. Mick is another who has been pivotal over the last six or seven years to get Mary’s where they are now. He is in his pomp now and is a vital factor in the progress. He is a peerless scrummager in AIL rugby and has a presence that adds authenticity to the senior group. He has immense strength and stamina and so can play under the toughest conditions and grin. Mick O’Gara converted and brought the score to 17-3.
It was 29 minutes and Belvo’s winger Ryan made a break in his own half, kicked ahead, made a fine 50/22, Belvo followed up fast, alertly took a quick throw to 12, Leonard, who whizzed over from inside the 22 and Wilkinson converted, 17-10. It remained so to the end of the half. 17-10.
The second half was only three minutes old when a high tackle gave Mick a chance from just inside the Belvo half. Mick saw his kick sail through the Cabbage Patch end posts, and it was 20-10. However, on 55 minutes, Mary’s tried to run from behind the goal line and unfortunately lost the ball, Belvo swooped and it was a try under the posts and the score became 20-17. With the replacements came a period of slight destabilisation. We gave away a penalty close in, which Belvo failed to take advantage of. Cohesion and concentration returned to the home side as the replacements showed their high end value. We welcomed Andrew Sparrow, a former schools international Prop, with St Mary’s College and who had his first URC cameo for Leinster, in RSA.
Excitement was building and lots of clinks and shuffles and oohs from the clubhouse terraces, but no Marys-Marys-Marys this time. However, there was more joy for the home supporters on 70 minutes. Belvo had a throw in, in their 22. Mensa man Greg, plotted a pocket pick, and once again Mary’s won the ball and made progress; a few more drives and then from a ruck the ball was fed to Dan Goggin, he dummied and perfectly timed a ball to Mick O’Gara on a venomous vector, and he flashed in under the Cabbage Patch End posts. It was then 27-17.
Belvo don’t shy from work and of put even more zip to their game. They went on the attack and when frantically running from the halfway on 75 minutes, dispatched a pass. Ever alert Conor Dean, judged it, scooped it up and said, thank you very much, and scorched a track for the line. He left their speedsters, and scored a beautiful and winning bonus point try. Mick converted. We remained on the attack until the whistle, from the commendable referee, went for no side. It ended 34-17.
Post-Match Mingle
It was fine, mild afternoon, so after the raucous anthem, the players and parents and supporters mingled outside. It was good to see many of President Logan’s teammates from the 2012 Division 1, AIL winning group there, including the then Head Coach and former representative player Ciaran Potts. Other great players from former years, former Captain, Noel McCarthy and his son Nick (the Warrior) with his little son in arms, were present. Dr Barry O’Flanagan, another teammate from that team was there, busily looking after injured players along with physiotherapist, Davy (Dougal) Lyons.
A special (big, in all respects) supporter Tony Flynn, was there all the way from Scotland, chatting to Gareth Roche. Tony deserves great admiration for his dedication. He makes it to most matches, often having to travel to Cork or Ballynahinch or Limerick when he arrives from Scotland. To hear him sing is an aesthetic experience and to get to know him is a joy. Super Supporter!
The bars were packed. However, new Bar Manager, Padraig Fallon, had everything under control, great credit to him. The centenary Bar had an eclectic mix of happy Mary’s members and disappointed but sporting Old Belvedere members. The alickadoos of both sides leant on the counter in the far corner, both presidents in earnest and comradely chat. Several past presidents and captains were enjoying a red lemonade, including Niall Pelly, David Martin and Belvo’s Alan Fanagan (outstanding MC) with his cousins, the Mary’s Fanagans.
The sad news of the death Bennie Doyle of Terenure College RFC, was circulating, and all agreed, in a renowned rugby family, to lose Bennie was heart-breaking for his family, friends, Club and Club Rugby. Bennie was one of the finest after dinner speakers ever on the club circuit. In the era of Club dinner greats, Moss Keane, Doyler (Mick), Westy (John), Cruiser, the great Ned Thornton and Tony O’Reilly, Bennie was right up there, and he was the kindest of men, a wonderfully dedicated club man and a credit to himself and his club.
It had been a superb day of rugby and was to lead to a great night of camaraderie and craic. Your correspondent had to leave after the J1 match, so missed the late night revelry.
We shall vie again near the season’s end, with the knowledge that Belvo will be an even tougher proposition. Until then!
Meanwhile, after the first tranche of three matches, we sit on top of AIL 1A with 14 point. There is a week’s break, then we go to the Bowl to play UCD in a lightening game, before entertaining Cork Con at home 1st November. They both will be formidable opposition. So draw breath and get ready, get to Belfield and:-
Do it for Deano
Team (12 changes during the game)
15 R Shields, 14 M Fogarty, 13 M Carey, 12 M O’Gara, 11 A O’Sullivan, 10 C Dean (Capt.), 9 R Gilsenan, 8 D Goggin, 7 R Watters, 6 J Gimblett, 5 C Pierce, 4 G Jones, 3 M McCormack, 2 J Nelson-Murray, 1 O Michel, 16 R Bergin, 17 O Kearney, 18 A Sparrow, 19 D Leane, 20 F Burke, 21. L Ramirez.
D O’Brien
