Mid Season Review – How are we doing halfway through our 125th year?

A look around;

How are we doing halfway through our 125th year?

When you look around the grounds at Templeville Road, and have been visiting over the past number of seasons, you see subtle changes happening all the time. You see a new tarmac surface (gone are the craters), new floodlights, new pitch surfaces, a new parking system, a new Sauna, a new coffee dock, new embryonic Paddle Courts, trees pruned and so on. Indoor changes such as new décor and new floors are other manifestations of change. These outer changes are manifestations of endogenous changes in systems and situations. There has been realisation that the future must be ensured and sustainable methods of achievement in place. Our club has always been a progressive, harmonious amalgam of players, supporters, men, women, old, young, locals, community members, urbanites, ruralites, easterners, southerners, westerners, northerners. This makes for hybrid vigour of thought and ambition and has helped lead to such a spiritually, healthy Mary’s community. The Club Zeitgeist is happy positivity. Never has there been a more uplifting and egalitarian membership.

Those in leadership roles in all aspects of club activity, from administrative to playing, to societal, to maintenance, have combined to bring about this happy situation. We are of course a rugby club and playing rugby football is our raison d’ȇtre. However, doing so involves a lot of necessary and dedicated work by a great number of volunteers. The leadership of the club has been prescient and diligent. The current group is exemplary. President Logan, Vice President Stephen Shirley and Junior Vice President Gerry Hassett have a remarkably portentous and
synchronous relationship that leads to firm actions and outcomes. Their inter-relationships with the Chairperson, Management Group, Trustees and Committee are dynamic. The coordination and working relationships with the various groups and roles is clear and effective. The Rugby Group or Council, under the experienced and talented Rugby Director/Chair, Alan Shirley and sub-units, is humming; and it is
showing with happy success at all levels from U6s to Senior 1s. (The personnel with various roles and responsibilities are to be found on the club website, also in the membership Booklet and in the article, The 1.25 Season. Further information can be gleaned through our most effective and obliging Head of Comms, Bronagh Logan and ubiquitous archivist Maurice Davin).

Looking below and seeing the current position of the senior team, it is clear that the Coaching, Management and the Player group, are outstanding. Dedicated Head Coach Mark McHugh can take enormous credit and pride from the brilliant way he has developed the squad, the playing system, style and skill and with the marvellous Club Captain Conor (Deano) Dean, the phenomenal spirit and camaraderie, which
has shone through on and off the pitch. The experience and ability of Coach Jamie Cornett is invaluable, and the abilities of specialist coaches Greg Jones, Tommer O’Reilly, Jack McGrath and S&C Marcus O’Driscoll shine through; all together a hard working happy unit.

Part 1 of Energia AIL 1A

St Mary’s College RFC 32 V Clontarf FC 21. On 27th September, our campaign kicked off, on a mild day and conditions the home team loves. They made good use of it and were handsome winners. Dan Goggin was Manverton MoM. There was a big lunch attendance, and there was fine crowd from Clontarf there to mingle in cheering, and giving the game the appropriate atmosphere for the first AIL game of the season. We recall that we ended 2nd on the table last season.

The club remembered sadly and proudly former great Stephen (Jemmo) Jameson, who had suddenly died recently. His memory inspired the team to a brilliant performance and a great start.

A week later, Saturday 4th October 2025 we went travelling to Tom Clifford Park to play Young Munster RFC where without several big players and we beat the home side 8 -15. We have vivid memories of the intense rivalry of the 90s. Our captain, Conor Dean, received his 100th AIL cap, and Conor Pierce had a signal game to receive the Manverton MoM Award. Onward we marched.

Then on 11th October Old Belvedere came calling in a top of table joust, when on another fine mild day Mark McHugh’s lads cut loose to earn five points and win by 34-17. Skipper, Conor Dean, gave an imperious performance to receive the Manverton MoM Award. Today too, we remembered Bennie Doyle, a great Terenure man and an old Mary’s friend, who had sadly just died; an outstanding after-dinner speaker. We were now the clear leader.

We had a short break, then on Saturday 26 th October 2025, it was our turn to visit friends, when we went to the UCD Bowl. It was not only a bonanza of whiz rugby but a visit of high societal magnificence. Our President, Gareth Logan, is shining in his role and impressing his presidential colleagues. Today, however, as Gareth was away on business, his vice president, Stephen Shirley, stood in; and in his own right lit up the scene. Once again, we prevailed, having gone well ahead in the first half, and holding off what we expect, the usual second-half UCD rally. We won 24-45 and our Mensa Man, and player coach, Greg Jones, guided us to another five points, and a grip on the number 1 spot on the table. He received the Manverton MoM Award.

Saturday 1st November 2025, Cork Con came to say hello and stayed long enough to give us a fright, but on the other hand, bring out the grit and confidence in Mark’s team, when an outstanding kick in the dying minutes from MoM, Mick O’Gara, won the game 27-26. Narrow escape!! Each week we witness how exceptionally important Mick is. We had to do for a long period this game without brilliant Skipper
and outhalf, Conor Dean. Young, promising Aaron O’Neil stood in and honed his skills. So we drew breath and marched proudly on at the top of the league.

Saturday 15th November 2025, Terenure College RFC, at Lakelands Park, entertained St Mary’s College RFC. It was in the wake of a storm and played on a heavy pitch, but we got the wakeup call, as our near neighbours and biggest rivals inflicted our first defeat of the league this season. The score, 14-12 was a fair reflection of the game, although we will look forward with relish to the return in the New Year. Josh Gimblett has been a revelation since he came to us. He is a big very strong man, quiet and composed, but with the hard edge needed to be a superb Six, which he is. He demonstrated that ability that day and was awarded the Manverton MoM Award. We reigned top.

Saturday 29th November 2025, Nenagh Ormond RFC visited us for the first game at any level between the two clubs. Being newly promoted they were settling in and although we scored well and had an impressive win, Nenagh look to have potential for the division but will need some time to acclimatise and fortify their resources. They defended well with a big pack and strong spirit. The final score of 49-15 kept us
ahead of the pack, and it was good to make new sporting friends. There were many fine performances; however, Myles Carey, who had an
exhilarating game, was a joy to watch. Most deservedly received the Manverton MoM Award, to add to his Centenary Cap, which he gained that match, to the tumultuous acclaim of his fellow players. That score consolidated further the position as top of AIL Division 1A.

6th December 2025 was when we visited our special friends, Ballynahinch in beautiful Co. Down and were welcomed warmly. Unfortunately, it was a day of driving rain. A feature was the impressive scrummaging of the St. Mary’s pack, which frequently drove Hinch backwards. Another feature was the outstanding and non-stop performance of the former, three in a row Skipper, Ronan Watters. He scored both tries, one in each half. The first one required astounding balance, skill, power and sheer determination. He received the Manverton MoM Award. And on we marched, now just ahead of Clontarf.

The last game of the first half of the AIL league campaign on 13th December saw us entertain old rivals and fast-improving Lansdowne. It was a day of gale-force winds. This coincided with our Christmas Party and saw the club seat over 330 guests for lunch, with the atmosphere stratospheric and bubbling. This time we were on the wrong side of a 0-14 loss. Lansdowne had a strong pack and played the conditions
better than the home side. This was the first home loss and a little nudge to note, and we will! We had some strong battling performances, with one from Daniel Leane, which merited admiration and the Manverton MoM Award.

The AIL Division 1A table is available on: – Irish Rugby | League Tables

In our 125th year of existence, we continue to be an exhilarating team in a vibrant club, and will be ready on Friday 9th January 2026 when we visit Lansdowne in an evening match on that 4G, astro-turf back pitch.

Everybody in every role or niche deserves a very relaxed and joyous season ahead. Wishing everyone involved, including all our vital supporters, a coruscating Christmas.

D O’Brien