AIL 25/26 Round 14 – Cork Constitution FC V St Mary’s College RFC
Cork Constitution FC V St Mary’s College RFC
19 – 57
Energia AIL Division 1 A
Temple Hill
Saturday, 28th February 2026
Overall
To describe adequately this day and its true and psychological, seismological significance, is beyond the wit of mere man. It was an apotheosis for Skipper Conor Dean, his 21 players and each member of the squad, and our distinguished Head Coach Mark McHugh, his colleagues, Jamie, Greg, Jack, Tommer and Modser, DoR Alan Shirley, the Senior Manager Paul Pender, his colleagues, Conor O’Neill, Paul
Conlon and Harry Ebbs.
Since AIL commenced in 1990-91, playing Cork Con, (who won the inaugural year) has always been daunting and difficult. Never has a St. Mary’s team reached such heights nor scored so liberally V Con. This is no criticism of Con but a true comment on St. Mary’s for whom no encomium could suffice. Con were without five members of their squad and below form, yet never stopped fighting to the end, but all taken into account, and that our brilliant top try scorer, Myles Carey, was out injured. This was a coruscating, ebullient and sparkling performance which hit the stratosphere on all counts. From first whistle to last it was a breathtaking and effervescent brilliance. St. Mary’s outplayed, outscored, and out-muscled their hosts. Never has the lineout been better with Greg steering it smoothly and Jack Nelson-Murray’s playing superbly with his throwing-in, uncanny. The scrums were incessantly and ruthlessly dominant, with Mighty Mick a rampant Colossus, with Jack linking and Tommer, again a Hyper Hippo as he swept all in front of him in scrum and in open play. He never took a backwards step and was in every tight play, moving mauls and sweeping men aside. He is a highly valuable player, leader and example. It has to be noted that with the astounding performances of every player, it was excruciatingly close and difficult to select a player but when every factor was taken in account.
Tommer O’Reilly was deservedly awarded the Manverton MoM Award, (see photo of Tommer receiving the Manverton MoM Award from Liam Birkett) Note: Liam, a former president, player and committee man, is retiring from his position as club trustee after 16 years, he made a major contribution to the club and its wellbeing over 60 years—See Liam, Do I know you? 2020 -21 yearbook and website archive.
The balance in this team is a vital factor in its effectiveness and why we can rightly aspire to further success. The second row, where real intelligence as opposed to AI, lurks in the form of superb Greg Jones and his partner, Daniel Leane, working, plotting and effecting mayhem in lineouts and mauls and rucking and into breaking attacks, Greg made a major role in achieving this most significant win. Daniel too; he slipped a lovely offload to Ruairi, who zipped in to score. It is a joy to see dashing Daniel electrically loping along like an antelope.
Exemplifying again today, why they are the best backrow in AIL, we witnessed an extraordinary performance, with perfect harmony in action, and each one, Josh, Ronan and Dan equally terrifying, as they crashed through covered or crushed attackers or swooped on balls, or lifted or leapt; a perfect team within a team, indefatigable. Dan was ahead of international thinking, in being exceptional as a centre and as a backrow forward. He was again today. To think we had two extra back five players today on the bench, Conor Pierce and Exocet Ethan Baxter, who came on in the second half and were brilliant and both scored excellent tries. How fortunate we are too, to have top-class Richie and the Oisins to come in and continue at the same hypersonic level.
Behind the scrum, Rob Gilsenan reached new heights and had a marvellous game today. His pace around the field, and his long, accurate service allowed his skipper space. Rob’s kicking was good and he scored a notable try and was unfortunately thwarted in two flying efforts by a foot tipping the touchline. Skipper Conor, once more was masterful, he controlled the game with precision, his kicking was excellent with raking cross kicks, kick-chases and a few Deano Dinks, His defence too, was excellent, locking his lane, still clearly the best AIL outhalf!
Top Scorer in 1A Mick O’Gara continued as he has been all season, irreplaceable. You could see how much he enjoys his game, he was ever seeking work and was up in support of Aaron to score the first try after just under two minutes, he thrives both going forward and has granite defence, he would be a joy to play along-side and how he takes hits for the cause, a top teammate.
Watching Aaron O’Sullivan rapidly grow back into 15 aside, from 7s has been exciting, for he is full of pace, grace and talent. The way he plays showed that he would be a natural 13, that slanted glide. Now, when two super stars Myles and Mark (Fogey) are out, Aaron has been called on to fill that onerous role. He stepped up and took it in his stride, with a sparkler of a game. His defence was recondite and he had the Con defence bemused. When the game was less than two minutes old, after a lineout and maul, the ball came out near halfway, Deano had the ball he held it a mili-sec, Aaron took the most delightful vector, he was at Mk1 as he burst through the defence and made it inside the Con 22, Mick O’G was up and Aaron feinted slightly, drew the man and fed Mick who sprinted in under the posts, what a start!
Young U20 star winger Zach Hopkins got a deserved start today, with his admirably enthusiastic parents there in support. he revelled in the experience. He had a very fine game, excellent under high balls with sound defence, his pace and positioning was a worry for Con and he scored a most impressive try just after half time, when Josh made a rampaging run out of defence, then the ball was kicked ahead and alert and flying Zach zoomed from 40 M out, leaving the defence in his wake. His compatriot Leandro on the left wing was full of energy and terpsichorean feet as he danced through defences, while his own defence was top-class as it ever is. He was most unfortunate when he caught a cross kick from Deano near the corner he freed himself from the attention of two, twisted and acrobatically sailed cover in the corner, only to have touched the line on the way.
It has been marvellous
to watch Ruairi Shields at 15, grow in confidence and efficacy each game. He had a highly commendable game today, using his pace and acceleration to cut down runners and make gaps. He scored two tries with alacrity. The first after nine minutes, from a smart offload from Leaner using his pace on the outside, The second came on 28 mins from Aaron who made ground and space, then fed Ruairi who whizzed in between two defenders and over.
Of special and happy note, was seeing Craig Kennedy come on, he showed himself sharp and ready, and contributed handsomely, including giving a super off-load when tackled. This led to a try. Craig has had over two years of arduous rehabilitation after a horrendous injury; it was especially good that his dad, the great Frank, was there to see his return.
As said, Con never gave in, scored three tries, and were striving for a fourth, which they failed to obtain. They will be back. And soon. We can be elated having scored nine tries, one a penalty try just before half time when we were swamping the line. There was elation but no gloating; we all know well how very quickly the situation can be reversed. However, the players and supporters deserved to celebrate their tremendous win. Nobody deserved it more than Head Coach Mark, who is rightly revered by his charges but never seeks limelight nor acclamation. He was benignly smiling in the background, and deserving it all the more for all that, the President Gareth with his vice Stephen Shirley and junior vice president Gerry Hassett (les trois copains) were chatting and luxuriating in the glow along with team management Paul Pender et al. The work they all do is key to the strong position the club is now in, in all respects.
With three coach loads arriving at Temple Hill and a series of mini rugby games between Con and Mary’s getting going at 11.00 the club grounds were flooded with people, once again this trend for these AIL events, to become almost festivals of rugby, and healthy interactions between clubs and individuals. In that regard, it was inspiring for the young people to see former great St Mary’s Lions Paul Dean (and former president), happily watching the match together with former inter-pro rival and international teammate, Michael Bradley of Cork Con. It was also great to see, from a top St Mary’s family, one of our greatest ever international players and leaders, Shane Jennings, looking as though he was ready to take the field. This type of support is genuinely inspiring. There were several former presidents who had made the trip, Kevin Conboy, John Gilsenan, Liam Birkett, Spike, Rynner and Frank Kennedy. As ever the parents’ brigade, led by Brian and Laura Watters were there; also Gerry McCormack, Mylo Carey, John Gilsenan, the Hopkins, the Scotts, and many more. Mick the Medium and his gang were there, Des Jackson, who like Victor O’Connor, now lives in the Cork area, was there and great supporter, Prof Mick Farrell was down watching his grandson play for Con minis.
St Marys remain top of the table ahead of Clontarf. Terenure and Lansdowne are in third and fourth. The next game on 7th March is against UCD at home, and then we travel to Old Belvedere on 21st March, with Yong Munster then calling on 28th, and finally we face off with Tarf at Clontarf, 4th. You must attend it is no hardship, all are in Dublin, so: Do it for Deano!
Team (12 changes during the game) 15 R Shields, 14 Z Hopkins, 13 A O’Sullivan, 12 M O’Gara, 11 L Ramirez, 10 C Dean (Capt.), 9 R Gilsenan, 8 D Goggin, 7 R Watters, 6 J Gimblett, 5 D Leane, 4 G Jones, 3 M McCormack, 2 J Nelson-Murray, 1 T O’Reilly, 16 R Bergin, 17 O Michel, 18 O Kearney, 19 C Pierce, 20 E Baxter, 21 C Kennedy.
D O’Brien.
