AIL 25/26 Round 16 – Old Belvedere RFC V St Mary’s College RFC

Old Belvedere RFC V St Mary’s College RFC
21 – 14

Ollie Campbell Park
Anglesea Road
AIL Division 1 A

Saturday 21 st March 2026

Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.

Overall
Pre Match

On 2nd April 2011, I wrote above, when we were beaten by six point 25-19 by Old Belvedere RFC at Anglesea Road. Then last time we faced Belvo, in Ollie Campbell Park 27th January 2024, in 1B, we triumphed by two points, 33-35; all indicating that playing Belvo is always close, tough and hazardous. So it evolved today when we were beaten 21-14 by an excellent Belvedere team. However, a visit to Ollie Campbell Park and meeting Ollie and his hospitable rugby colleagues is always a pleasure. Like our own dear Templeville Road campus, the Lodge surrounds are presently, partly a construction site. But the sparkle of the sun and the 18°C made everything bright. It was good to see Ollie there in top form and chatting with a St Mary’s all-time Great Johnny Moloney.

Our popular president, Gareth Logan, had arranged for him and his entourage to wear odd socks in support of Down Syndrome Day. And Head Coach Mark McHugh had his players doing likewise. This was a well-received and novel intervention for a commendable cause. There were floral, Mickey Mouse, Celtic Design, Trumpian, Jessie Buckley and Tricolour ones on display as all and sundry showed a leg. Gareth also took time to praise the dedicated organiser of the St Mary’s Stars, Robbie O’Neill and his son Charlie O’Neill, the captain of the Stars team, who were there enjoying the match.

The pre-match lunch showed again the camaraderie of rugby folks and how well Gareth (Logie) and Belvo President Kevin O’Brien, get on, as they chatted during an enjoyable traditional lunch (B&C). Kevin was warm in his welcome and his encomium on Mary’s and Logie. Logie, who is an exceptional post-prandial speaker, emphasised the inter-club friendship and the importance of the club game in character and friendship building.

Although it was not the result he would have chosen, one of our current stars, Michael (Mighty Mick) McCormack, was playing his 100th AIL match. (He will be presented with his ceremonial Cap next week). It is hard to describe how important he is to his team and teammates. Michael is a most agreeable, personable and affable young man, who lets his performances speak for him. As noted before, with his outstanding ability, he has been temptingly wooed many times by other AIL clubs, by other franchises and provinces, as recently as this season. He has eschewed all and made it clear that he is a St. Mary’s Man with an indelible blue hue. He would prefer to support his teammates and his club to playing at the highest level. Today, he put in a tremendous performance, as he ever does. He is an exception in that more often than not, he plays a full 80 minutes. He is the tighthead with the right head for life; and all who support St Mary’s College, hope that Mighty Mick plays on to at least 200 Caps. Congratulations Michael!

The Game
There was a firm breeze blowing diagonally down the pitch towards the Road end, and St Mary’s played with the breeze in the first half. For the first 20 minutes or so, the visitors played mainly in the Belvo half and pressing hard, scoring a try after 17 minutes by Rob Gilsenan, who was prominent all game. From an attacking lineout near the Belvo line, the ball bounced up in front of Rob, he secured it deftly and stepped one, then went through a gap mid lineout and stepped another; then arced around the back to score close in, 0-7. As the half went on, things evened out. Belvo’ used their heavy pack to good effect. Mary’s game is a fast recycling wide game, which uses swift midfield passage, back three pace, and support play. The home side targeted that, as they swarmed the midfield and offloads to disrupt the flow. They gained more possession and after a smart intercept scored a neat equaliser in the 28th minute, making the score 7-7 at halftime. When an hour had
passed, Belvo’s Ryan scored a fine individual try, 14-7 and on 73 minutes, a sparkling break and try by Morgan Meredith put Belvo further ahead, 21-7, before a strong response by Marys saw the commendable loose head Oisin Michel get over in the 78th minute. And Mick O’Gara converted again to make the final score 21-14. Both teams had strong mauls and strong maul defence. In fact, the set pieces of both sides were sound, leading to long periods of stalemate, although there was never stagnation. Both sides frequently used the kick chase game with quality achieved.

As the score suggests, it was a close game; Belvo had the edge on the day. The coaches and squad will have sharpened up things for next Saturday’s V Young Munster and beyond. Mary’s have a particularly talented and strong team which has all the ability and composure to go all the way. Although everything did not go the way of the visitors today, there were some top performances. Amongst them and now in his third season, since joining, Leandro Ramirez has shown admirable ability, vigour and dedication. His amiable attitude on and off the pitch, as shown again today, is commendable and so is a very popular young man. He has a fine sense of position and space, almost always he makes ground with vicious vectors and twists; and he tackles relentlessly; one such tackle almost certainly saved a try today. Belvo bombarded him from above; he never flinched nor slipped, but reversed the pressure to the hosts. He had a very impressive game and deservedly received the Manverton MoM Award (See photo of him receiving his Manverton MoM award from Charlie O’Neill).

With just two more games to go before the already earned play-offs, all must re-focus and ensure they are at the zenith of their game. They will undoubtedly give an imposing account of themselves and although there is much yet to be done can rightly have highest expectations. This is when we, the supporters, are most needed. The remaining matches are all in Dublin, two at home, so forget rivers or brooks or even streams, and unless you are really incapacitated or unwell, get to the games. You have all seen how much strong support can help. 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 O Michel, 16 R Bergin, 17 T O’Reilly, 18 C Scott, 19 C Pierce, 20 S Kilgallen, 21 C Kennedy.

D O’Brien.