J4 XV · Season archive
J4 XV — Season 2024/25
Metro League Division 8 champions: top of the table, then Bective Rangers beaten 44–5 in the final. Promoted to Division 7.
Metro League Division 8 champions: top of the table, then Bective Rangers beaten 44–5 in the final. Promoted to Division 7.
No team photo from 2024/25 has been identified yet. If you have one, please send it to archives@smcrfc.com.
St. Mary's score shown first. H = home, A = away, N = neutral venue.
| Date | Competition | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result | Venue and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/09/2024 | Metro Division 8 | De La Salle Palmerston | H | 50–0 | W | Templeville Road |
| 12/10/2024 | Metro Division 8 | Lansdowne | A | 31–15 | W | Claremont Road |
| 18/10/2024 | Metro Division 8 | Bective Rangers | H | 32–20 | W | Templeville Road |
| 02/11/2024 | Metro Division 8 | Railway Union | H | w/o | W | Templeville Road. Walkover: conceded by Railway Union |
| 09/11/2024 | Friendly | Old Belvedere | A | 27–7 | W | Ollie Campbell Park, Cabinteely. Old Belvedere started the season in Division 8 but withdrew from the league, so the result does not count in the table. The club stats workbook and 2025/26 membership book record it as a friendly. |
| 16/11/2024 | Metro Division 8 | Terenure | H | 57–7 | W | Templeville Road |
| 07/12/2024 | Metro Division 8 | Emerald Warriors | A | 39–35 | W | High School |
| 13/12/2024 | Metro Division 8 | De La Salle Palmerston | A | w/o | W | Kirwan Park. Walkover: conceded by De La Salle Palmerston |
| 18/01/2025 | Metro Division 8 | Lansdowne | H | 41–19 | W | Templeville Road |
| 08/02/2025 | Metro Division 8 | Railway Union | A | w/o | W | Park Ave. Walkover: conceded by Railway Union |
| 21/02/2025 | Metro Division 8 | Bective Rangers | A | 20–23 | L | Energia Park |
| 01/03/2025 | Metro Division 8 | Terenure | A | 61–10 | W | Lakelands |
| 22/03/2025 | Metro Division 8 | Emerald Warriors | H | 33–7 | W | Kenilworth Square. Game moved to Kenilworth Square (Leinster). |
| 29/03/2025 | Metro Division 8 final | Bective Rangers | H | 44–5 | W | Templeville Road. Division 8 final (play-off final) |
| 12/04/2025 | O'Connor Cup, 2nd round | Terenure | H | 61–12 | W | Templeville Road |
| 18/04/2025 | O'Connor Cup, semi-final | Lansdowne | A | 25–35 | L | Lansdowne Road |
Results come from the Leinster Rugby results archive (15), the club's statistics workbook (1). Where the Leinster record has a game, its score and date are used.
12/04/2025 v Terenure: Leinster calls the round '2nd Round'; the club stats workbook and the 2025/26 membership book call it the quarter-final
The O’Connor Cup is titled 'O Connor Cup (Metro J5)' in the Leinster record, 'O’CONNOR (J4) CUP' in the membership book
DLSP at home (27/09/2024): club stats workbook 65–5; Leinster 50–0
Terenure at home (16/11/2024): club stats workbook 76–7; Leinster 57–7
Terenure away (01/03/2025): club stats workbook 81–10; Leinster 61–10
Lansdowne at home: club stats workbook 17/01/2025; Leinster Saturday 18/01/2025
The Leinster record for this season has only the O’Connor Cup (two games); league results, the final and the table come from club sources (stats workbook, 2025/26 membership book, 29/03/2025 programme), which agree with each other on every league score.
Second successive Division 8 final; the 2026 programme describes it as 'winning Division 8'.
Three league games were walkovers in St. Mary's favour: Railway Union (H, 02/11/2024), DLSP (A, 13/12/2024) and Railway Union (A, 08/02/2025).
A friendly v Guinness at Iveagh Grounds on 21/09/2024 is listed in the club stats workbook as 'Game cancelled'.
The coaches' message recalls beating Bective Rangers in the 2024 O’Connor Cup final; the Chairman of Rugby notes both J3 and J4 reached their league finals in successive years.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | BP | Ded | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Mary's College | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 364 | 136 | +228 | 2 | 0 | 45 |
| 2 | Bective Rangers | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 403 | 130 | +273 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 3 | Emerald Warriors | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 293 | 280 | +13 | 2 | 0 | 29 |
| 4 | Lansdowne | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 339 | 217 | +122 | 2 | -4 | 25 |
| 5 | Terenure | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 186 | 438 | −252 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| 6 | DLSP | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 124 | 269 | −145 | 2 | -8 | 1 |
| 7 | Railway Union | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 151 | 390 | −239 | 2 | -8 | -3 |
Table from the club membership book 2025-26 (same figures in the 29/03/2025 programme).
Identical to the Leinster Rugby table. Old Belvedere withdrew from the league; Railway Union and De La Salle Palmerston were deducted 8 points each for conceding walkovers to St. Mary's and others, Lansdowne 4.
57 names. All players named in the J4 XV selections of the club stats workbook 'Statistics & Score details Season 2024-2025' (friendly, league, final and cup) plus the 29/03/2025 programme line-up.
No match reports from 2024/25 have been found. If you have any, please send them to archives@smcrfc.com.
13 line-ups, 13 with scorers. The source is given under each one. Click any match to open it.
27 Sep 2024 St. Mary's 50 De La Salle Palmerston 0 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Ayman Al-Frihat, 2 Aaron Doherty, 3 Conner Gunn, 4 Oran Reid, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Adam Faulkner, 7 Matthew Gallagher, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Jack Delaney, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Tom O'Neill, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 George O'Shea, 17 Jonah Hurley, 18 Eoin Keating, 19 Harry Fanning, 20 Lucas Weber, 21 Ryan Miller, 22 Ross Moore.
Scorers. Tries: Leo Faulkner, Matt Coughlan (4), Ross Moore, Thady McKeever (2), Jack Delaney, Harry Fanning. Conversions: Dara Lynch (2), Harry Fanning (4). Penalties: Dara Lynch.
From the club stats workbook.
12 Oct 2024 Lansdowne 15 St. Mary's 31 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Kieran Egan, 2 George O'Shea, 3 Ayman Al-Frihat, 4 Callan Carey, 5 Adam Faulkner, 6 Marius Nikrou, 7 John Luc Carvill, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Tom O'Neill, 15 Jack Delaney.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Doherty, 17 Darragh Stapleton, 18 Jack O'Kelly, 19 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 20 Conor Budds, 21 Ryan Miller.
Scorers. Tries: Thady McKeever (2), Tom O'Neill, Matt Coughlan, Kieran Egan. Conversions: Dara Lynch (3).
From the club stats workbook.
18 Oct 2024 St. Mary's 32 Bective Rangers 20 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Conner Gunn, 2 Aaron Doherty, 3 Ayman Al-Frihat, 4 Callan Carey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Marius Nikrou, 7 Matthew Gallagher, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Thady McKeever, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Ross Moore, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Tom O'Neill, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Gibbons, 17 Leon Potts, 18 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 19 Jack O'Kelly, 20 Dara Lynch, 21 Ryan Miller, 22 Andrew Gallagher.
Scorers. Tries: Leo Faulkner, Conor Budds, Matt Coughlan, Thady McKeever, Andrew Gallagher. Conversions: Thady McKeever (2). Penalties: Thady McKeever.
From the club stats workbook.
9 Nov 2024 Old Belvedere 7 St. Mary's 27 Won Friendly
St. Mary's: 1 Andrew Gibbons, 2 Marius Nikrou, 3 Conner Gunn, 4 Darragh Stapleton, 5 Jack Cosgrave, 6 Christopher Kane, 7 Matthew Gallagher, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Zac Doyle O'Brien, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Tom O'Neill, 15 Jack Delaney.
Replacements: 16 Hugo Lorente, 17 Aaron Doherty, 18 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 19 Conor Budds, 20 Ryan Miller, 21 Áron Harrington, 22 Alan McPhillips.
Scorers. Tries: Zac Doyle O'Brien, Leo Faulkner, Matt Coughlan, Thady McKeever. Conversions: Dara Lynch (2). Penalties: Dara Lynch.
From the club stats workbook.
16 Nov 2024 St. Mary's 57 Terenure 7 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Kieran Egan, 2 Marius Nikrou, 3 Andrew Gibbons, 4 Callan Carey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Adam Faulkner, 7 Matthew Gallagher, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Tom O'Neill, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Doherty, 17 Conner Gunn, 18 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 19 Richard Fagan, 20 Gary Lynch, 21 Conor Sheridan, 22 Ryan Miller.
Scorers. Tries: Conor Budds (3), Thady McKeever (2), Conor Quinn (2), Matt Coughlan, Adam Faulkner, Leo Faulkner, Gary Lynch, Marius Nikrou. Conversions: Dara Lynch (5), Thady McKeever (3).
From the club stats workbook.
7 Dec 2024 Emerald Warriors 35 St. Mary's 39 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Andrew Gibbons, 2 Aaron Doherty, 3 Conner Gunn, 4 Darragh Stapleton, 5 Hugo Lorente, 6 Kyle Heneghan, 7 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Conor Budds, 15 Jack Delaney.
Replacements: 16 Ayman Al-Frihat, 17 George O'Shea, 18 Callan Carey, 19 Conor Sheridan, 20 James Casey, 21 Andrew Gallagher, 22 Ryan Miller.
Scorers. Tries: Daniel McGill, Callan Carey, Kyle Heneghan, Thady McKeever, Conor Budds (2). Conversions: Dara Lynch (3). Penalties: Dara Lynch.
From the club stats workbook.
17 Jan 2025 St. Mary's v Lansdowne
St. Mary's: 1 Andrew Gibbons, 2 George O'Shea, 3 Kieran Egan, 4 Gordon Tracey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Marius Nikrou, 7 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 8 Adam Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Tom O'Neill, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Matt Coughlan, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 Jack Cosgrave, 17 Daragh O'Donoghue, 18 Christian McAlinden, 19 Jack Delaney.
Scorers. Tries: Conor Quinn, Matt Coughlan, Thady McKeever (2), Jack Delaney. Conversions: Dara Lynch (2). Penalties: Dara Lynch (4).
From the club stats workbook.
21 Feb 2025 Bective Rangers 23 St. Mary's 20 Lost Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Andrew Gibbons, 2 Marius Nikrou, 3 Cian Carolan, 4 Callan Carey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Gordon Tracey, 7 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 8 Matthew Gallagher, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Tom O'Neill, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Matt Coughlan, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 George O'Shea, 17 Aaron Doherty, 18 Dominic Coyle, 19 Alex Ryan, 20 Jack Levins, 21 Ryan Miller, 22 Jack O'Mahony.
Scorers. Tries: Thady McKeever, Matt Coughlan. Conversions: Dara Lynch, Thady McKeever. Penalties: Dara Lynch (2).
From the club stats workbook.
1 Mar 2025 Terenure 10 St. Mary's 61 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Conner Gunn, 2 George O'Shea, 3 Aaron Doherty, 4 Gordon Tracey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Marius Nikrou, 7 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 8 Matthew Gallagher, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Gary Lynch, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Matt Coughlan, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 Andre Christie, 17 Eoghán Pender, 18 Matthew Kennedy, 19 Ryan Miller, 20 Andrew Gallagher, 21 Cal Gray.
Scorers. Tries: Conor Quinn (3), Thady McKeever (2), Matt Coughlan, Daniel McGill, Gordon Tracey, Marius Nikrou, Aaron Doherty, George O'Shea, Cal Gray. Conversions: Dara Lynch (9). Penalties: Dara Lynch.
From the club stats workbook.
22 Mar 2025 St. Mary's 33 Emerald Warriors 7 Won Metro Division 8
St. Mary's: 1 Conner Gunn, 2 Andrew Gibbons, 3 Aaron Doherty, 4 Callan Carey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Marius Nikrou, 7 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 8 Gordon Tracey, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Tom O'Neill, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Matt Coughlan, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 George O'Shea, 17 Alex Ryan, 18 Matthew Kennedy, 19 Ryan Miller, 20 Andrew Gallagher, 21 Dominic Coyle, 22 David Dixon.
Scorers. Tries: Thady McKeever (4). Conversions: Dara Lynch (2). Penalties: Dara Lynch (3).
From the club stats workbook.
29 Mar 2025 St. Mary's 44 Bective Rangers 5 Won Metro Division 8 final
St. Mary's: 1 Kieran Egan, 2 Marius Nikrou, 3 Andrew Gibbons, 4 Adam Faulkner, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Gordon Tracey, 7 Matthew Gallagher, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Tom O'Neill, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Matt Coughlan, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 George O'Shea, 17 Aaron Doherty, 18 Callan Carey, 19 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 20 Alex Ryan, 21 Jack Delaney, 22 Ryan Miller.
Scorers. Tries: Conor Budds (3), Dara Lynch, penalty try, Callan Carey, Leo Faulkner. Conversions: Dara Lynch (2). Penalties: Dara Lynch.
From the club stats workbook.
12 Apr 2025 St. Mary's 61 Terenure 12 Won O'Connor Cup, 2nd round
St. Mary's: 1 Kieran Egan, 2 Marius Nikrou, 3 Andrew Gibbons, 4 Callan Carey, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Gordon Tracey, 7 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Ryan Miller, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Matt Coughlan, 15 Lee Byrne.
Replacements: 16 George O'Shea, 17 Conner Gunn, 18 David Dixon, 19 James Casey, 20 Tom O'Neill.
Scorers. Tries: Thady McKeever (4), Matt Coughlan (3), Tom O'Neill, Marius Nikrou. Conversions: Dara Lynch (8).
From the club stats workbook.
18 Apr 2025 Lansdowne 35 St. Mary's 25 Lost O'Connor Cup, semi-final
St. Mary's: 1 Kieran Egan, 2 Marius Nikrou, 3 Andrew Gibbons, 4 Adam Faulkner, 5 Darragh Stapleton, 6 Matthew Gallagher, 7 Gordon Tracey, 8 Leo Faulkner, 9 Conor Quinn, 10 Dara Lynch, 11 Matt Coughlan, 12 Thady McKeever, 13 Daniel McGill, 14 Tom O'Neill, 15 Conor Budds.
Replacements: 16 George O'Shea, 17 Conner Gunn, 18 Callan Carey, 19 Kyle Corrigan Dromgoole, 20 Alex Ryan, 21 Andrew Gallagher, 22 Ryan Miller.
Scorers. Tries: Gordon Tracey (2), Leo Faulkner, George O'Shea. Conversions: Thady McKeever. Penalties: Dara Lynch.
From the club stats workbook.
Reviews, previews, programme messages and other pieces from the season, as written at the time.
2024/25 Message from the President (Division 8 final programme, 29/03/2025)
Source: SMCRFC J4 v Bective - 29.03.2025.
I would like to wish the best of luck to captain Thady McKeever and the rest of our J4s as they take on Bective Rangers FC in the Metro League - Division 8 on Saturday. You have been guided with passion and skill by head coach and club stalworth Dave Gardner, ably assisted with just as much dedication by Ciaran Murphy, Fran Pender and John Miller. And all backed up by the indefatigable club men Richie Fagan and Chris O’Connor. What a great top of the table finish to the league and playing the final in front of a home crowd, well done lads. Your rugby club is fully behind you, rooting for the success you so richly deserve. Bring it home lads! “Three cheers blue and white”.
Paudge McGill, President
2024/25 Message from the Chairman of Rugby (Division 8 final programme, 29/03/2025)
Source: SMCRFC J4 v Bective - 29.03.2025.
Wishing the J4s all the best in their league final against Bective. What a fantastic season you guys have had to date under coaches Dave G, Fran, John & Ciaran and expertly captained by Thady. For both teams of the squad to make their league finals in successive years with the Metro leagues as they are is an unbelievable achievement. The whole club will be there to support you guys hopefully get that deserved and overdue league win!
Alan Shirley, Chairman of Rugby
2024/25 Message from the J4 XV captain (Division 8 final programme, 29/03/2025)
Source: SMCRFC J4 v Bective - 29.03.2025.
St Mary’s for the second year in a row have ascended to the Division 8 final—a magnificent milestone that underscores the team’s indomitable spirit, exceptional talent, and relentless dedication. I extend my best wishes to a fabulous Bective Rangers side for what promises to be a riveting contest, thank you to all the supporters for coming down and I encourage you to grab a drink in the bar and enjoy what promises to be a spectacular final.
Thady McKeever, Captain J4 XV
2024/25 Message from the J4 XV coaches (Division 8 final programme, 29/03/2025)
Source: SMCRFC J4 v Bective - 29.03.2025.
So here we are, less than a year after the disappointment of a loss to Tullamore RFC in the 2024 Division 8 Final, back in the 2025 Division 8 Final.
This year we face familiar foes in Bective Rangers RFC, who we had the honour of facing in the O’Connor Cup Final in 2024 and following a titanic battle overcame to win the Cup.
The lads set a goal at the start of the season to win Division 8 this year following our narrow defeat last year. It is testament to the fortitude and character of the players they have pushed themselves to achieve this and now stand the cusp of fulfilling this goal.
St. Mary’s and Bective have a great relationship and affinity at this level with seldom more than a single score between us over the past several seasons.
So, whatever the result come Saturday evening no doubt we will share a drink in the bar after.
Fran Pender & John Miller, Coach J4 XV