J5 XV — Season 2007/08

Source: J5 Season 2007-08.

When the season report for the J5s was being written at this stage last year by Ian Grimson, a number of aims for the team were set. Number one was to try and get a team competing on a regular basis. That aim was successfully achieved as numbers at training at the start of the season exceeded expectation. As a result we were able to enter a J5 league team. As no league existed at our level we were entered in the J4 league. From the outset this was going to be a very difficult challenge, especially as we had players of varied experience.

As expected the league turned out to be hard going for us playing against very tough and experienced sides. Despite this, we were delighted that we had a few highlight during our league campaign. We achieved our first win in early December against Tallaght. In awfully conditions this was a great performance by the team, with tackling of a high level. This was followed up before Christmas with a strong pack performance in the defeat of Wanderers.

After Christmas we again had mixed results. Notably a great team performance in the victory over Newbridge. We finished off the league with a draw away to Wanderers in a game we should have won.

Like most of the club this season, we suffered badly from injuries. We had two very serious injuries that let to retirements. Ian Grimson [was injured] at home to Cill Dara in January. Ed Farrell [was injured] at home to Tallaght in February. At this point I would like to thank both of the lads for their effort and commitment during the season. I would like to wish them well in their recovery.

In comparison to the lads the rest of the injuries we suffered we minor. Notably in the same match as Ed, Andy Fitzpatrick [was injured]. Thankfully he was back by the end of the season. I [was injured] at home to Belvo in early February. I missed a lot of the league but made it back for our last game in the O’Connor Cup.

Not a whole lot to report from our involvement in the O’Connor Cup. This cup competition really frustrated us. We were drawn in a pool with Barnhall and Bective. Unfortunately we had very little time between both games. Both games were against two side of a higher standard. The Barnhall game ended on a worrying note when flanker James Hynes [was injured] in contact. Thankfully it did not turn out to be serious. With a lot of sore bodies the Bective game was just a matter of fulfilling a fixture.

We had two events to round off the season, the D.P. Smyth J5 Blitz and then the tour to Cologne.

The day of the D. P. Smyth J5 Blitz started off with showers in the morning. The rain kept away in the afternoon to make it an enjoyable day. The running of the event thankfully went according to plan, although the overall result didn’t.

Five teams took part on the day. Terenure, CYM, Accenture and two Mary’s team. The five teams played two games each with the top two going into the final and the others playing in a play off.

Terenure and CYM made it into the final. The play off was a mixture of both Mary’s teams and Accenture. Accenture won the play off. The main final was a very close and competitive game that was won by a strong Terenure side by two points.

I would like to thank all teams for coming down on the day and making it a success. In particular I would like to thank the referees Dave Donohue and Carl O’Meara. Thanks to the MC for the presentation, Pyner.

We are grateful to the Smyth Family for putting forward this cup. Next season we hope to win the cup back from Terenure and have it in its rightful place inside the club.

I had help from a few different people throughout the season. I would like to thank Niall Brophy who came on board as coach at the end of the season. I would also like to thank some of the senior players for their help. Ronan Foley, Ian Grimson, Alan Kibble and Stephen Walkin.

I chose the J5 player of the season based on his involvement in the team throughout the whole season. This season the player I chose only took up the game this year. He showed continuous improved in every game he played. The more he played the better he got and he became one of my main team players. I gave this award to Anthony O’Hanlon.

I look forward to being involved with this team again next season. There are a number of aims for the season ahead. Firstly we would like to maintain a lot of the players that joined us last season. Following on from that we would like to attract some players in a few key positions that we lacked last season. Going into the new season we know we will be partaking in the J4 league. We plan to improve on our 3 wins and 1 draw from this season by challenging for a play off stop. We aim to win a trophy in the new season.

Maurice Davin J5 Captain

Source: J5 Tour to Cologne 2008.

17 players travelled to Cologne over the bank holiday weekend. 15 members of the J5s and 2 from the J4s. We were over to take part in the Cologne Crusaders Cup.

As we made our way out to the ground on the Saturday, the weather was super. Blue skies and bright sun. The competition got under way early in the morning. Teams taking part in the competition were ASV Cologne, Barbarians (made up of Cologne 2nds and guests), Paris Olympic, Northolt RFC and Mosely Colts.

Our first game was against English side Northolt. They had a very big pack which put us under a lot of pressure throughout both half of 10 mins. In the end we lost 5-0. We had chances to score but just couldn’t take them.

Our second game was under the midday sun against the hosts Cologne. We matched them all through the game. We played our best rugby in this game. In the end Cologne managed to score and take the game 7-0.

We were put into the quarters finals against the French. We struggled to put 15 players out on the pitch for this one. Dehydration, exhaustion and injuries had taken their toll on us at this stage. We lost 14-0 to Paris who had a much bigger squad and put on a lot of subs.

The twenty year old side Mosely Colts from Birmingham ran away with the competition. Clearly too strong a side for this competition.

We enjoyed the competition despite the intense heat and injuries.

On the Sunday we joined up Northolt to play a few games. Only about 8 of the lads played as the rest were all carrying injuries from the day before. First game was a combined Mary’s and some Northolt players against the rest of the Northolt side. Game was won by the side with our guys.

Following that there was a German league game between Cologne 2nds and another German side. Later on after this game a combined Lions team of Mary’s and Northolt played the other German team. After a very close game it was won by the Lions. The centre on this German team first learned how to play rugby when he attended 5th year down in Mary’s school.

It turned into a very enjoyable trip.

Squad: Maurice Davin (Mossy) Tour Captain, Paul (The Great) Whyte, Ronan (Axel) Foley, Stephen Walkin, James Nolan, David Cryan, Alan (Doctor) Kibble, Stephen (Pancake) Cushen, Colum O’Keeffe, James (Beefoot) Hynes, Joe Burke, Colin Burkely, Rob (Smokey) Ryan, Andrew Fitzpatrick (Andreas), Conor Quinlivan, Chris Doyle (Old Man River) and John (Psycho) Kelly.