St Mary’s College RFC V Young Munster RFC

35 22

Energia AIL Division 1 A

Templeville Road

Saturday 7th November 2026.

Overall

On another pet day for a rugby match, while the polar Meteorologists were predicting a future beast from the east, we were welcoming the best from the mid-west; Young Munster. Marty and Pokie had the surface at pitch perfect, while Shonagh had a queue for the brew just for the Kickz.

The President Stephen, in welcoming his counterpart, Pat McGrath and his entourage, mentioned that the last visit by YM was in March when they scored 22 points to our 20 and brought about a reboot that led to St Marys winning the AIL championship. This time YM again scored 22, but we scored 35 to earn a five-point win. We welcomed back two top players from injury, Jack Nelson-Murray, who looked sharp and scored two tries, and Conor Hayes at Fullback, who looked comfortable, but understandably, a little rusty, having missed a full season with a severe injury.

This was an entertaining fast paced, unpredictable, and sometimes, tantalising game. The home side hummed into action from the kick off, organised, sharp and fluent. At this stage, and for much of the first half, Young Munster looked subdued, a little disorganised and off pace; at times almost bemused. Those who had seen YM over three decades nigh on, knew this was not the way of the limerick club. And, sure enough their team responded second half with a tigerish transformation.

The home backline was a discombobulated by losing both star wingers, which necessitated a readjustment of the backline, Dan Goggin went from 8 to centre, Magic Myles went to the wing, Paul Neary came on as fullback and enjoyed a fine game. Conor Hayes switched to the other wing. Mark Hernan came into the backrow and once again showed his prodigious talent.

Marys played some superb rugby and well deserved their victory, with many commendable performances. However, the focus of action was between the packs, and when YM settled, the pack proved to be their metier and they challenged hard. The Marys’ six front row players were powerful and eager, and the second rowers once again delivered on all accounts, with Braemar excellent in the lineout and scoring a worthy try. Leaner also soared and enjoyed his rifling runs and hard carries. The backrow was as is its wont dictated the game’s direction. Ronan’s consistent brilliance and thudding tackling were major factors in the outcome and his ability to play across the backrow is a real bonus. Although not long part of the outfit, Michael Icely is settling in and today his contribution was invaluable. He was athletic and subtle in his approach, showing high skill levels and he carried with guile and penetrative power and was effective at the breakdown. He tackles hard and his support play and distribution was also effective. He was awarded the Manverton MoM Award (See Photo of Michael receiving his MoM Award from Gareth Logan)

Behind the pack, the halves and threequarters were excellent, running sybaritic vectors, and clearly enjoying the game. The forced positional changes altered the lilt of the game to an extent; and while having scored four tries in the first half were held to one by outstanding Mick O’Gara late in the second half. Young Munster scored three tries in the second half, none of which were converted.

It was a satisfying win and lifts us back up to second place, with 20 points on the table, behind joint first place Old Belvedere and Terenure on 22 points. They played out a 20-20 draw today.

Scoring.

We started at lightening pace and after only six minutes, following a penalty to JB’s Well corner (which in the future I will call JB Corner) we mauled from the line-out and Jack Nelcon Murray scored. 7-0. It was 12 minutes and a delicious cross kick right across field from Deano got to Leandro who flipped in at the Cabbage Patch Corner, 12-0. And only three minutes later after a superb Myles break from halfway, he passed on to Aaron who was just stopped short, the ball came back and after close passes Braemar shot through the cover to add a neat try. 21-0. On the half hour we had a maul outside the YM 22 and ran the maul to five metres out, hooker, Jack took the ball and zipped over. It was 28-0. It all looked so easy. However, just on half time YM broke from a lineout deep in our 22 and scrambled over so Half Time 28-7.

There was dramatic change in the visitors’ game, and they used the powerful forwards better and put on considerable pressure. They scored on 54 minutes and 60 minutes, 28-17. They missed two kickable conversions. On 76 minutes we had a lineout on the YM five M line, after a maul and several picks and drives, the ball went back in the opposite direction and Mick O’Gara who once more had been outstanding took a sharp vector and went over. He converted as he had soe with all but one, 35-17. Five minutes into injury time Young Munster wrapped up het scoring with a try to make it final score, 35-22.

There was a night of social revelry afterwards, with supporters of both teams mingling and enjoying the entertainment from veteran Rising Son, now a falling star but still brilliant, Declan Coleman, former club president and one tone scrumhalf.

There is a break now until 28th November when we entertain UCD who have 19 points, one behind us. They are free scoring this year and have fine team. It is expected that all injuries will have cleared we shall have a full selection. Then we go to Ollie Campbell Park to take on Old Belvedere and then finally we finish the first half of the league campaign by entertaining our friends from Co Down Ballynahinch.

Team15 C Hayes, 14 A O’Sullivan, 13 M Carey, 12 M O’Gara, 11 L Ramirez, 10 C Dean (Capt.), 9 R Fahy, 8 D Goggin, 7 M Icely, 6 R Watters, 5 B Murray, 4 Daniel Leane, 3 A Sparrow, 2 J Nelson-Murray, 1 O Michel. 16 S McLoughlin 17 T O’Reilly, 18 M McCormack,19 M Hernan, 20 R Gilsenan, 21 P Neary.

D O’Brien