St. Mary's College RFC — Club Timeline
The milestones, 1900 to the present day — from the first trophy to champions of Ireland.
St. Mary's College RFC was founded in September 1900. This timeline picks out the milestones of the years since — from the first trophy in 1905, through senior status, the closure and the revival of 1932, the All-Ireland League title that crowned the centenary season, and on to three All-Ireland titles in all — the most recent at the Aviva Stadium in 2026.
For the full story behind these milestones, see A Little Bit About St. Mary's College RFC.
The club's Centenary Book provided the records up to and including season 1999/2000, including its 100 Years – 100 Trophies table. Everything from 2000/01 onward is drawn from the club's season-by-season honours records. Major honours are marked in blue.
This timeline picks out the main highlights and milestones rather than every season. The club lay closed from 1917 to 1931, and that period is marked as such. If you can add to any year, please write to archives@smcrfc.com.
1900–1909
The Beginnings
The club is founded
St. Mary's College RFC is formed in September 1900, as the College celebrates its first decade. Two years earlier the first group of past pupils had come together to form a Union.
First trophy
St. Mary's win the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup, beating Kilkenny County in the final at Lansdowne Road on 15 April 1905 — the club's first ever trophy.
Junior Cup again
A second Leinster Junior Challenge Cup.
Third Junior Cup
The Leinster Junior Challenge Cup is retained.
1910–1916
Senior Status & A New Era
Senior status and a new ground
In the summer of 1911 the Leinster Branch accepts St. Mary's into the senior ranks. The club leases the "Footballers' Field" off Beaver Row, Donnybrook, from 1 October 1911. A fourth Leinster Junior Challenge Cup is also won.
First senior football
The first St. Mary's team to play senior football takes the field in the 1911–12 season.
1917–1931
The Club Lay Closed
1917–1931 — the club lay closed
St. Mary's College RFC did not operate during these years. The club lay dormant until the revival of 1932, when meetings were reorganised and contact re-established with the people who would bring it back to life.
1932–1939
The Revival
The revival
After lying dormant, the club is revived in 1932. The Kimmage Grove pavilion and 'Tea Room' become the club's home, in an era when farms still extended across Fortfield.
1940–1949
Seniority Restored
Seniority restored
Senior status returns. The Seconds, with an almost completely new line-up, beat Wanderers 13–3 to win the Metropolitan Cup again. An unofficial Ladies' Committee is established.
Moran Cup — inaugural winners
St. Mary's become the first club to win the Moran Cup, Matt Gilsenan's unbeaten 3rd A XV averaging 30 points a game and beating Wanderers 9–3 in the final. The J2 League is won too.
1950–1959
The Fateful Fifties
New grounds
New grounds are purchased adjacent to Kimmage Grove. Two of the men most responsible for the move die within weeks of one another, neither living to see it completed.
First Leinster Senior Cup
St. Mary's win the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time, beating a strongly favoured Blackrock at Lansdowne Road. Joe Fanagan captains the side.
1960–1969
The Sizzling Sixties
O'Connell Cup — first win
Bill Gray captains the only club team to win a trophy that season — the club's first O'Connell Cup. The Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup is also won.
Winters Cup — inaugural winners
St. Mary's are the first name on the new Col. Winters Memorial Cup, Steve Tracey's 3B XV beating Blackrock in the final. The J2 League and Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup are also won.
A memorable final
THE event of the year is the Leinster Senior Cup final. The Irish Times called it a final deserving "to be remembered and discussed for many years to come".
1970–1979
A Club on the Move
Four trophies
The Metropolitan Cup (J1) — a first win in the competition for 17 years — plus the McCorry Cup (U19), Greenlea Cup (J7) and Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup.
The greatest year to date
International recognition arrives: Denis Hickie and Sean Lynch become the first St. Mary's men capped for Ireland. The Leinster Senior Cup, Metropolitan Cup, McCorry Cup and Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup are all won.
Senior League success
The Leinster Senior League is won, along with the Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup. Tony Hickie captains the club in 1972–73.
Leinster Senior Cup
The Leinster Senior Cup returns to Templeville Road.
Centenary Club Championship
John Moloney receives the Centenary Club Championship of Ireland plaque — a unique trophy marking the IRFU centenary. The Leinster Senior Cup is retained. The Under 21s, captained by Derek Early, win the inaugural Des Merry Cup.
O'Connor Cup — first win
Frank O'Rourke captains the J5s to the club's first O'Connor Cup, beating Wanderers 12–6 — the only trophy won by the club that season.
Three trophies
The O'Connor Cup is retained by Brendan Spring's J5s, with the J4 League and the inaugural Fox Cup (J6) also won.
Ten trophies and a trip to Russia
The richest harvest in the club's history. The Leinster Senior League, Winters Cup, Greenlea Cup and Guilfoyle Cup are all won, and the J1s complete a marvellous double in the Junior League and Metropolitan Cup — the latter for the first time in 68 years. Johnny Moloney captains Ireland through the Championship.
Five trophies
The Moran Cup and J3 League double — the club's first, and a first Moran Cup in 29 years — under captain Niall Woodcock, coached by Paddy Moran. The O'Connor Cup, Greenlea Cup and Guilfoyle Cup are also won.
1980–1989
International Honours
Senior League and more
The Leinster Senior League, O'Connell Cup, J2 League and Guilfoyle Cup are won.
Six trophies and an Irish captain
Ciaran Fitzgerald captains Ireland to the Triple Crown. The Moran Cup and J3 League double, plus the J4 League, O'Connor Cup, Guilfoyle Cup and Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup.
Another Irish captain
Fanning captains Ireland. The Metropolitan Cup and the club's fifth O'Connell Cup are won.
Three trophies
The J1 League, J3 League and Greenlea Cup.
Senior Cup and the first World Cup
The Leinster Senior Cup is won, along with the J3 League. The inaugural Rugby World Cup takes place.
Three trophies
The J2 League, Moran Cup and J3 League — a J3 double.
Four trophies
The Leinster Senior League, Winters Cup, J4 League and Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup.
1990–2000
The Nineties & All-Ireland Victory
Three trophies
The O'Connell Cup, J3 League and Winters Cup.
The Pope comes to St. Mary's
Four trophies: the O'Connell Cup, J2 League, J4 League and Greenlea Cup. The number of helpers needed to run the club has grown substantially.
Five trophies
The J1 League, O'Connell Cup, J2 League, O'Connor Cup and Greenlea Cup — including a J2 Cup and League double.
That match against Young Munster
Whatever else the year brought, 1993 is the year St. Mary's remember for the match against Young Munster. The Leinster Senior Cup, J1 League and O'Connor Cup are won, and Victor Costello arrives.
Six trophies
The Metropolitan Cup, Moran Cup, J3 League, O'Connor Cup, Fox Cup and Lorcan Sherlock Golf Cup.
Eighth Leinster Senior Cup
The club's eighth Leinster Senior Cup. The O'Connell Cup, J2 League, J4 League and Greenlea Cup are also won. The game goes 'Open' — the Rugby Board abandons amateurism.
Four trophies
The O'Connell Cup, J3 League, Winters Cup and J4 League — the Winters Cup completing a J4 double under Kevin Lum.
Four St. Mary's backs in the Irish XV
A notable international season. The Leinster Senior League, O'Connell Cup, J2 League and J3 League are won.
Four trophies
The Metropolitan Cup, J1 League, O'Connell Cup and J2 League.
All-Ireland victory
The club wins the All Ireland League Division 1 and the Floodlit Cup, along with the Moran Cup — a centenary year crowned with the club's greatest prize.
2001–2010
A New Century
Heineken League and a Lions tourist
Paul Dean's presidential year, with Victor Costello captain of the club. The J1s won the Heineken League, beating DLSP, and the J5s took the D.P. Smyth. Malcolm O'Kelly toured with the British & Irish Lions, with Emmet Byrne, Denis Hickie and O'Kelly all capped by Ireland.
Five trophies across the club
A broad haul under president Declan Coleman: the J2 League (beating Blackrock), the Fox Cup, the McCorry Cup (beating Terenure), the D.P. Smyth and festival wins at Old Wesley and Stradbrook.
Four trophies and a Sevens title
The J1 League section, the J3 League, the Fox Cup, the Pennant League and the All-Ireland Pennant Cup, plus the Dublin University Centenary Sevens.
Leinster Senior Cup
The 1st XV won the Leddin Finance Leinster Senior Cup, beating DLSP in the final — the club's ninth. David Clare captained the club.
J1 League and McCorry Cup
John McWeeney captained the club to the J1 League and the McCorry Cup.
Promotion and a clean sweep of leagues
The AIL Division 2 section was won, along with the J1 League, the Presidents Cup, the Fox Cup and the All-Ireland Bowl.
Six trophies — a bumper season
Philip Brophy's year as club captain brought the AIL Division 2 title, the J1 League, the J2 League and O'Connell Cup double, the Winters Cup and the Fox Cup.
Senior League Cup and two junior cups
The 1st XV won the Leinster Senior League Cup, beating Old Belvedere. The J2s retained the O'Connell Cup against Blackrock and the J3s won the Moran Cup, beating Terenure 10–0.
2011–2026
Champions of Ireland & The Modern Era
Metro Cup and the All-Ireland Plate
The League Cup was won 29–21 against Old Belvedere and the Metro Cup 29–6 over UCD, with the All-Ireland Plate taken 19–7 against City of Derry.
All-Ireland League Division 1A champions
The club's second All-Ireland League title — the 1st XV won AIL Division 1A under club captain Hugh Hogan. The J5s took the O'Connor Cup, beating Clontarf after extra time. Sean Cronin, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings and Jonathan Sexton all played for Ireland.
Senior League Cup and the O'Connell Cup double
Richard Sweeney captained the club. The Leinster Senior League Cup and Metro Cup were both won against Lansdowne, and the J2s completed a league and cup double, beating Stillorgan in the Albert O'Connell final.
Three league titles and the O'Connell Cup
Darragh Fanning captained the club. Metro League Divisions 1, 3 and 5 were all won, along with the Albert O'Connell J2 Cup and the All-Ireland Plate.
Moran Cup and the All-Ireland Plate
The J3s won the Moran Cup, beating Terenure 32–9. The U20s took the J.P. Fanagan Premier League and the Purcell Cup.
AIL Division 1B champions
The 1st XV won Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1B. The women's side won the All-Ireland Plate, the J3s the Moran Cup, and the U20s both the J.P. Fanagan Premier League and the Purcell Cup.
Two league titles and the Purcell Cup
Metro League Divisions 6 and 11 were won, with the D.P. Smyth Blitz and the U20 Purcell Cup also taken.
Promotion to AIL Division 1A
The 1st XV won Energia AIL Division 1B and were promoted to Division 1A. The J1s won Metro League Premier 2 and the J3s Metro League Division 7, both promoted. The J4s won the O'Connor Cup. Jonathan Sexton captained Ireland at the Rugby World Cup, with Caelan Doris also in the squad.
Metro League Division 8 champions
The J4s won Metro League Division 8 against Bective Rangers, with the U20s taking the J.P. Fanagan Premier 2 section.
All-Ireland League Division 1A champions
St. Mary's were crowned champions of Ireland for the third time, beating Clontarf 46–31 in the final at the Aviva Stadium on 26 April 2026. The side reached the final by beating Terenure 20–13 at Templeville Road, having finished the regular season with big wins over Cork Constitution (57–19), UCD (59–12) and Nenagh (49–27).