St. Mary's College RFC & The Metro Cup
The Metropolitan Cup: eleven wins for St. Mary's, from the 1st XV of 1940 to the J1s of 2013.
The Metropolitan Cup was introduced in 1921/22 for clubs within 18 miles of the GPO, and is today the Leinster cup for J1 (second XV) sides. St. Mary's first won it in 1940, when the club was still a junior club and the 1st XV took the cup. From 1941 it has been the competition of "the Seconds", the J1s.
St. Mary's have won the Metro Cup 11 times, most recently in 2011, as part of the J1 treble, and 2013. Below are the finals, the club's recent campaigns, and the J1's other cups and league titles.
If you have photographs, programmes, team lists or memories of any of these teams, please send them to archives@smcrfc.com.
Click any final for what we know.
1940 Dermot Smyth — beat UCD 6–3 Won
St. Mary's were still a junior club in 1939/40, so the club's first Metropolitan Cup was won by the 1st XV, captained by Dermot Smyth (later President of the club and of the Leinster Branch, and the man behind the D.P. Smyth trophy).
St. Mary's: A. Norton; P. Meehan, D. Smyth (capt.), P. Branagan, T. Bergin; A. Kelly, B. Arigho; J. Walker, L. Ganter, J. Ganter, J. Quigley, C. Mangan, M. Collison, T. Boyd, J. Meaney.
The D.P. Smyth Blitz →1941 Pierse Scott — beat Wanderers 13–3 Won
The cup was retained by the Seconds, "with an almost completely new line-up", as the club regained senior status.
1953 Andy Bolger — beat Bective Rangers 3–0 Won
Team photo: Back: J. Maher, D. Corrigan, J. Hughes, D. O'Brien, D. Blake, K. Wall, A. Cusack, V. McGovern. Centre: R. Whitty, T. Fearon, A. Bolger (Capt.), J. Byrne, D. Pigot. Front: D. Duffy, D. O'Sullivan.
Still needed: the date of the final.
1963 Lost to UCD after extra time Runners-up
"UCD also foiled the 2nd XV in extra time in the final of the Metropolitan Cup", in the same season that UCD beat the 1st XV in the Senior Cup final.
1970 George Hook — beat Terenure College 11–8 Won
The first Metropolitan Cup for 17 years, won on 14 April 1970 against "Terenure's all-conquering Junior League champions".
Team photo: P. Bolger (President), R. Foley, G. Fanning, C. Ryan, J. Murray, M. Rigney, T. McCormick, V. McGovern (Coach); G. O'Hagan, D. Jennings, A. Andreucetti, G. Hook (Capt.), M. Jones, C. O'Connell, F. Meehan; E. Mullen, J. Kinahan.
1971 Eamonn Mullan — beat Terenure College 16–8 Won
Team photo: President P.J. Bolger, captain E. Mullan, coach W. Gray. Back: W. Gray, N. Woodcock, T. Deering, C. Ryan, R. Foley, M. Glynn, R. Rigney, D. Mullan, P.J. Bolger. Front: C. O'Connell, J. McDonnell, D. Moloughney, E. Mullan, D. Jennings, S. Finlay, T. Young. Inset: G. Hook.
Managed by Bill Gray, the J1s retained the cup and went on to win the Leinster President's Plaque, beating Skerries 8–6. With the Senior Cup and McCorry Cup, 1971 was the club's "unique treble".
1978 Cathal Sweeney — beat Old Wesley 7–0 in a replay Won
After a 9–9 draw, the J1s won the replay 7–0 to complete the club's first Junior League and Metropolitan Cup double, in the season St. Mary's won ten trophies. Coach S. Jennings, manager D. Nagle.
Team photo, Junior League and Metropolitan Cup winners 1977-78: S. Jennings (Coach), G. Ebbs, F. O'Dea, P. O'Reilly, T. Young, D. O'Brien, E. Kavanagh, D. Deering, T. McGovern, D. Jennings, D. Nagle (Manager); J. Lynch, D. O'Connor, D. Hooper, C. Sweeney (Capt.), T.W. Brooder (President), D. Earley, L. Grissing, D. Howard; J. Greene, L. Naughton.
1985 Jim McShane & D. O'Connor — beat Wanderers 9–6 Won
The club's seventh Metropolitan Cup. The club records list both Jim McShane and D. O'Connor as captain; coach R. O'Connor, manager T. McGovern, President Ken Sparrow. The J1s then beat Arklow 20–6 for the Leinster President's Plaque.
Team photo: T. McGovern, P. Opperman, W. Mills, F. O'Dea, D. Brennan, D. Murphy, P. McGill, S. Deering, R. O'Connor; D. Quigley, F. Kennedy, P. Flood, D. O'Connor, J. McShane (Captain), R. Sloan, D. Gillen, J. Coman.
1994 Michael McLoughlin — beat Suttonians 26–16 after extra time Won
Played on Monday 2 May 1994, when "the J1s brought the Metropolitan Cup back to Templeville Road". Coaches Jim McShane and Derry O'Connor, manager D. O'Brien.
Replacements: Hugh Mullins, Paul Norris, Frank Fitzgerald, Niall O'Brien, Paul Whelan.
Still needed: a team photograph.
1998 Eugene Gibney — beat Blackrock College 13–12 after extra time Won
The Heineken Metropolitan Cup final at Lakelands on Friday 8 May 1998 completed a J1 double, after the Junior League, and the press noted it was the club's 91st Leinster Branch trophy, one ahead of Lansdowne. Normal time ended level at two penalties each, Fergal Campion kicking for St. Mary's. David Lynagh kicked two more penalties for Blackrock in extra time before centre Davy Lyons scored the only try, converted by Richie Ormond, to win it.
From the newspaper, Saturday 9 May 1998
St. Mary's: R. Ormond; R. Nowlan, E. Gibney (capt.), D. Lyons, K. McNamee; F. Campion, J. Kilbride; R. Lynch, P. Power, T. Brennan, M. McInerney, D. Burke, S. O'Neill, G. Quinn, K. Jennings. Replacement: S. Conlon for McInerney in extra time. Referee: W. Sheridan.
Eugene Gibney captained the side in the final. The centenary history names Eoin McCormack as the 1997/98 J1 League captain; the two may have captained at different stages of the season.
2003 Alan Shirley — runners-up Runners-up
Still needed: the opponents and the score.
2004 Runners-up Runners-up
Still needed: the opponents, the score and the captain.
2011 Mark Donnellan — beat UCD 29–6 Won
The Newstalk Metropolitan Cup final at Donnybrook on 20 April 2011 was the second leg of the J1 treble: the Metro J1 League Section A, the Metropolitan Cup and the Leinster Senior Seconds League Cup. Coaches Steven Hennessy and Jonathan Garth, manager Patrick Crawford.
| Round 1 | Coolmine 17–37 St. Mary's (20 Feb 2011) |
| Round 2 | St. Mary's 37–6 Lansdowne |
| Quarter-final | St. Mary's 28–21 Bective Rangers |
| Semi-final | Old Belvedere 15–18 St. Mary's (at Seapoint) |
| Final | St. Mary's 29–6 UCD (Donnybrook) |
2013 Mark Donnellan — beat Lansdowne 23–18 Won
Team photo, J1 League and Cup double winners 2012-13: Back: Gareth Roche (Assistant Manager), Jonathan Garth (Coach), Ray Crotty, Mark Fallon, Peter Starrett, Neil Murphy, Mark Darby, Rory O'Donovan, Thomas O'Reilly, Shane Kearney, Paudge McGill (Manager). Front: Hugh MacDonnell, Ian O'Neill, Michael Fanagan (Club President), Conor Donohoe, Christopher Lilly, Matt Bailey.
Photos from the final →The 98FM Metropolitan Cup final at Donnybrook on Sunday 21 April 2013, part of a J1 double with the Section A league. Manager Paudge McGill, coach Jonathan Garth.
| Round 2 | St. Mary's 47–21 Coolmine |
| Round 3 | Dublin University 14–56 St. Mary's (3 Apr 2013) |
| Semi-final | St. Mary's 21–19 Clontarf (at Barnhall) |
| Final | St. Mary's 23–18 Lansdowne (21 Apr 2013, Donnybrook) |
Still needed: the team for the final and the captain on the day.
From the club records and, from 2006/07, Leinster Rugby's results. St. Mary's score first.
| Season | Reached | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2001/02 | Round 2 | |
| 2002/03 | Runners-up | |
| 2003/04 | Runners-up | |
| 2005/06 | Semi-final | |
| 2006/07 | Semi-final | 28–7 Greystones, 37–8 Monkstown, 40–7 Suttonians; SF lost 9–32 to Clontarf |
| 2007/08 | Round 3 | 45–5 MU Barnhall; lost 0–16 to Seapoint |
| 2008/09 | Round 2 | Lost 7–10 to Old Wesley |
| 2009/10 | Round 1 | Lost 3–9 to Blackrock College; Metro Plate round 1 lost 22–28 to Clontarf |
| 2010/11 | Winners | Beat UCD 29–6 in the final |
| 2011/12 | Round 1 | Lost 29–31 to Clontarf |
| 2012/13 | Winners | Beat Lansdowne 23–18 in the final |
| 2013/14 | Round 2 | Lost 6–30 to UCD; went on to win the Metro Plate |
| 2014/15 | Round 2 | Lost 17–28 to Lansdowne |
| 2015/16 | Semi-final | Suttonians conceded, 31–20 DLSP, 24–15 Old Belvedere; SF lost 11–35 to Terenure |
| 2016/17 | Round 1 | Lost 13–25 to Clontarf; Metro Plate runners-up |
| 2017/18 | Round 1 | Lost 16–19 to Terenure |
| 2018/19 | Round 2 | 51–7 Suttonians; conceded to Lansdowne |
| 2019/20 | Round 1 | v Greystones, not played (Covid-19) |
| 2021/22 | Round 2 | Pre-season Metropolitan Cup 2021: Tullamore conceded, 13–10 Old Belvedere, conceded the semi-final to Terenure. Metropolitan Cup 2022: 46–28 UCD, lost 24–25 to Clontarf |
| 2022/23 | Round 2 | Lost 26–35 to Monkstown |
| 2023/24 | Semi-final | 44–31 MU Barnhall; SF lost 20–48 to Clontarf |
| 2024/25 | Semi-final | 17–13 Terenure, 38–17 MU Barnhall; SF lost 19–75 to Clontarf |
| 2025/26 | Round 1 | Lost 21–60 to Old Wesley |
Every St. Mary's final, wins highlighted.
The J1's other honours. Click any one for more.
1909 & 1910 Junior League (J1) — the first titles Won
The club's first team won the Junior League in 1909, beating Wanderers 9–3 after 3–3 and 0–0 draws (captain A.P. Ryan), and again in 1910, beating Dublin University 19–6 after a 3–3 draw (W.P. McGann).
1970, 1971, 1985 Leinster President's Plaque Won
Played between the winners of the Metropolitan Cup and the Provincial Towns' Cup. St. Mary's beat Dundalk 26–11 in 1970, Skerries 8–6 in 1971 and Arklow 20–6 in 1985.
1978 – 2013 Junior League (J1) titles Won
Team photo, J1 1992-93 (labelled "Leinster Senior Cup" in the archive): Coach Dave Gardner, manager D. O'Brien. Back: D. O'Connor, T. O'Broin, T. Coughlin, P. Conlon, B. Mills, D. O'Brien. Middle: (unnamed), M. McLoughlin, S. Hennessy, F. Fitzgerald, F. Dolan, D. Gardner. Front: R. Hernan, (unnamed), J. Carvill, M. Johnson (President), G. Halpin, J. Muldoon.
Further J1 League titles followed in 1978 (beat Curragh 19–3, Cathal Sweeney), 1983 (beat Blackrock 9–6, Eddie Wigglesworth), 1986 (beat Lansdowne 9–4, Frank Kennedy), 1992 (beat Old Wesley 25–16, John Carvill), 1993 (beat Dundalk 15–9, John Carvill), 1997, 1998 (no final), 2000, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
1996/97 Leinster Branch 10-a-side Cup Won
Won by the J1s, with the J3s also winning that season. The competition began in September 1995.
2000/01 Heineken League Won
The J1s beat De La Salle Palmerston in the final. They also reached the semi-final of the Millennium Championship, losing to Cork Constitution.
2007/08 Presidents Cup Won
Captained by Karl O'Brien, the J1s also won the Section A league that season.
| Round 1 | St. Mary's 21–11 Dundalk (3 Apr 2008) |
| Semi-final | Navan conceded |
| Final | Clontarf 17–25 St. Mary's (25 Apr 2008, Donnybrook) |
2010/11 Leinster Senior Seconds League Cup Won
The first season of the competition, and the third leg of the J1 treble.
| Pool 2 | 45–6 Greystones, DLSP conceded, Terenure 8–40 St. Mary's |
| Round 1 | St. Mary's 36–6 Lansdowne |
| Semi-final | St. Mary's 38–27 Clontarf |
| Final | St. Mary's 29–21 Old Belvedere (Wed 4 May 2011, Ollie Campbell Park) |
2013/14 Metro League Division 1 and Metro Plate Won
Photos from the Division 1 play-off final →
Second in the table, the J1s won the Division 1 play-off final 19–10 away to Clontarf on 23 March 2014, and two weeks later won the Metro Plate. Captain Mark Donnellan, manager Gareth Roche, coach Jonathan Garth.
| Plate round 1 | St. Mary's 31–18 MU Barnhall (16 Mar 2014) |
| Plate semi-final | Monkstown conceded |
| Plate final | Coolmine 0–27 St. Mary's (Mon 7 Apr 2014, Templeville Road) |
Metro Plate final team
Replacements: Neil Murphy, Zeeshan Ali, Mark Fallon, Cormac Treacy.
Team photo, J1 Metro League Division 1 and Metro Plate winners 2014: Back: Gareth Roche (Manager), Christopher Lilly, Mark Fallon, Peter Starrett, Neil Murphy, Mark Darby, Thomas O'Reilly, Matt Bailey, Jonathan Garth (Coach), John Bainbridge (Assistant Manager). Front: Hugh MacDonnell, Ray Crotty, Ian O'Neill, Steven Hennessy (Club President), Conor Donohoe, Shane Kearney.
2015/16 Leinster Senior Seconds League Cup — runners-up Runners-up
| Section C | 29–19 Terenure, 18–15 Naas, 20–19 Dublin University |
| Semi-final | St. Mary's 14–10 Lansdowne |
| Final | Clontarf 31–22 St. Mary's (18 Apr 2016, Castle Avenue) |
2016/17 Metro Plate — runners-up Runners-up
| Round 2 | UCD 24–27 St. Mary's |
| Semi-final | St. Mary's 36–8 Terenure (captain Peter Starrett) |
| Final | Old Belvedere 34–9 St. Mary's (23 Apr 2017) |
2023/24 Metro League Premier 2 — the John Doddy Memorial Cup Won
Champions of Premier 2, the J1s beat Blackrock College in the final at Energia Park, Donnybrook, on Sunday 7 April 2024 to win the John Doddy Memorial Cup and promotion. Captain Joe Nolan, coach Peter Smyth, managers Darren Walker and Paul Conlon.
Replacements: Billy Hamilton, Eoghán Pender, Niall Mulcahy, Andrew Walsh, Finn Connolly.
2024/25 Metro League Premier 1 — runners-up Runners-up
Level on points with Terenure at the top of Premier 1, the J1s lost the final 29–31 to Lansdowne at Lansdowne Road on 30 March 2025.
Replacements: Mark McHugh, Jonathan Lynch, Daniel Cullen, Ross Molloy, Ross Moore.
Metro Cup — From the Archive
Newspaper reports, programmes and photo galleries from the club archive.
Press cuttings & programmes
Photo galleries
Have a newspaper cutting, programme or photo we are missing? Please email archives@smcrfc.com.