Well, we’re off the mark in the AIB and hopefully we’ll
continue our winning ways. Although Buccaneers proved very stern opposition it
was very important we bounced back from our first round defeat. No one will
argue the point that it was far from our best performance and while there
certainly are big improvement to be made we can take solace from the fact that
on the basis Saturdays performance Buccaneers will take scalps as the league
progresses. The beautiful sunny day that greeted the teams unfortunately wasn’t
matched with a game of equally beautiful rugby and it was something of a stop
start affair. We were boosted by the addition of Mushy and Donnacha Ryan in the
team but it took the boot of AIB man of the Match Tadgh Bennett to more or less
secure the points. His 20 point haul added to Riche Mullane's try was enough to
edge the game. The late and timely intervention of Stephen Kelly in the closing
stages to prevent Buccs from scoring ensured that we would indeed claim the
spoils, but with the visitors crossing for three tries to our single effort our
defence will have to shore up.
Ross O’Loughlin who was filling in for his injured
brother Fiach, started his first ever AIB league game never looked out of his
depth while our summer addition Mike Essex returned from injury to take his
placed for a first league game.
It was great to get back to
Friday night should be a great occasion when the
AIB league lights up Thomond park we host Garryowen with a 7.30 kickoff. We
wish to advise anyone attending that access to the pitch will be through the
West side only which is our side of the stadium. There will be no access to the
East side, but both the stand and the Terrace on the west side will be open.
Looking a week ahead we travel to play Terenure and
we hope to run a supporters coach to the game. John Leahy can be contacted on
086 2562730.
Our U/12’s returned from their annual pilgrimage to
Ealing which was once again a resounding success. The Blues were very
unlucky not to win the 'A' competition losing out by a single try in
controversial circumstances to the eventual winners
The Blacks won the 'B' competition without
dropping a point and without conceding a try. They not only kept a 'clean
sheet' throughout the competition but played a great brand of rugby putting the
ball through the hands at every opportunity while at the same time putting it
up to the larger English packs as only Shannon can do. Great compliments must
go to all the coaches and parents for their wonderful efforts in ensuring the
success of the trip.
Elsewhere at underage we had an Under
10 team going the whole way to Mullach in West Clare to play against the West
Clare Warriors and we got both a tremendous welcome and a victory.
The high light of the weekend at home was the visit
of Old Greenwich led by Shannon man Joe Costello and captained by his son
Brendan, and whilst our Under 15s were busy getting an 8 all draw out in Newcastle
West in the league an under 16 team supplemented by the Under 14s produced an
extremely friendly yet well contested match in Coonagh. Great credit due to the
referee Brendan McNamara and our coaches Kieran Ryan and Gene Leonard. We had a
top class reception produced by Marie and John in
The U/18’s continued their good form in the league
when they recorded another win in the league against St Mary’s by 27 points to
9.
Unusually there are no underage games this weekend.
The Thirds had a friendly against Thomond last
Saturday and had a good win while the U/20’s and the seconds travelled to
Nenagh for challenge games in preparation for their competitive games this
weekend. The U/20’s begin the South Western Conference of the All Ireland
league this Saturday when the travel to Cork to take on Sundays Well at
2.30 and on Sunday the seconds take on UL/Bohs in the Munster league in
Coonagh with a 4.30 start.
The ladies recorded their first win in the league
with a superb display against