It was great to get back to winning ways for our senior side last
weekend. In the glorious west cork sunshine the lads swept aside the challenge
of Clonakilty in the senior cup. It was all positive
on the day with a 47- 10 scoreline and three cup
debutants. Although the home side were not as strong
as sides we will play in the coming months they did play a direct route of
rugby that did need defending and despite the surmounting scoreline
they never gave up. However, once John O'Connor scored the opening try after 7
minutes it really was a question of how many we would score such was the free
flowing rugby on display. Everything went according to plan with the set pieces
considerably improved from our previous outing and our attacking potency
increased considerably which lead to our seven try haul. The pace was reduced
somewhat in the second half, which was not entirely unexpected given our 30
point but when Clonakilty did score a try, the
pressure was applied once again which lead to Marcus O'Driscoll's
second try and another from David Quinlan in the closing stages. Two of our
U/21 side made their senior cup debut and remarkable both called Rob Guerin.
Our scrumhalf Rob was signed over the summer while winger Rob has been playing
with the club for a long number of years and both didn't look out of place
while Leonard O'Sullivan's in the second row has been waiting patiently for a
few years for his opportunity and he didn't falter. So all in
all a good day in the sunny south. The onerous task of facing Dolphin in
the quarter final is next on the agenda, but at the time of writing this game,
scheduled for Saturday is in doubt. At the beginning of the week 7 members of
the squad displayed fluey symptoms and given the current alert on the swine
flu, action was taken immediately. Training was called off on Tuesday and the
Munster Branch was immediately informed and it's now up to them to make the
decision. This is disruption certainly doesn't do anything for our AIB league
preparations and it certainly doesn't suit the schedule not playing a game on
Saturday. By the time these notes are published the decision regarding the cup
game will be made so check the usual sources. As we are speaking of the AIB
league, our opening game against Garryowen is fast
approaching and it had been confirmed that it will take place under lights in Dooradoyle of Friday the 2nd of October. It should be a
wonderful occasion not only for the clubs, but the neutral rugby fans in the
city. More about that game anon.
Due to the health scare this week the seconds opening game of the season
against Young Munster in the Transfield cup was
called off. The thirds did travel for their now annual trip to Dingle to play Corca Duibhne and as usual were
royally looked after by their hosts.
The Under 21s got their season off to a winning start in the North Munster
League with a 26 10 win over Old Crescent in Rosbrien
last Saturday, It was a sticky first half with Crescent putting it to us with
the score at half time level at 10 a piece, after tries from last year's U20
captain Ian Houlihan and Winger Darren Boland
The half time break afforded George Murray & James Hickey time to point out
areas where we could attack and improve in the 2nd half, and right from the
start the lads increased the intensity and started to put Crescent under more
pressure, Ian Houlihan got his 2nd try of the game,
while Man of the Match Mark Healy also crossed for our fourth try. Paul Gleeson
kicked 2 penalties to leave the final score at 26- 10. Next up is Bruff on Friday night in Coonagh
with a 6pm kick off, while afterwards we head to
This week we put on appeal for anyone with a few hours to spare during coming
weeks to come out to Coonagh and lend a helping hand
to get the place back up and running after the major work carried out. Anyone
who has already been to Coonagh this season can't
help being impressed with the progress made. The weather has been a
debilitating factor in the works and our initial target of having pitches ready
at the end of September has now been revised. The contractors will a
Have completed most of the big work by the end of this week , but there's still
plenty of small jobs do be carried out , so again of anyone has spare time ,
please contact Ger McCloskey for further details He can be contacted by email uniquehardwoods@eircom.net
or by phone on 087 2745926