St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

developments at Kimmage Grove, after he
left the club in ’34.
Whelan was succeeded by a past pupil of
Pres. Glasthule, Brendan Arigho, who more
or less took over the running of the Firsts.
According to Paddy Branagan, it was Arigho
who devised the style associated with the
club over the years – “The open style of
football that distinguishes the Club today
might be said to have been initiated by him”.
Arigho’s brother, Jack was one of the most
famous Irish wingers, winning 16
international caps during a long career with
Lansdowne but Brendan’s loyalty was with
the junior newcomers, St. Mary’s.
It was all the more appropriate then that
Brendan Arigho should figure in the first
major success of the resurgent club – in
1939-40 when they won the Metropolitan
Cup. He was but one of a number of famous
St. Mary’s names in that memorable success
and the team, brilliantly captained by
Dermot Smyth, that beat UCD in the final
reads like a club Hall of Fame – A. Norton, P.
Meehan, D. Smyth (Capt.), P. Branagan, T.
Bergin, A. Kelly, B. Arigho, J. Walker, L.
Canter, J. Canter, J. Quigley, C. Mangan, M.
Collison, T. Boyd, J. Meaney.
Not only had the Firsts taken the Met. Cup
but the Seconds won the Minor League,
beating Bective in the semi-final and Trinity
in the final. It had been a great season for
the club which had become by that stage
one of the strongest in the province. With a
burgeoning membership and success on the
field of play, St. Mary’s were in line to return
to senior ranks.
However, there were quite a few obstacles to
be overcome. There was some resistance
from the ‘newer’ senior clubs and although
St. Mary’s enjoyed the support of the longestablished
clubs like Trinity there were
those who believed that there were too
many ‘Old Boys’ clubs for the good of the
game.
It could have been an acrimonious situation
hich would have affected the genial
atmosphere of Leinster Rugby. But, not for
the last time, Fr. Ernest Farrell came to the
rescue. As Captain of St. Mary’s when they
last went senior in 1911, and as an
experienced interprovincial player he was
well-known to the Executive of the Branch.
He used his diplomatic skills and his powers
of persuasion to promote the club’s
application. In the circumstances, it was
hardly surprising that any resistance that
might have existed disappeared, and the
club returned to senior status again.
Minor League
Winners, 1939-40
Back:
C. Duffy, L. Ganter,
G. Norton, O. Byrne,
P Redmond,
L. Collison, J. Burgess.
Centre:
J. O’Connell, T. Boyce,
M. Scott (Capt.),
P. Byrne, J. Murphy,
J. Manahan.
Front:
T. Coveney, F. Scott.
100