St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

Podge Dondon is
held up in the
St. Mary’s v
Lansdowne Energia
Community Series
game in
Templeville Road
10.10.2020.
Photo by
JC Sports Photography.
on our line and on a third reset, in the Well
Corner, the referee went under the posts
and the score at half time was 7-7.
Unfortunately, we lost the impressive Niall
McEniff to injury in the first half. The second
half Marys stepped up the pace further and
put considerable pressure on Lansdowne. A
fine penalty, Mick O’Gara made the score 10-
7. But the visitors equalised, before going
ahead with about ten minutes to go, and we
could not make up the ground in spite of
great effort. So it ended 10-13.
Post Script:
Losing is never easy, but having played with
undying effort and skill, made today’s loss
more digestible, certainly from the
supporters’ point of view. Showing now,
since games returned, that we can compete
with AIL 1A sides, such as Lansdowne, gives
vital confidence and experience. It will take
a little more time to get the scrum back to
the imperious prowess of last season, the
errors and penalty counts will ameliorate.
Steve has a very fine young coaching team
with him and it augurs well. It was very
good to see a 2012 AIL medal winner, Colm
McMahon (son of Pat, one of the most
dedicated St Marys’ supporters), who Steve
recruited, there today, helping out. He was a
fine player and an exceptional young man,
there is little doubt but he will be a big
success. (He even drives himself now L). We
25
must not lose sight of the work being done
by Steve Hennessy, Jamie Cornett
(congratulations to Eimear and Jamie on the
birth of twin boys. Their names are down
don’t worry), Mark Sexton, the invaluable
Marcus O’Driscoll, Colm, Robert Sweeney
and Paul Brennan. Also the management
under Paudge McGill, Ruaidrí Moran, Ian
Bloomer, Paul Conlon and Conor O’Neill);
this is a tough number under present
conditions. All rugby has to be kept alive,
organised and informed, that falls to the
hard working RC under DoR, Alan Shirley,
with Eoin Quinn, Kevin Conboy, Paudge
McGill and Stephan Shirley. We look forward
to next week’s game away to Naas, Covid
permitting. Please all be patient and support
as much as possible, the club and all those
who are working hard to keep rugby alive
for us. All of us in club, community rugby,
must pull together and try to stay within the
guidelines; and by staying safe, keep others
safe too.
D O’Brien
Squad:
1 N McEniff, 2 R Halpin (Capt), 3 P Dundon,
4 H Diepman, 5 L Corcoran, 6 D Aspil,
7 C Corcoran, 8 R Watters, 9 P O’Driscoll,
10 R Shields, 11 M Oppermann, 12 M O’Gara,
13 M Carey, 14 H Conway, 15 M Fogarty,
16 S O’Brien, 17 M McCormack, 18 J Sexton,
19 N Hurley, 20 A McEvoy, 21 M Timmons.