St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

SCT warm up
ahead on the
roadside pitch of
friendly with the
Club’s U20’s.
It has been an extremely frustrating year so
far for the Junior School with no Saturday
rugby at all, no games obviously. We
continue to provide daily training to the
various years to include games, skill
development and conditioning. In this
regard the Junior School is lucky to have
Ray Sloan, Gamesmaster to drive the
efforts ably supported by his fellow
teachers Gareth Agnew, Dan Monahan,
Audrey O’Flynn and of course Ray’s son
David together with the many parents who
give so freely of their time to the boys and
the school weekly. We are indebted hugely
to them and thank you most sincerely on
my behalf and that of both the Senior and
Junior Schools. Here’s hoping for a few
Blitzes after Christmas to keep the
momentum going. They are the future;
we need to continue to invest in their
development as players and
representatives of the Spiritan community.
That’s about it I think on the Coaching side.
I’d like to thank the school for all the
support it provides to me in my role as
Director of Rugby. In particular thanks to
Denis Murphy, Principal and Barry Leonard,
Vice-Principal together with the Teachers
and Staff who make my life so easy on a
day-to-day basis. It is a real community
spirit in the school and a pleasure to work
there.
Can I wish all the Officers of the Club every
success in this most difficult of seasons. In
94
particular I wish Club President Vinnie
Cunningham a most enjoyable season at
the helm. I hope it is successful on and off
the field of play if we ever get really up and
running. Vinnie was a tremendous player in
his day for club, province, country and with
the British & Irish Lions. I had the privilege
of winning a treasured Leinster Senior Cup
medal with him in 1987 and indeed a Senior
league medal in 1989. It was a pleasure to
have been on the same side during that
strong period in the clubs history. Vinnie
follows in the footsteps of his beloved dad
John D as Club President and will do an
excellent job representing the club like his
Dad did for so many years. Best of luck
with it all Mr President.
Good luck to all the staff who help to run
the club, in particular Club Administrator
Marie Hammond who works tirelessly on so
many fronts and Tony McGuinness in the
bar and of course our new groundsman
Peter O’Kelly. Thanks finally to our Club
PRO, Maurice Davin who works tirelessly for
the club at so many levels.
See you all either in the club or at a schools
cup match over the coming months!
Best Wishes
Steve Hennessy
Director of Rugby
St Marys College CSSp.