First of all thank you for logging on during past season.

Over 15,000 of you did so on a monthly basis and we are hugely encouraged by the repeat visits you have made and the positive comments we receive on our project more on which anon.

Before all that let’s just update you on what’s to come during the next few months. We have a jam packed summer of content coming your way, team profiles, to season reviews, from the history to the future. Media guides, training guides, uplifting stories and more, much more.

We’ll be in the changing rooms and behind the scenes with Ireland’s 220 + clubs and preparing for our biggest season ever in 2013/14.
Every club, Every school, Every starting 15.

That’s our mantra for next season and over the next few days and weeks, we’ll be rolling out our plan in more detail.

KnockOn.ie is more than a website, it’s an idea, a movement, a club all of it’s own. It was born out of a jaded feeling in covering the sport we all love. Professional rugby is saturated in terms of media coverage, mundane, formulaic and in need of a jolt. The heart and soul of the sport is floating without anchor.

Pic taken by: Rory Raftery Sligo RFC

Paul O’Connell’s off the cuff comment in the seconds after his sides victory over Harlequins encapsulates everything that we’re about here at KnockOn.ie

“I felt like an amateur player out there today”

The professionals are trying to rediscover that feeling every week, many fail, some succeed. We’re at the heart of the amateur game and that’s where we will stay. We’re a rugby website that believes in grassroots both in terms of the sport itself and the people who cover it.

Our aim is to create a network of amateur writers, photographers, film makers, radio enthusiasts who love rugby and want to see the amateur players, coaches and volunteers get the recognition they deserve.

We hope, along the way, that a prime selection of these, coaches, players, volunteers, writers, and photographers will climb up the ranks into the professional arena where their skills will reach a wide audience and generate an income for good measure.

We believe that the vast majority of these talented amateur enthusiast – be it on the field, on the sidelines or behind the fence – will find value and fulfillment in contributing to a cause that helps create Irish sport’s first fully fledged amateur sport network focusing on rugby in Ireland.

We know that the rest of you will simply sit back and enjoy engaging with and availing of a service that puts what matters most to you in sport to the forefront of the national media.

A service that ensures from Carrigaline to Ballyclare and from Seapoint to Connemara that community rugby gets a news hub worthy of the commitment given by over 120,000 people give it on this island every week.

We’ll be announcing big plans in early June on some changes for next season but in the meantime, thanks for following and stick with us, we’re almost there.

Rob Murphy

The post Update for Our Followers appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

Tullamore RFC

Competitions
Midlands League: Champions
All Ireland Junior Cup: Champions
Leinster Junior League: Champions
AIL Round Robin: Champions
Provincial Towns Cup: Champions

Review

“They hardly need it”  That was the response of a disconsolate Longford RFC support who clearly hadn’t lost his sense of humour in the aftermath of Sunday’s Towns Cup final loss to Tullamore upon hearing from master of ceremonies Dermot O’Mahony that the winners would be receiving a brand new scrum machine.

You could sense resignation of a man who had realised that his beloved club had come up against a brick wall, a juggernaut, a landslide, whatever you like. There was little they could do.

Yeah sure, had they been 100% with penalties and made two or three more tackles in the final ten minutes of the half, or read the first phase backline move off the scrum in their own 22 better, they might have made more of a fist of this.

Overall though, Longford were one tired side on full time, a battered and bruised side on full time. Like Tullow, Enniscorthy, Richmond, Poradown and all others before them, they stood on a pitch after an encounter with Tullamore, shook their heads and said, “we’ll just have to get better.”

It’s the ultimate respect you can afford to a side and the most glowing endorsement of a team and their supporters.

Tullamore won every competition they entered this year, the Midland league was just a one game affair but they cruised past a Longford side not back to full strength in September and that set the tone.

The All Ireland Junior Cup came next on the hit list, by the time they had overwhelmed Ballymoney in the opening round of that competition the John Moylan and John Burns coached outfit had set the tone with five league wins from five outings.

All was well, and crucially an old failing for the Offaly men  had been discarded. For a combination of reasons, Tullamore have always been slow starters and it was beginning to irk as plenty of campaigns were defined by their September form.

Not this year, from the 32-0 home win over Wanderers on day one, the tone had been set and a first ever league crown was within sight.

It was by no means all plain sailing, defeats to Cill Dara and Wanderers in the new year acted as wake up calls. The away victory at Newbridge was scrappy as they gave the Kildare side far too much counter attacking opportunities and were blessed that the Rosetown men weren’t able to convert.

Yet they were always going to win that day and the two defeats came at a time when they have room for wriggle. The Cups kept the momentum going, Monivea were brushed aside, a surging Kanturk were clinically put to the sword at their home fortress and after a 25 minute spell of defending against Enniscorthy, they cut loose in the All Ireland final also for trophy number two.

The league was wrapped up two weeks from the end of the season, the number one priority sorted and the focus soon switched to the qualifiers with a slight nod to the Towns Cup as well at that point. Not losing was the main focus.

The first hurdle in the AIL Round Robin Qualifiers in Portadown was always going to be tricky but guided by Aaron Deverell and aided by a brilliant display from their back row against one of Ulster’s finest units, they found a way to win with Brian Geraghty scoring on the counter attack.

Richmond certainly put it up to them at Spollanstown in a nip and tuck battle but the home side held firm and rounded it off in Monivea with a dominant last 20 minutes after falling behind. No game had been straight forward but rarely had the Offaly men sensed doom.

Tullow also tested their resolve in a Towns Cup semi final but that had been handled and the Longford challenge in Edenderry was negotiated with precision and ruthlessness after half time for trophy number five of a season that might never be replicated.

Rugby in the midlands has just garnered a new force and Tullamore leave the league for pastures new in great shape.

High Point: So many but the Towns Cup final against Longford rounded off the season brilliantly and ended a run of three finals without a win in that competition.

Low Point: There only two defeats came in the last minute, Wanderers pipped them with a late try and conversion, Cill Dara won with a push over try on the last play, either of one was a low in a season of highs.

Key Man: Aaron Deverell, so many players stood out, like Rob Conor, Adrian Hanley, Ger Molloy but the conductor at out half pulled the strings, especially on evenings in winter when the basics had to be right.

Unsung hero: Richie Hughes, a brilliant scrum half, tenacious, strong and fluid at the base of a scrum. For others read, Cathal Feighery, David Clavin, Ivor Scully and the rest of the team.

If Tullamore were a Football club they would be… Paris Saint Germain: A big club for a long time but all of a sudden they are beating all before them and winning trophies.

The post Tullamore RFC Season Review appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

In all, clubs from the eastern province have a 63% win percentage from 67 games putting them well ahead of Ulster in second who have two titles and a 54% win percentage.

Next season, that dominant position might well continue with Wanderers entering the competition for the first time to add to a strong line up including last year’s runners up Enniscorthy, Dundalk and Coolmine.

Provincial Record in All Ireland Junior Cup

Province	No of Clubs	Titles	Played	Won	Lost	Win Pct
Leinster Clubs	12	5	67	42	25	63%
Ulster Clubs	13	2	61	33	28	54%
Munster Clubs	14	1	49	20	29	41%
Connacht Clubs	8	0	47	17	30	36%

The 2013/14 All Ireland Junior Cup will have two teams making their debut in the competition bringing the total numbers of clubs to have participated in the national club competition to 48 now.

Four teams from each provinces compete qualifying via their Junior leagues with the exception of Connacht where the top three league sides and Cawley Cup winners advance (unless the winners have already qualified).

CIYMS and Wanderers will take part for the first time, both former AIL sides but in the case of the Belfast side, they have been out of the Senior ranks for over a decade while Wanderers will be beginning just their second season as a junior clu.

Since the competition started in 2006, six teams have got their name on the trophy with Tullamore the only multiple winners taking their haul to three just last February.

Pic: Ger Cahill, Tullamore RFC.

Of those six winners, five are now All Ireland league clubs and three are playing in the third tier of the All Ireland league next season, Rainey OB, Seapoint and City of Derry. Navan and Tullamore are in the fourth tier while 2011 winners Crosshaven remain in the Junior ranks and find themselves in Division 2 of the Munster Junior league.

The evidence is clear that this competition is proving to be a huge challenge to win and by and large has been dominated by the very cream of the crop in the Junior ranks.

A total of 12 of the 46 clubs that have taken part up to this year have gone on to gain promotion to the All Ireland league.

Next season, nine top flight club’s will be looking to qualify for the first time in their history. It will be the first time that qualfication for the competition will be even on the agenda for clubs like Connemara, Ballinasloe, Clonakilty, Muskerry and Clondalkin. The two former AIL sides in that group may of course hope to by pass the 2014/15 event and head straight back to the AIL.

The other sides in the provincial junior league top flights yet to take part are University of Ulster Coleraine, Bangor, Galbally, Old Christians, Newcastle West and St Mary’s who only narrowly missed out on a place this time around.

Eight former participants will be playing second tier rugby in the respective leagues next season, none have slipped down to the third tier after making the compeition.

History of All Ireland Junior Cup

The post All Ireland Junior Cup Facts appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

Connacht

Castlebar RFC

Under form Connacht Juniors coach Seamus King, the Mayo side stormed to the Division 1b title this year and a quick return to the top flight where they have spent the majority of their time in the last ten years. They’ve qualified for All Ireland Cups and won Cawley Cups but had dropped well back in the 12 months leading up to this season.

A big Junior Cup win against Westport and a battling loss to Monivea highlights why many feel they’ll be more than competitive on their return but rediscovering mid table stability won’t be straight forward.

Ballinasloe RFC

The surprise package for sure, no one outside of the Moher Road clan saw them upsetting Galwegians j1s in a play off but that they did with a tenacious and gutsy defensive second half effort after setting the platform for a 9-6 win in the first half.

It was a tremendous conclusion to the campaign for Noel Mannion’s side who lost some key games early in the season and appeared to have been out of the running in the title race at that point. A rip roaring second half of the season changed that and the club which was re-established in 2005 (after separating from Buccaneers) will be looking to establish themselves in the top flight next season.

Leinster

Tullow RFC

Massey Tuhakarina’s side delivered on the main target for this season which was a Division 1b title and automatic promotion to the top flight of Junior rugby in Leinster for the first time. Last year’s beaten Towns Cup finalists focused on a consistent league campaign this time around and delivered emphatically.

A total of 13 wins and one draw from 14 games with nine four try bonus points. In league and cup play only Tullamore beat them at the Towns Cup semi final stage. They are more than ready for the top flight as a result and should be a force.

Clondalkin RFC

Few would have marked them down for promotion at the start of the campaign although a top half in Division 1b would have been a prediction. Their post November surge up the table did the trick however as others dithered, they delivered with big result after big result.

They became a last minute nightmare for most teams with scores when they mattered and then delivered in the play off against Cill Dara. As it turned out, the play off results didn’t matter thanks to Tullamore’s promotion but overall, it was a hugely successful campaign for the Dublin side. Staying up will be difficult but by no means beyond them.

Munster

Muskerry RFC

Few outside of the Cork club saw this coming, a brilliant title winning campaign one season on from avoiding relegation by just two points having won a mere four games from 13. The season started slowly with a draw in Thurles but the momentum built from there as they beat sides that finished in the lower half initially.

Their home match up with Mallow was the first huge test in November and a 3-3 draw kept them on track, they didn’t lose from there on with a one point win in Bandon and four point wins at Killarney and Kinsale had everyone accepting their superiority. An incredible season and a new force for the top flight.

Mallow RFC

Having just missed out on promotion last season by a single point it’s hard not to feel happy for the mid Cork side on their return to the top flight. They might have expected to take the title this time around but Muskerry’s brilliant run left them chasing and they had a battle on their hands to even secure second with Castlisland on their tails but a strong finish to the campaign got the job done one week from the end.

Their experience of top flight rugby makes them a dangerous force next season and as St Mary’s and Newcastlewest proved this season, promoted sides can make an impact.

Ulster

Bangor RFC

The target at the outset was promotion but as expected it was a tough challenge to secure the only spot with Enniskillen initially and Ballyclare throughout provide a stern opposition. The Ballyclare side held top spot for long periods but Bangor made up the ground with games in hand and then delivered the crucial victory against their promotion rivals on the east coast to set up their title success.

It’s been a brief stint outside the top flight but they’ll still need to readjust. General consensus is that Bangor will be comfortably mid table next season ant the very least.

The post 7 Top Flight Teams on the Up appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

A – Aerial Prowess – Full backs need this if they are to make a name for themselves. It refers to their ability to rise high off the ground to catch a dropping ball well aware of the potential to get bulldozed when they return to earth, or often times before they return to earth.

B – Blazers – A general name for all those involved with the game at committee level, they’ll often ware blazers for games where they have a pre match function to attend. Known best for being out of touch with the modern game and determined to re-engage by stopping all forms of progress. Also known as “alickadoos”.

C – Crouching position – One for the prop forwards here. The crouching position is unique to rugby and it is that moment less than a couple of seconds before scrums engage, the referee will call “Touch”, “Crouch” “Set” on scrums.

D – Disco – A derisory term often shouted by wise crackers in the crowd when the opposing team is using the boot  with scant regard for player safety. eg: “This is not a Disco ref!” Meaning the player on the ground was trodden on so much that he might as well have been the hardwood floor in the local nightclub.

E – Engage –  The term used for the point where the two front rows collide in the scrum. Referees no longer shout ‘engage’ at scrum time as the calls have changed and calling it an engagement is meant to be ironic as it is one of the most brutal parts of the game.

F – Fly Hack, A kick in open play where a ball is on the ground and a player chooses to kick it while at full flight rather than attempting to gain possession. Forwards are never permitted to do this, backs in rare circumstances are. Not to be confused with a Grubber kick which is a kick from hands along the ground in an effort to gain field position.

G – garryowen – Named after a club in Limerick, it is a type of kicking tactic used in open play by teams all over the world. To execute a good garrywoen you need to kick the ball as high into the air as possible for it to go at least 15 metres forward and hang in the air long enough for your entire team to reach it as it lands or at least be there to clobber the full back. There is no official data but we reckon the Dooradoyle club still use this tactic more than most to this day due to the subconscious association.

H – Hands – Shouted regularly with varying context from ‘soft hands’ referring to floating pass, to “HAANNNNDS!!” which usually means there is an overload of players outside you and you have a reputation for ignoring such scenarios in the past preferring instead to run into people in front of you.

I  -Interception – Not as common as folklore would suggest, ungracious supporters and coaches will often describe all tries conceded as interceptions. In truth, the interception is an underrated are perfected by centers and wingers who read the attacking play and rather than preparing to tackle their opposite number, instead choose to charge forward and grab possession before it gets to him. We make it sound a lot easier than it is, and this high risk strategy can leave egg on face when misjudged as a simple tackle was the other option and instead a try is conceded.

J – Jumper – as in lineout jumper. Usually the tallest players in the pack, because of their sheer size, the jump is always combined with a lift provided by two other players in the lineout (usually prop forwards).  They either catch the ball or use what is termed as ‘soft hands’ to tap it down to the scrum half while in the air.

K – Knock on – A horrible moment for all players.

L – “Look where you are” – A phrase shouted by coaches regularly at their team when they are in an attacking position. Presumably because they believe their players have not realised how close they are to scoring and believe this helpful advice will illuminate the situation for them.

M – Maul – A integral part of the game for all teams that train less than two fields away from farmland and livestock. It involves all the forwards forming a tight huddle with the ball carrier at the back and marching towards the opponents line. A mainstay of rugby for a 125 years until the powers that be (who, coincidently, all come from cities) decided that it had to be stopped and decreed that possession would be turned over if the maul broke down. This led to an outbreak of rural based backs coaches across the rugby world and fast thin lads joining rugby clubs in towns across the land. A sad day.

N – No. 8 – used to be called the “Lock”, but at some point in the recent past the term “Lock” moved forward a row in the scrum to the 2nd rows. The No. 8 is usually the most cerebral forward or alternatively the fastest boshing ball carrier in the pack.

O – Offside – The only word fans of the professional game shout at rugby matches. Explaining the basics  of offside is easy, make sure you are closer to your try line than the ball is as much as possible. Beyond that, it gets a wee bit complicated.

P – Pop Pass – This refers to a pass where the ball is released by a player – while carrying it in two hands – at the very last second before he receives a bulldozer of a tackle. The ball floats in the air for just long enough for a teammate to collect and sprint clear while the passer dies a hero’s death.

Q – Quick Tap – At a penalty or free kick a team may, if they prefer (or if the scrum half is too hair brained to check with their captain first) restart play with a quick tap of the ball off their or her boot. It is a tactic used to catch the opposition napping but more commonly used by despairing scrum halves looking for attention.

R – Ruck Inspectors – A term directed at forwards who are not pulling their weight around the park during a game. They can often be seen with one hand on the side of a ruck and one hand in the air marking their location, staring at the players on the ground but with no intention of getting involved, because they have, for all intent and purpose, blown a gasket long ago.

S – Scissors  - A fancy backs move used by rural based clubs when they decided it’s time their forward domination led to more tries. It involves the two centers crossing in the shape of an x and the first passing to the second just as they cross. Not to be confused with the dummy scissors which is a move used by city clubs when they decide to take things to a new level and involves the same move without the pass. Very complicated and dangerous.

T – Truck and Trailer – Incredibly difficult to explain. It has something to do with a maul and the team in possession not practicing enough.

U – Uncontested scrums – The prop is a specialist position and scrums are dangerous for newbies so each team has three or four designated props, should multiple injuries occur, scrums can not take place safely so uncontested scrums occur. This is a controversial scenario and can sometimes lead to accusations of cheating as a team under pressure in scrums gets off the hook thanks to two injuries. To avoid such advantages, the French Rugby Union introduced a rule that teams forced to go uncontested at scrum time must forfeit a player for the remainder of the game. We like this.

V – Variation, as in law variations – rugby is a continually evolving game and as such there are variations in the laws between different levels of the game, from mini to youth to social to professional.

W – White board rugby – A scourge on the game, especially at professional level. Teams that play to patterns and set plans off each set piece and struggle to adapt, if and when moves break down or when they gain possession off turnovers.

X – The sign made by referees to indicate a penalty after a scissors move goes badly wrong and players have collided with their own teammates in embarrassing fashion.

Y – Yellow Card – Introduced in the mid part of the last decade leading to a sea change in the game. The Yellow Card means a ten minute sin bin for a player who has being involved in foul play. A fitting punishment that has helped eradicate a large amount of the cynical fouls in the game.

Z -”Zip it” – shouted by forwards at their scrum half on regular occasions when their big mouth is about to cost them another ten yards from an impatient referee.

The post A to Z of Rugby Terminology appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

For ‘pay to play’ to work in any sport, crowds are needed, customers are essential if a sport where people are employed is to be a business. This means that if you support the argument that some level of Irish club rugby should have a pay to play, then the issue of how to attract punters to the product cannot be ignored.

Back to the main point though. There are many important components and topics in relation to the club game that need to be addressed to help map out a blueprint for its future in Ireland and one such area is spectators or crowds. Contemplating the difference between fans and supporters in regards to rugby here in Ireland could be key to that.

Amateur rugby clubs don’t need crowds but they do need supporters at their first team matches from time to time to help them grow. There are many traditionalists who will jump up and down to tell you how little they care about crowds at their games but they are ignoring the fact that just because they are not needed doesn’t mean they won’t be beneficial.

Professional rugby franchises by contrast need crowds or more accurately fans. Connacht were languishing at the bottom of the attendance table in professional rugby five years ago with 1,500 per game, they now have around 5,000 average and are viable as a result.

Our four multi-million euro provincial sports franchises in rugby are now well established as the four most successful professional sports teams in terms of business this island has ever known in any sport.

Full credit must be given to the provincial and national governing bodies for this economic success. In terms of what are arguable medium sized enterprises, they are something for Irish business leaders to highlight and celebrate as well.

Clubs had fans for a brief period in the early 90s when the novelty of an all Ireland league for club rugby filled a yawning gap in terms of live rugby spectacles in Ireland. Those big crowds were made up of supporters and fans but that all changed when the Heineken Cup took shape.

So who are these supporters that remain when it comes to club rugby and what makes them different to fans. They are friends, wives, girlfriends, parents, ex-players, club members and people from the rugby community that makes up a club.

No one is expecting these people to turn up en masse for every game in a season like the fanatics you see in professional sport, a sprinkling will do most of the time, but when things heat up and amateur team achieves success and momentum, these supporters can add value off the pitch and increase the sense of fulfillment for all involved on it.

Time Out

At this point, it is important to highlight that this article is dealing solely with men’s first team rugby in the 220 odd clubs on this island and the need for any future restructuring of competitions in which they compete, to allow for them to generate ‘a buzz’ in their respective rugby communities when successful times are upon them.

The definition for success will vary of course. Trophies help, especially in competitions that can be defined as realistic, attainable and challenging but trophies most certainly aren’t everything and for some clubs they won’t matter at all. You could place Ireland’s clubs in three categories.

1. Clubs who at first team level are looking for consistent place among the countries best clubs in the country challenging for top honour. Big clubs, with large catchment areas and a strong network of support and funding for facilities etc.

2. Clubs who at first team level are looking to get the best out of the talent available to them from one generation to the next. You could use the farming analogy of the fallow fields for these clubs. Every so often a plot of land needs to be left alone so it can regenerate and re-emerge. Competition structures that don’t unduly punish these team during such periods would be beneficial to the game. Often, the best generations within a club are spending years rising through the leagues, just to find their level because the club dropped down the ranks rapidly in the bad times.

3. Clubs who even at first team level are simply looking to get 15 players on a field for as many Sundays in the season as possible. Regular fixtures, referees and hot showers rank high in their needs list.

Time In

Having take stock of all that, let’s get back to it.

Ultimately, players are playing for themselves and their teammates. Everything else is just the icing on the cake, but if we ignore that icing going forward, the game will suffer from a bland taste in the long run.

KnockOn.ie is all about finding ways to add value to the efforts put in by those involved in the game and our way of doing this is to simply shine the light on that effort, the commitment, to tell the stories, to paint the picture…

We believe that the coverage we give of the exploits of amateur players can help generate momentum and interest among the wider community of supporters surrounding that club.

The same can be said of local media who cover clubs on the way to cup finals and league titles. When media outlets like KnockOn.ie highlight success, the value they are adding to the achievement is important.

There are some in this game who believe that the only people who matter in a club are those in the jerseys on the pitch at that point in time and if those people are allowed to dictate the future direction of the game, we fear that much will be lost. Many of those people don’t even like the idea of the game growing. Neophobia, the fear of change.

Let’s get back to those supporters, we didn’t highlight one other key component of a big a crowd at a key game. Many will attend having got word of the club’s success through papers etc, some may have no ties whatsoever with the club but be from the town the club represents and feel a loyalty in that regard.

So in a sense, they are not supporters – as loosely defined in this article – but they have the potential to be supporters going forward, they may have kids who they might encourage to get involved off the back of a happy experience at such an event or they might just end up volunteering out of the natural human, tribal instinct and desire to belong.

This is all a process, clubs need players and a steady stream thereof from the very youngest grade all the way through. Clubs need to promote themselves to get such players, be it through sponsorship, advertising, word of mouth or off the back of a whirlwind of success. It all helps.

The fear for the club game in its current format is that the chance for clubs to build momentum off the back of success at first team level is almost non existent in the current national competition format. The All Ireland league structure is such that most clubs are anchored to their division hanging in there, year after year and targeting stability.

Stability as a target is a disease in sport, it stifles creativity, kills positivity and allows apathy to settle in. In sport if you’re not looking for the next goal, you’re more than likely going backwards.

One club, epitomises this problem with trying to stay stable and provides a fine case study. Connemara RFC. Born in the 70s out of a desire of a few locals to create some activity in a region where tourism and fishing predominated which meant summers were busy and winters were quiet. The GAA was strong too but that was a summer sport.

It took time, but by the late 80s the naturally powerful and sportingly talented west Galway natives had established themselves as a force in the Junior leagues and in the 90s they utterly dominated the Connacht junior competitions.

This eventually led to their rise to the senior ranks thanks to a play off win in Midleton after years of heartbreak. In their first season, they went further driving up the table, reaching the top four play offs and going to Greystones on a Saturday afternoon to beat the league champions on their own patch.

The year was 2001 and the Connemara Blacks were into an All Ireland league play final. In those days, Lansdowne Road was open to clubs and the final was played there. A huge crowd travelled from the region. The video below is well worth reliving.

Days like the one brilliantly recalled in the above documentary won’t happen every season but if competition structures within Irish rugby are designed correctly, they can certainly happen more often for clubs of all shapes and sizes throughout the island.  

For Connemara, that was a high point,  the next five years weren’t bad, in fact, they were great. Legends were made, huge and long established senior clubs came to Monastery Field and left with their tale between their legs. The crowds of supporters were among the biggest in the AIL, the community radio covered them live.

By the mid part of the last decade however, the limitations of a rural club were coming to the fore, how could they progress further? They hadn’t the population and player numbers to take on Division 3 sides over 15 games, over a the course of a few months they could beat most of the best sides but the league demanded consistency over nine or ten months. Not easy for a small club.

Slowly but surely the momentum drifted away, fire and passion remained to ensure that they stubbornly clung on to their senior status year after year until this season when the hand of time caught up with them.

The question has to be asked, do the current structures in All Ireland league rugby provide a chance for clubs like Connemara to emerge with a strong team achieve success and rebuild in the fallow periods without disappearing for decades? Is the gap between the elite and the amateur clubs within the same competition helping the game?

Club’s like Bruff, Cashel and Seapoint could experience the same drop off Connemara did after a few years of progress, others as well. The rise through the ranks can be exhilarating but maintaining the momentum is tough when it is largely an amateur game.

The pay for play argument is vital to this argument, as we’ve pointed out, if the crowds aren’t there, the pay for play debate becomes an open and shut case. It is economically stupid to pay players when the club can’t make a profit from viewers be that through TV deals or gate receipts, very few professional sport in the world can operate with all the teams making a loss.

The club game needs crowds, but not in the way the professional game needs them. Clubs need crowds of supporters, not fans, they don’t even need gate receipts per se. Collections and profits at the bar will help, with the money garnered ploughed back into the club to cater for new players who come in off the back of successful seasons and to save for the rainy days when the momentum has been lost and a rebuild is needed.

Competitions which are structured to allow clubs to breath, grow, succeed and slow down are essential if a truly amateur and successful club game is to have a future.

The post Let Rugby Clubs Breath appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

John O’Neill’s side came into the final round knowing a win would seal the title but fully aware that final round defeats against Connacht had cost them during the long spell without success. They held their nerve with a very strong display to seal the championship.

Leinster did their part for the final day drama coming from behind to edge out Ulster 14-13 in a tight affair in Wicklow to finish second.

Reports

Connacht 0
Munster 17

By Stephen Collins

The visiting side started with a strong wind against them in the first half but Connacht’s David Prior was unable to convert early scoring opportunities from the tee.

Munster were first to open the scoring when centre Darren O’Keefe linked up with Clonmel’s Conor Cooney splitting the Connacht defence sending the full back through the gap and under the posts. Out half Ben Martin converted giving the Reds a 7-0 lead.

Prior was wide of the mark on a second occasion shortly after while Munster enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for the majority of the first half. Connacht rallied just before half time pushing the Munster defence to the limit but will be regretting missed opportunities on the stroke of half time.

The second half kicked off and Connacht hardly had time to set their defence when Brian O’Neill gathered just outside the 22 from the restart and went barreling towards the opposition line offloading to Mike Cronin who was held up just short. Stuart Lee was quick to the breakdown and Ben Martin found himself dotting down between the sticks which he duly converted.

At 14-0 the game ebbed and flowed with both sides working hard in defence, possession was hard to come by and Stuart Lee found himself taking a 10 minute break after illegally playing the ball on the floor.

Down to 14 men Munster endured a difficult 10 minutes but eventually came out the better, Connacht’s Kiwi center Jason Harrimate was constantly threatening across the park but O’Keefe, Cooney and the Carroll brothers Rob and Greg were up to the challenge closing down the danger whenever it presented itself.

Martin extended the lead with a penalty to 17-0 and that is how the score finished ensuring Munster picked up their first Interpro title in 8 years.

Captain Dan McCabe, who put in a man of the match performance, praised the younger players in the team and thanked the entire squad, management and support when presented with the cup.

Munster: Conor Cooney (Clonmel); Rob Carroll (Clonmel), Darren O’Keeffe (Crosshaven), Luke McCabe (Kanturk), Greg Carroll (Clonmel); Ben Martin (Clonmel), Stuart Lee (Old Christians); Barry Kelly (St Mary’s), Mike Cronin (Castleisland), Brian O’Neill (Kanturk); Stephen Burke (Galbally), Ruairi O’Donnell (St Mary’s); Brian Downey (St Mary’s), Kevin Allen (Cobh Pirates), Dan McCabe (Kanturk).

Replacements: Gareth Mulcahy (Clonmel), Patrick Ryan (St Senan’s), Declan Moloney (Newcastle West), Barra Buckley (Kanturk), Dave O’Donoghue (Waterpark), Mark Chandler (Cobh Pirates), Darragh Meade (Kanturk), Peter Earlie (Kanturk).

Connacht: Seamus Fahy (Monivea); Conor Mulligan (OLBC), Jerome Harimate (Ballina), David Prior (OLBC), Andrew McAleer (Westport); Sam Johnson (Ballina), Mickey Murphy (Ballina); Tom Toolan (Ballina), Martin Lee (Corrib), Ronan Coughlan (Monivea); Liam Scahill (Westport), Willie Cullinan (Loughrea); John Hayes(Ballinasloe), Philip Timoney (Ballina), Aidan McNulty (Ballina).

Replacements: Richard Kelly (Ballina), Patrick Mullins (Loughrea), Paul McCreanor (OLBC), James Moran (OLBC), David O’Reilly (OLBC), Mike Ward (Monivea), James Murphy (Tuam), Dave Ryan (UCG), Darren Griffin (Loughrea).

Leinster 14
Ulster 13

From Leinster Branch Website.

The final junior interprovincial game of the 2013 season saw leinster face the challenge of Ulster on a bright and breezy day in Wicklow RFC on Saturday. Both teams came into the game with a win a piece so a close game was expected and it certainly didn’t disappoint…

With a strong wind at their backs in the first half, Ulster piled on the pressure with some strong carries resulting in a penalty in front of the posts after 10 minutes which out half David O’Hara duly slotted. The strong Ulster running continued, with outside centre Andrew Hodgen bursting through the Leinster tackling to go in under the sticks for a well deserved try 5 minutes later.

The pressure was finally lifted on the 20 minute mark with a break from big winger Ross Doyle, who off loaded to hometown boy Ken Copeland. Copeland’s subsequent quick hands sent full back Niall O’Donohue away for the try and Leinster were on the score board.

A high penalty count and malfunctioning line out meant Leinster couldn’t get a proper foot hold in the game, especially while facing into the breeze. Ulster stretched their lead to 7-13 with a penalty after the half hour mark and Leinster were looking for the halftime whistle to get the benefit of that wind.

The start of the second half saw Leinster come into the game a lot more but their set piece still struggled. A nasty injury to prop Simon O’Shea delayed the game as he was stretchered off but Leinster picked up where they left off, hammering the visitors line. Wicklow’s Niall Smullen began to dominate the line out, one such take setting up a maul that very nearly resulted in the forwards going over the whitewash.

The Leinster indiscipline was keeping Ulster in the game until inside centre Darren O’Brien finally crashed over after more blue pressure. The conversion made it 14-13 to the home side. With the game on a knife edge the penalty count began to favour Leinster a bit as the visitors pushed hard at the breakdown. They coped well with it however and with the wind dropping the game was played in the Leinster half for the remainder of the game.

Leinster managed to hold out for a well earned victory however, finishing the season on a high.

LEINSTER: Niall O’Donoghue (Coolmine), Ross Doyle (Portarlington), Ken Copeland (Wicklow), Darren O Brien (Newbridge), Richie Dunne (Enniscorthy), Donal Crotty (Coolmine), TC Cambell (Dundalk) CAPTAIN, Benny Gilligan (Longford), Johny Lee (Coolmine), Simon O’Shea (Kilkenny), Niall Smullen (Wicklow), Ivor Deverell (Tullamore), Barry Stewart (Longford), Ben Horan (Gorey), Eoin Walsh (Newbridge)

Replacements: Cathal Feighery (Tullamore), Ger Molloy (Tullamore), Clifford Richardson (Longford), Steve Connolly (Coolmine), Dennis Higgins (Wicklow), Chris Jebb (Clondalkin), Robbie Waters (Newbridge)

ULSTER: Jason Morgan (Bangor), Chris Watson (Ballymoney), Andrew Hodgen (CIYMS), Jody McMurray (Cooke), Norman Carson (Academy), David O’Hara (CIYMS), Scott Nelson (Ballymoney), Chris Nash (Academy), Philip Eadie (Donaghadee), Mark Smyth (Omagh), David Sharkey (Clogher Valley) CAPTAIN, Gareth Fitzpatrick (Dromore), Richard Henderson (Academy), Chris Hamilton (Donaghadee), Jamie Johnston (Enniskillen)

Replacements: Mal Allister (Portadown), Mark Neilly (Portadown), Andrew Kelly (Grosvenor), Gareth McCoy (Portadown), Gary Weatherup (Ballyclare), Chris Cousens (Portadown), Paul McKenzie (Donaghadee), Euan Strang (Ballymoney)

The post Munster Juniors – Champions appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

Munster hold a three point advantage at the top with a slightly better points difference. A win in Ballinasloe on Saturday against Connacht and they are champions, a draw or defeat and they’ll have to look to the other results hoping Leinster don’t get a bonus and a big win in Wicklow against Ulster.

The Games - Saturday

Connacht v Munster, Ballinasloe, 2:30

This is a big hurdle to clear for Munster despite Connacht’s position at the bottom of the pile, they’ve struggled to handle their western rivals in recent seasons losing four in a row including the 2010 loss in Ballincollig that cost them the title and the title decider last year.

Connacht have had their number in recent years and the clued in members of the Munster camp will no doubt have nothing but respect for the westerners after those defeats. Incredibly, Munster’s last title was way back in 2005, there has been plenty of water under the bridge in the mean time.

Speaking ahead of the game Head Coach O’Neill said “We are looking forward to the task ahead on Saturday and know Connacht will be well up for the challenge. We are confident that if we play to our potential we’ll have a great chance of taking the win”.

“Though we are top of the table we are not taking anything for granted, nothing has been won yet and we are nowhere unless we perform on the day. Preparations have been going really well and I’m confident our lads will play with pride and give it everything as they have right through the series”.

It’s a big day for Ballinasloe RFC hosting a Junior Inter-pro at Moher Road for the first time since reforming. The club has had a great season securing promotion to Division 1a and they’ll finish on a good note with this fixture.

Away by 3

Munster: Eoin Duffy (Waterpark); Greg Carroll (Clonmel), Darren O’Keeffe (Crosshaven), Luke McCabe (Kanturk), Rob Carroll (Clonmel); Ben Martin (Clonmel), Stuart Lee (Old Christians); Barry Kelly (St. Mary’s), Mike Cronin (Castleisland), Brian O’Neill (Kanturk); Stephen Burke (Galbally), Ruari O’Donnell (St. Mary’s); Brian Downey (St. Mary’s), Kevin Allen (Cobh Pirates), Dan McCabe (Kanturk).

Replacements from: Gareth Mulcahy (Clonmel), Patrick Ryan (St. Senan’s), Barra Buckley (Kanturk), Dave O’Donoghue (Waterpark), Mark Chandler (Cobh Pirates), Darragh Meade (Kanturk), Peter Earlie (Kanturk), Conor Cooney (Clonmel), Declan Moloney (Newcastlewest), Gary Piggott (Kanturk), Tommy Kelleher (Newcastlewest).

Connacht: 15. Darren Griffin (Loughrea); 14. Conor Mulligan (OLBC), 13. David Prior (OLBC), 12. Jerome Harrimate (Ballina), 11. Andrew McAleer (Westport); 10. Sam Johnson (Ballina), 9 Mickey Murphy (Ballina) cpt; 1. Tom Toolan (Ballina); 2. Martin Lee (Corrib), 3. Ronan Coughlan (Monivea); 4. Liam Scahill (Westport), 5. James Moran (OLBC); 6. Willie Cullinane (Loughrea), Philip Timoney (Ballina), 8. Aidan McNulty (Ballina).

Replacements: 16. Richard Kelly (Ballina); 17. Patrick Mullins (Loughrea); 18. Paul McCreanor (OLBC); 19. David O’ Reilly (OLBC ); 20. John Hayse (Ballinasloe); 21. Jamie Murphy (Tuam); 22. Seamus Fahy (Monivea).

Leinster v Ulster, Wicklow, 2:30

There is still a challenge a pressure surrounding Leinster this weekend whereas Ulster can take the shackles off a little. The visitors will be reeling after such a comprehensive bonus point home loss to Munster. Their opening round win over Connacht was a big boost and they were very much in the race until Munster clicked into gear in the second half up in Coleraine last weekend.

Leinster found some form against Connacht that suggests they might hit their best here but they have issues, this is the third different centre partnership with Darren O’Brien in from Newbridge. The loss of number 8 Adrian Hanley in the back row is big as well, he has been a key influence involved in three of their five tries so far. The return of Donal Crotty might help as he’ll be suited to this game.

Leinster really do need the bonus point here to give themselves the best chance of winning. Munster might slip up in Connacht but it seems unlikely that they’ll do so and not at least pick up a losing bonus point. Their better points difference would probably be enough if Leinster win without a bonus point but their are loads of ifs and buts, all Leinster and Ulster can do is try and secure a second inter-provincial victory.

Wicklow Rugby club will be looking its best on Saturday for one big final day of a good all round year for the club. Their adult side remains a force in Division 1b and Towns Cup rugby and days like this will help maintain a high profile in the region for the club.

Home by 4

Leinster: 15 Niall O Donoghue (Coolmine RFC); 14 Ross Doyle (Portarlington RFC); 13. Kenny Copeland (Wicklow RFC); Darren O’Brien (Newbridge), 11. Richie Dunne (Enniscorthy); 10 Donal Crotty (Coolmine); 9 T.C. Cambell (Dundalk RFC); 1 Benny Gilligan (Longford RFC); 2 Johnny Lee (Coolmine RFC); 3 Simon O Shea (Kilkenny RFC); 4 Niall Smullen (Wicklow RFC); Ivor Deverell (Tullamore); 6 Barry Stewart (Longford) 7 Ben Horan (Gorey RFC); 8 Eoin Walsh (Newbridge RFC).

Replacements: 16 Cahtal Feighery (Tullamore); 17 Ger Molloy (Tullamore RFC); 18 Clifford Richardson (Longford); 19. Steve Connolly (Coolmine); 20 Dennis Higgins (Wicklow), 21. Chris Jebb (Clondalkin), 22.  Robbie Waters (Newbridge).

Ulster (TBC)

The Table

The post Deciding Weekend appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

Host Rob Murphy is joined by KnockOn.ie’s Munster Junior league man Stephen Collins to review the season and look at all the clubs with who made headlines during the campaign including Kanturk, Kilfeacle, Skibbereen.

They also look ahead to next season to discuss a new look division that will include three new Cork sides Muskerry and Mallow promoted from Division 2 and Clonakilty coming down from the AIL.

Ipad/mobile users click below (takes 1 minute to load on phones)

http://knockonrugby.podomatic.com/entry/2013-05-08T07_04_11-07_00

The post Munster Season Review appeared first on KnockOn.ie Rugby.

Rob Murphy at the Sportsground

Pat Lam stared down from the top floor of the main greyhound stand last night, detached from it all in one sense but very much at the core of it all in another. He watched the crowd – recorded as 6,081 – pay homage to Connacht rugby’s greatest ever servant in the most emotional scenes the unique venue has ever seen.

A half hour before all that, he had heard a roar that defied science on 50 minutes when another of the provinces great servants, Johnny O’Connor made his way to the sideline for the last time. An openside flanker who encapsulates everything it is to be a Connacht sports man.

Fearless, tenacious, at times mad, always honest. O’Connors career has been a lesson in perseverance and hard work and the reception was the way the people of Connacht chose to say thank you. The performance from the team on the night definitely suffered to some degree with all the distractions.
Pic: Sporting Occasions

Connacht lost 20-3 to Glasgow in Friday night’s Sportsground tussle to conclude the Rabo Direct Pro 12 season in eighth place.

Connacht were bullied off the park by a Glasgow team that should be held up as an example of what can be achieved by a franchise with a small budget, with a tiny fan base thanks to a tremendous application to their duty under the guidance of coach of the year, Gregor Townsend.

They put Connacht away in the final quarter, unloading a bench full of Internationals and a couple of British and Irish Lions for good measure. Connacht had spent ten minutes in their 22 and got nothing trailing 13-3 at that point. Maitland, the Kiwi born Scottish transferred Lion, got the try after the irrepressible Matawalu carved Connacht open.

The man of the night, Eric Elwood will look back at this one with frustration but the injury count coming in was phenomenal and it has been a huge concern all season. Nathan White, Denis Buckley, Jason Harris Wright, Willie Faloon, George Naoupu, Frank Murphy, Dave McSharry, Kyle Tonetti Robbie Henshaw and Fetu’u Vainikolo just before kick off.

For Elwood, the 15 minutes after the final whistle will be the lasting memory, and that’s how it should be. This was his moment, a man who was always reluctant to take too much of the spotlight stood out on that field and took the time to salute every corner of the ground.

In the background, the big screen played clips of his greatest moments in Ireland and Connacht jerseys. The clip of his reaction to his drop goal against England in Lansdowne Road was the takeaway moment, a little smile of a man grounded in the world of amateur sports but aware that for those few seconds he had a country, moreover a whole island in the palm of his hand.

On Galway Bay FM, Joe Healy told us a tale of half the Galwegians club heading to Cardiff to watch him lead Ireland to a rare win there in 1993 in one of his early appearances in a 35 cap career. Others will have recalled his performance in Twickenham that day when Connacht teammate Simon Geoghegan scored that try in 1994. Every Connacht fan will remember his try against Harlequins under the sticks ten years later.

When he walked through the Clan Stand Tunnel, he was for all intents and purposes at the conclusion of a huge project (barring what he described as a series of end of season IRFU reports and paperwork which he planned to get stuck into from Wednesday.) The weight was gone, the burden he had placed on himself lifted and what he described as a ‘life in a fishbowl’ about to change.

It is on Tom Sears now. Coaches are always the front men, often the fall guys and when they are local heroes like Elwood, they become the one and only face of a team, a franchise, a province. Lam will take some of the heat for sure but the Connacht CEO is building a project in an effort to make some noise across Europe.

The foundations are there, the stumbling blocks haven’t gone away either but the ethos that Elwood has carved out of the last three seasons is clear for all to see. Eight born and bred Connacht rugby men were involved on Friday night. A further four players who have come through the development structures in the province also took to the field.

Those are the raw materials Lam has to work with and there is no time like the present to to deliver. This isn’t a rebuilding project, it’s a continuity and development scenario. This team has the capabilities to be the first Connacht team ever to win 50% of their league games and that should be their target. Just three more wins would do it.

The night itself had some on field action that we have ignored up to this point. Canadian winger DTH Van Der Merwe broke his clubs try scoring record with an early try carved out on the short side were Connacht were weak in defence. A late Dan Parks penalty had kept the home side in touch at 10-3 down turning with the wind.

That Sportsground wind died a death in the second half but it wasn’t the key factor to the defeat either. It was 13-3 when Connacht had their best spell. Over ten phases in the visitors 22 camped on their line but it yielded nothing and before the game was done, the replacements from Glasgow had their say with Maitland’s try for a 20-3 win.

Adrian Flavin marked his retirement with a burst from the bench in the final quarter, a committed member of the squad since 2005 and a popular soul. Mike McCarthy marked his final game with the province at the end of his second stint here before heading to Leinster. Fetu’u Vainikolo didn’t get a chance to do likewise as he pulled up in the warm up. A popular figure too.

Yet this was the night for local heroes as the changing of the guard was completed. In just three short months from now, the pre season training will be coming to an end and the visit of London Wasps will be on the horizon. The big wheel keeps turning.

Connacht: G Duffy (capt); D Poolman, E Griffin, B Murphy, T O’Halloran; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, E Reynecke, R Loughney; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O’Connor, E McKeon.

Replacements: A Flavin for Reynecke, Rodney Ah You, for Wilkinson (HT), J Muldoon for McKeoin (48m), M Kearney for O’Connor and JP Cooney for Loughney (50), A Flavin for Reynecke (55m), , P O’Donohoe for Marmion (63)m), M Fifita for Browne M Nikora for Parks (72m).

Glasgow: P Murchie; T Seymour, S Lamont, P Horne, DTH van der Merwe; R Jackson, H Pyrgos; M Low, P MacArthur, J Welsh; T Swinson, T Ryder; R Harley, J Barclay, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Grant for Low, D Hall for MacArthur, E Kalman for Welsh (50m), J Straruss for Harley (56m), MacArthur for Hall (57m), N Matawalu for Pyrgos, S Maitland for Seymour and S Hogg for Jackson (all 63m), J Eddie for Swinson (70m).

Referee: G Clancy (Ireland).

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