With the season at the half-way stage in the league campaigns of our First and Second Teams, we thought it would be a good time to give you a short Rugby Report for the year to date. 

Our First XV squad, which fell just short of achieving one of the promotion positions last season, has made a fine start to this season’s campaign and won all of the first seven league games, with five of those wins including an addtional bonus point. Monkstown FC currently stands top of the league table on 33 points with Longford RFC and Tullow RFC tied in second place on 23 points.

The fact that in our opening seven league games we have scored 32 tries provides an indication of the ability of the team and of the type of rugby we are playing. The try scoring exploits of Bill Connors on the right wing are exceptional, scoring ten tries to date!

A number of strong and talented players have joined our Club this season and by way of introduction these include:

• Danny Riordan (full back) was on the successful Old Belvedere team which won the AIL, with 37 Connacht caps, 1 Ireland  A cap and 1 senior cap with Leinster
• Charlie McMicken (out half) with caps for Connacht at under age level also had an AIL 1A medal winners medal in his locker from his time in Lansdowne
• John Dever (No 8), Jake Kennedy (lock) and Declan Lavery (Irish Clubs XV prop), all have had extensive experience playing at top AIL level.  These players, together with the return of our own Bill Duggan from London and the addition of other players who have joined the Monkstown FC senior squad this season, have made a significant impact and are most welcome.

Congratulations also go to Cathal Bannon and Hugh Gowing on their selection to a successful Leinster Junior team at the end of last season.

In particular, special thanks are due to David “Manners” Mahon and his coaching team together with our Club Captain, Michael McLoughlin, for all that they are doing for our Club. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Our Second Team squad, under the coaching ticket of David Kilbride, James Clifford, Fosi Pala’amo and the captaincy and management of Ed Sweeney and Nick Toppo, were worthy league winners last season and currently stand in second place, seven points behind Longford RFC. Fair to say, the return fixture against Longford on 19th January is likely to be vital!

Unfortunately our second team’s rugby programme has been disrupted due to some opposition clubs failing to field.

Our Third Team squad with captain Jordan Millar and coach Fosi Pala’amo were winners of their Metro League Section last season, beating St Marys RFC in the final. Having been promoted to a higher section this season, the lads are finding the going somewhat tougher but are nonetheless competing well.

Dublin Business School  / Monkstown FC Under 20s 

With the kind permission of DBS on October 2 last, Fosi Pala’amo, supported by Valentine Loriot, Michael Slattery and James Gallagher of MFC and DBS, attended the college’s freshers registration day to promote the link with Monkstown FC and invite students to apply for membership of our Club. A part of this exercise was to recruit towards our being able to field an Under 20s team.

As a result of these efforts to date, 16 students have either applied for or are in the process of applying for membership of Monkstown FC.  Not all of these 16 students fall within the U20s age group and the efforts towards our fielding an U20s team this season are continuing.

The efforts of Fosi in the reinvigoration of our link with DBS and in his tireless work towards our fielding an U20s team is greatly appreciated.

MINIS

Well done to the thriving Monkstown Minis whose parents have been so supportive of our Club. There are now 70 children registered and it is great to see so many young people in the Monkstown FC colours around the Sandymount area.  We really appreciate all that you are doing.  The Monkstown Minis parents acknowledge the great support provided to them by coaches and players by their attendance and input on Sunday mornings. 

A word too for Dale McDonagh who looks after our grounds at Sydney Parade.  It is fair to say that the playing surface of our main pitch must rank as one of the very best, if not the best, in Ireland.

Brian Hogan continues to oversee all aspects of rugby at Monkstown FC in which role he continues to work tirelessly for the overall good of the playing of the game in challenging times. The fact that Monkstown won five Leinster Trophies in the past three seasons is a reflection of the efforts of Brian and of all others involved in the support of rugby at our Club.

Monkstown FC’s primary object under it’s rules is that “The club exists for the play and encouragement of Amateur Rugby Union Football and for any other activity helpful for this purpose” and this is where our focus must be.