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RUGBY IN ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE A SHORT HISTORY OF RUGBY IN ST. MICHAEL’S BY NOEL TURLEY
GOLDEN JUBILEE ISSUE OF THE ANNUAL 1994
From the day St. Michael’s opened its doors to students, rugby has been an integral part of the sporting life of the College. In these early years, the jersey worn was the blue and white of Blackrock College and when the age of the students permitted St. Michael’s boys could compete for places on the Blackrock College Junior Cup Team.
Our first solo venture into competitive rugby was our participation in the Under 13’s Cup in the early 1960’s. Our first triumph in that competition came in 1973 under the captaincy of Paul O’Dwyer and the coaching of Fr. Little.
The big break through occurred in 1969 when we registered with the Leinster Branch and the first cup game was played in Section A of the Junior Cup against St. Paul’s College in that season. For the record we lost 3-6 in that match. The history-making team: D. O’Pierce, G. Heavey, C. O’Gorman, T. Burke, P. Stanley, P. Keating, D. Coakley, D. Berger, V. O’Neill, J. Delaney, C. Hayes, G. Appleby, D. Beales, P. Cloonan (Capt.), 0. Owens.
The following year we won promotion from Section A and lost the semi-final of the cup narrowly to Terenure College. Among those who played on the team were Darragh Coakley (brother of Gary who is currently on the St. Michael’s staff) and (former) staff member Frank Macken who scored a try against Sandford Park and against Terenure.
Having done so well in the beginning, hopes were high that a cup win was on the horizon. However we had to wait until 1986 to reach the final and until 1991 for our first Junior Cup victory when we defeated Clongowes. The winning team was coached by the above mentioned Frank Macken.
In 1975 we played our first S.C.T. cup game in Section A of the Senior Cup and suffered defeat at the hands of De La Salle College, Skerries. The following year we won Section A and qualified for Section B. To date (1994), we have played in two Senior finals, 1988 and 1991. (We also reached the final in 2006). So far we have not achieved the ultimate goal, but over recent years we have lost narrowly to the eventual cup winners. It is a pleasure to record, however, that some senior level trophies have rested in our trophy cabinet. In 1981 we won the Fr. Hampson Cup and in 1987 we won the Second Senior League. We have also won the Schools’ 7-a-side hosted by old Belvedere and the Saint Mary’s College 7-a- side tournament.
The real story of St. Michael’s rugby is not told in trophies won, but in the quality of our rugby, the pride with which the College colours are worn and the hard work and dedication of a handful of coaches, staff, parents, and past pupils of St. Michael’s and of other colleges. Fr. Little has played a pivotal coaching role in the Junior School, and in preparing many of the early under 13 teams.
Fr. Michael McMahon coached our first J.C.T. team and Terry Buckley coached our first S.C.T. side. Gary Heavey and Colm O’Broin will be remembered by many of our past pupils for their dedication and commitment in coaching Junior Cup teams. Our current coaching staff is one of the the strongest and most professional of any school in the country.
We are proud of our first Senior International Derek McGrath, and of the many who have played for Leinster at all levels. Ciaran Forkin, Brian O’Connell, Brian Waldron, Stephen Rooney, David Widger, Michael McNicholas, John Doddy, and David Shanley have all been capped for Irish Schools.
It has been a long and winding road, the growth has been slow, sometimes painful. The foundations are well laid and the framework for success is in place. We feel confident that hard work and commitment will eventually gain its deserved reward.
[Since 1994 the following additions are relevant: SCHOOLBOY INTERNATIONALS: John Perry, Cormac Dowling, Karl Becker, Simon Keogh, Aidan Kearney, Gerard Cleary, David Gavin, Jonathan Rockett, Kevin Sheahan, Royce Burke-Flynn, David Mahony, Conor Cleary, Patrick Mallon, Patrick Brophy.
Aidan Kearney was a member of the Irish U-19’s team that won the World Cup at that level in the 1997-’98 season. Philip Howard represented Ireland on the Mens’ Senior Tag-Rugby Team against Australia in 3 Test Matches – August/ September 2002; he was also selected on the Leinster U-19s in the following season.]
ELSEWHERE NOEL HAD WRITTEN:
We look forward and upwards. We can and will do better. What is important is that we have the will and the courage to push ourselves that bit harder; to want success passionately; and on the selection side, to look carefully at attitude as well as talent. Any group of committed players is very difficult to beat. We must ensure that our commitment is total.
Rugby Highlights
1969 September St Michael’s registered with the Leinster Branch of the IRFU and played in Section A of the Junior Cup competition. Fr. Michael McMahon CSSp coached our first Junior Cup team. Garry Heavey and Colm O’Broin coached subsequent Junior Cup teams.
1970 Noel Turley was Junior Cup Team coach 1970-1975.
1973
March/April St Michael's won the Under 13s Cup for the first time, under the captaincy of Paul O’Dwyer. Fr. Tony Little CSSp, coached the victorious team.
1976
January St Michael’s played in the first Senior Cup Competition in Section A and Terry Buckley was coach.
March St Michael’s won Section A of the Senior Cup Competition and qualified for promotion. Coach: Terry Buckley. Captain: Brian McCloskey.
September: Noel Turley appointed Head Coach to the Senior Rugby Cup Team.
1978
The First of several tours to Wales for our Senior Cup Team.
This season (1977-1978) was also memorable as the first time our Senior Cup Team played in Lansdowne Road. We were beaten by 6-3 Clongowes who went on the win the cup.
1986 May The Junior Cup Team made history for the College in being the first cup team to reach a Leinster Cup Final. The eventual winners were Blackrock College, but St. Michael’s delighted their supporters by two excellent displays only being defeated in a replay. Team Coach: Frank Macken. Team Captain: Stephen Rooney
1988 St Michael's reached the Finals of the Senior Cup for the first time on St Patrick's Day. We were unfortunate to go down 3-6 to Clongowes. Team Coaches: Noel Turley and Gary Coakley. Team Captain: Marc Evans
1991
March St. Michael’s reached the Finals of the Leinster Junior Cup and to the great delight of all associated with the College, we defeated Clongowes Wood College (9-7) to bring the first Leinster Junior Rugby Cup to St Michael’s. Team-coach: Frank Macken. Team Captain: Christian Victory
St Michael’s also reached the Senior Cup Final, but the double proved elusive and we went down to Clongowes (again) 7-3. Team Coach: Gary Coakley. Team Captain: Gary Widger.
1992 June: Tour to Canada.
TOUR PARTY: Organiser/Manager: Noel Turley. Coaches: Gary Coakley, Frank Macken, Paul Barr. Video record: Donacha O’Shea, Chaplain: Fr. Leo McGarry.
SQUAD: BACKS: Padraig Bennett, Gavin Divilly, David Feeney, Liam Kavanagh, Nap Keeling, Mark Lillis, Tom Maughan, Robert McNicholas, David O’Doherty, David Quigley, Greg Ryan.
Forwards: Gavin Barry, Gavin Bennett, Tom Burnell, Paul Cavey, Robert Colleran, Shane Corrigan, Andrew Dillon, Alan Doran, Declan Farrell, Garreth Keogh, Chris O’Connor, Ronan Sullivan, Christian Victory.
MATCH RECORD: Our team won all six tour matches: St. Michael’s v Vancouver U19 Selection: Won 18-9 St. Michael’s v Cowichan RFC U19: Won 17-3 St. Michael’s v Velox-Valhallians U19 Won 22-12 St. Michael’s v Menelomas RFC Won 26-6 St. Michael’s v Kelowna RFC Won 26-6 St. Michael’s v Edmonton Selection U18 Won 44-0
1998
30th June to 16th July: SENIOR CUP TEAM: TOUR OF ZIMBABWE
On Tuesday 30th June 1998 a squad of 22 players and a group of supporters departed from Dublin Airport for Zimbabwe. They were accompanied by Fr. Aidan Lehane CSSp - College President, Paul Barr - Manager and Coach, David Carrigy - Assistant Manager, Eamon O’Riordan - Assistant Coach and Fr. Leo McGarry CSSp, Chaplain.
TOURING SQUAD: Mark Leonard, Simon Byrne, Brian O’Brien, Brian Travers, Gerard Cleary, Bryan Scully, Ross Bradshaw, John Byrne, John McNamara, Robert Aiken, Stephen Rockett, Fiachra Baynes, Karl Strecker, Cormac Norton, Damien Drennan, Alan Keogh, Karl Henry, Barry Courhlan, Colm MacCarvill, Colin Hutton, Conor Cassidy, Andrew Murphy.
The tour was planned and made possible by Noel Turley and his committee. The entire playing kit was sponsored by McLaughlan Sports and O’Neills. For the records, the tourists won their four matches: 31-7 against Watershed College; 42-12 against Hillcrest College; 13-0 against Prince Edward school 25-7 against St. Patrick’s Christian Brothers College.
2002 JUNIOR CUP WINNERS FOR THE 2nd TIME DEFEATING CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE 7-6 Team Coaches: Eamonn O’Riordan, Scott Oakhill, Michael Mitchell. Team Manager: Greg McWilliams. Team Captain: Kevin Sheahan
2006 17th March: Our Senior Cup Rugby Team were narrowly defeated by Blackrock College in the Senior Cup Final. Team coach – Gary Coakley. Team Manager: Greg McWilliams
RUGBY STATS AT A GLANCE:
UNDER 13’S CSSp Provincial CUP – NOW KNOWN AS THE MINOR CUP:
Winners 1973: Head Coach: Fr. A. Little Captain: Paul O’Dwyer Winners 1975: Head Coach: Fr. A. Little Captain: James Garvey Winners 1978: Head Coach: Fr. A. Little Captain: Marc O’Dwyer Winners 1980: Head Coach: Ray Hennessy Captain: Sean Twomey Winners 1983: Head Coach: Frank Macken. Captain: Raymond Hennessy Winners 1988: Head Coach: Conor Murphy. Captain: Alastair MacDonald Winners 1981: Head Coach: Ray Hennessy Captain: Niall Swan Winners 1992: Head Coach: Paul Barr. Captain: Peter Shanley. Winners 1993: Head Coach: Paul Barr. Captain: Simon Keogh Winners 2002. Head Coach: Gavin Knaggs. Captain Rajan Reilly.
Jct and sct (1976-2006) – COACHES/CAPTAINS
JUNIOR CUP TEAM The first Junior Cup team entered competitive rugby in the 1969-1970 season – trained by Fr. Michael McMahon and captained by P. Cloonan.
YEAR COACH CAPTAIN
1969-70 Fr. Michael McMahon Paul Cloonan 1970-71 Noel Turley Daragh Coakley 1971-72 Noel Turley Job Lambrook 1972-73 Noel Turley Barry O’Brien 1973-74 Noel Turley Joe Appleby 1974-75 Noel Turley Paul Connolly 1975-76 Gary Heavey Dermott McMurrough 1976-77 Gary Heavey Brian Waldron 1977-78 Gary Heavey Mark Barr 1978-79 Gary Heavey Edmund Scaife 1979-80 Gary Coakley Marc O’Dwyer 1980-81 Gary Coakley Anthony Clarke 1981-82 Gary Coakley Conor Bennett 1982-83 Colm O’Broin Norman Beamish 1983-84 Colm O’Broin Alan Twomey 1984-85 Colm O’Broin Marc Evans 1985-86 Frank Macken Stephen Rooney 1986-87 Frank Macken Alan Doody 1987-88 Frank Macken Gary Widger 1988-89 Frank Macken Alan Bergin 1989-90 Frank Macken Nap Keeling 1990-91 Frank Macken Christian Victory [Leinster Champions] 1991-92 Frank Macken Conor Blayney 1992-93 Frank Macken David Butler 1993-94 Frank Macken Carl Dooley 1994-95 Paul Barr Simon Keogh 1995-96 Paul Barr John Byrne 1996-97 Paul Barr Simon Byrne 1997-98 Geoff Drea Ros O’Nuallain 1998-99 Geoff Drea Conor Geoghegan 1999-00 Geoff Drea James McCarthy 2000-01 Eamonn O’Riordan Andrew Skehan 2001-02 Eamonn O’Riordan Kevin Shehan [Leinster Champions] 2002-03 Eamonn O’Riordan Andrew Cummiskey 2003-04 Eamonn O’Riordan Conor Cleary 2004-05 Eamonn O’Riordan Andrew Pollard [Plate Winners] 2005-06 Eamonn O’Riordan Robert Craig
senior cup team YEAR COACH CAPTAIN 1974-75 Terry Buckley Richard Ecock 1975-76 Noel Turley Brian McCluskey 1976-77 noel Turley Conor Killeen 1977-78 Noel Turley Kevin Molony 1978-79 Noel Turley Dermot McMurrough 1979-80 Noel Turley Brian Waldron 1980-81 Noel Turley Mark Barr 1981-82 Noel Turley Patrick Swan 1982-83 Noel Turley Paul Cullinan 1983-84 Noel Turley Sean Twomey 1984-85 Noel Turley Niall Swan 1985-86 Noel Turley Alan Twomey 1986-87 Noel Turley Alan Twomey 1987-88 Noel Turley Marc Evans [Finalists] 1988-89 Gary Coakley David Widger 1989-90 Gary Coakley Gary Widger 1990-91 Gary Coakley Gary Widger [Finalists] 1991-92 Gary Coakley Maurice Murphy 1992-93 Gary Coakley Tom Maughan 1993-94 Gary Coakley Christian Victory 1994-95 Frank Macken Conor Blayney 1995-96 Frank Macken Peter Shanley !996-97 Frank Macken Peter Shanley 1997-98 Paul Barr Simon Keogh 1998-99 Paul Barr Gerard Cleary 1999-00 Paul Barr Simon Byrne 2000-01 Paul Barr Patrick McKillen 2001-02 Paul Barr Jonathan Rockett 2002-03 Paul Barr Philip Howard 2003-04 Gary Coakley Peter Foley 2004-05 Gary Coakley Kevin Sheahan 2005-06 Gary Coakley Tyrone McKillen
St. Michael's College Board of Management
The *des Places Educational Association appointed a Board of Management for St. Michael's College Senior School to serve until October 2006. The Board assumed its responsibilities on 12th January 2004. Fr. W. Bradley CSSp. agreed to become the first Honorary President of the College in addition to continuing as school Chaplain. The full list of Board Members:
Mr. Thomas ó Séaghdha [Chairman]: Patron’s Nominee [Mr. Pat Coffey, Principal of Tallaght Comunity School, was nominated Chairman when Mr. ó Séaghdha became Chairman of the De Places Association] Fr. John Flavin CSSp: Patron’s Nominee Mr. Brendan Carrigy: Patron’s Nominee Sr. Eithne Woulfe: Patron’s Nominee Mr. Gary Coakley: Teachers’ Nominee Ms. Anne Lynch: Teachers’ Nominee Mr. Stephen Maher : Parents’ Nominee Mr. Dermot McMorrough: Parents’ Nominee Mr. Tim Kelleher: Principal and Board Secretary
The experience of the individuals concerned ensures that the school has the highest calibre of leadership in educational management and administration. [*The Des Places Association or the DEA, is a limited Company set up in 1999 by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit designated to act as Patron of the Holy Ghost schools and colleges in Ireland. See below.] |
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