Provincial Towns Plate Final on Sunday Next (1st of May) Kick off 3.00pm
Provincial Towns Plate Final on Sunday Next (1st of May) Kick off 3.00pm
Lets get out and help the lads defend the plate against a good Longford side, who showed a lot of form towards the end of a difficult season for them. This will be a tough game and then will want to take home the Plate to Longford
Can we repeat last years win over Naas in the final - come and see the lads and cheer them on
Nice way to spend a bank holiday Sunday !
Head on Free Concussion Screening Test
“Head on Free Concussion Screening Test”
Where?
In the Red Cow Hotel this week.
Players, over 16 years of age, and you can book their own appointment by following the link
This link
https://laya-corp.ameds.ie/booking/from-code?code=leinster
allows players to log on themselves and fill in the information.
Bereavement Notice
The death occurred on Friday of Maura Murphy, mother of long time club member, player and coach Diarmuid Murphy and former Hon Secretary of the club Patrick.
Details of the arrangements are attached and the club would like to offer our condolences to the family and relations of Mrs Murphy.
https://rip.ie/showdn.php?dn=285981/Mary%20(Maura)MURPHY/Lusk/Dublin
Jeff at The Stoop with the Legends
Club Member David Duff recorded the debut of Jeff with the Legends at the Stoop against England and see a selection of the pictures here.
See the gallery below
Great day for Jeff, his family and Ashbourne RFC
Well done
Ashbourne Are Spencer Cup Champions!!!
Ashbourne pulled off a trough 12 points to 8 win over our good friends from DLSP. Tries from Simon Deevy and Tristan Cramer and a conversion from Casey Dunne saw the Meath side take this cup of the first time.
Th ecup was lifted by captain on the night James McCaghy who lead his team from the front and Ashbourne managed to make it home by the skin of their teeth with a great defensive stand in the last 10 minutes
Well done to all!!
Ashbourne U7’s Local Derby
Ashbourne U7’s continued their travels last Sunday, with a short trip over the road to Ratoath RFC Senior Team. We were blessed with 20 eager lads showing up to take on our neighbouring hosts, who managed to get 2 teams together.
With the extra numbers Ashbourne were able to rotate the subs with great effect. Ashbourne were excellent at running forward when they had the ball, supporting their team members and running into space at every opportunity.
Jack Brennan, Ryan Hayes, Charlie Leonard, Mikey Flynn, Johnnie O’Connell, Evan Finglas, Kealan Jordan, Adam Keeling, Columb Mulkerrin and Sean Og Smith were key playmakers, running excellent lines and making significant breaks to either set up or score tries.
Defensive leadership was displayed by Robert Moran, who excelled at getting up quick to get the tags in. He was not alone though as Jeff Mahon, Dylan Pentony, Louis Murphy, Quinn O’Reilly, Jack McLaughlin, Joshua Colville, Hugh Hanley, Kealan Jordan and Jack Ryan were all brilliant at keeping the Ratoath try count to a minimum and always running in support available for a pass when we had the ball.
Both Ashbourne teams played both Ratoath’s teams and there were plenty of great passing, quick tagging and some brilliant tries. Ratoath played their hearts out and gave us four great matches but they couldn’t get to grips with Ashbourne’s speed in offence and physicality in defence.
Ratoath also didn’t disappoint with generous hospitality of refreshments and cake afterwards. It was a great way to finish for the Easter Break. There are a few matches scheduled before the end of the season and Ashbourne U7’s are all set to finish the season on a high.
We would like to thank Ratoath for their hospitality. Hopefully they will come and visit us soon, so we can return the hospitality.
Ashbourne U7’s Team Back Row left to right: Jack Brennan, Charlie Leonard, Louis Murphy, Columb Mulkerrin, Johnnie O’Connell, Kealan Jordan, Ryan Hayes, Mikey Flynn, Jack McLaughlin and Evan Finglas.
Front Row left to right: Adam Keeling, Jack Ryan, Jeff Mahon, Sean Og Smith, Robert Moran, Callum Kelly, Dylan Pentony, Hugh Hanley, Joshua Colville and Quinn O’Reilly.
Ashbourne and the Spencer Cup
Ashbourne RFC and the Spencer Cup
Ashbourne take on DLSP in the Spencer Cup Final at Monkstown RFC, at Sydney Parade in Sandymount. We kick off at 8.00pm and it should be a great game with two teams that have played one another already three times this season.
Ashbourne is in this Metro Competition this season as a guest and it is great to make the final having beaten Monkstown in the semi-final. But there is a strong tradition in the club of participation in the competition which helped shape the club in its early years but we never won it!
Ashbourne RFC founded in 1974 competed in the Metropolitan competitions in the early years –up to 1998, when it was decided to move to the Provincial Area and compete in the Provincial Towns Cup. A regret of many who soldiered through the early years is that we never won the Spencer – the Holy Grail of the Metro Area. The Spencer Cup is an Area Cup competed for by junior clubs in the metropolitan area.
Ashbourne first entered the competition in the 1977/78 year as a Junior 3 club with Mick Martin as captain. In a 2 leg fixture –home and away, Ashbourne drew the first leg in Ashbourne against De La Salle and were beaten by a late try, scored by De La Salle, in the return leg in Kilternan. De La Salle went on to win the cup. So I suppose the full circle is being completed tomorrow night. De Le sale went on to join with Palmerston RFC to form DLSP RFC.
In the 1978/79, Ashbourne as a Junior 2 Club with Jack Conlan, as captain were defeated by De La Salle in the semi- final played in St Mary’s Club Templeogue. It was a fiercely contested match with De La Salle coming away as winners by 3 points. The teams featured 2 Irish International players in direct opposition. Al Moroney (RIP) at loose-head prop for Ashbourne was in direct competition with Des Fitzgerald (also played for the Lions), at tight-head, for De la Salle. For the younger generation, Des is the father of Luke of current vintage.
Ashbourne reached the final of the competition in the 1979/80 season, with Pat McManus as captain. The final was played in Donnybrook and Seapoint were the opposition this time. This was centenary season of the Leinster branch and Rank Xerox had sponsored a try scoring competition, as part of the celebrations. The competition was open to all Leinster clubs to include Senior, Junior 1 and Junior 2 teams. The history books record that Ashbourne won the overall competition. The style of play for that season by Ashbourne, orchestrated by Jimmy Dillon at out-half, was one directed towards attack and on scoring tries. In the Spencer cup final, this did not change and indeed the match featured a wonderful try scored by John Byrne, playing on the left wing. Following a move from deep inside the Ashbourne half, the ball was moved through the hands by both forwards and backs, culminating in the try being scored at the Bective end. Ashbourne led until the last 10 minutes, but unfortunately went down to a wonderful break-away try by Seapoint.
Ashbourne again reached the final in the 1980/81 season, led by Alec Smith, with Suttonian’s as the opposition. It was a close run -typical cup rugby, match with Suttonian’s running out as winners on a 9-3 score-line. Tony Redmond provided the 3 points and one Roy Maguire came on as a sub for Ashbourne.
Ashbourne reached the final, played in Donnybrook, in the 1989/90 season with Ivan Craigie as captain. Garda provided the opposition, but again Ashbourne came up short, following a very exciting game. Ashbourne played a lanky 18 year old Jeff Mahon in the second row that day in what was an early day in a stellar career with the club. The game was 9-9 at full time - Brendan Cummiskey scoring our points, we took the lead with another Cummiskey penalty in added time but then Garda got a try in the second half of additional time and ran out winners by 3 points. It is interesting to note that current Club President Pat Rooney and Club Chairman Sean Mahon were also on that team as well as Jeff, and that both Pat’s sons are part of the Ashbourne 1st team panel. That last finalist team was
15. Pat Rooney, 14. Padraig Furlong, 13. John Bobbet, 12. John Byrne, 11. Paul Lynam, 10. Brendan Cummiskey, 9. Des Rainey, 1. Sean Deegan, 2. Sean Mahon, 3. Joe O'Reilly, 4. Mick Gleeson, 5 Jeff Mahon, 6. Ivan Craige (Capt.), 7. Padraig
Death of David Dagger
The Club was sadden to hear about the death of David Dagger, former player and son of long time club stalwarts Mick and Marie.
Any death is sad but that of a young man with a wife and young family iis even sadder.
On behalf of Ashbourne RFC we wish to extend our condolences to his wife Maggie, son Rhys and daughter Faye and also to the Dagger family of Mick, Marie, and siblings Keith and Marie.
Please find the details of his arrangements attached but it is important to note that David will be reposed tonight Wednesday in Ryan's Funeral Home, in Ashbourne from 6 to 8pm, before removal tomorrow as per attached.
McDowell Shield Retained By Ashbourne
Tradition Alive In Ashbourne
When Ashbourne was founded in 1974 SuttoniansRFC provided the fledgling club its first game. A tradition grew from this of a Junior 2 competition between the clubs on a home and away basis. It was first played for in 1974/75 and yesterday is presented to Ashbourne following their win in this years event. It had been dormant for a few seasons but was resurrected last season.
Well done to both sides for a great game and look forward to playing for it next season. Long live tradition in rugby!
Ashbourne President Pat Rooney presents the McDowell Shield to Kelan Toolan, Ashbourne J2 captain
Ashbourne Finish League campaign on a High
Ashbourne Finish League campaign on a High
Ashbourne finished up another doubleheader win at Milltown on Saturday. This week it was Suttonians who offered opposition but Ashbourne was well up to the challenge in both 1st and 2nd games. The significance of the wins is that the first team had their highest ever placing in the Leinster League finishing 3rd in the province. The second team also secured second place in their league and again the highest ever finish. Great season long performances from both sides.
Suttonians came visiting, already relegated, but set about making a game of it and put the home side under pressure. They tackled hard and were making a decent game of it, but they fell behind early on when prop Alan Wall touched down in the left corner. Jeff Mahon, captain on the day, had a made a charge into the 22 on the right side. McNally recycled to Cramer and his long cut out pass was collected by Wall on the opposite side and touched down. Dunne was unlucky with the kick.
10 minutes later Matt Connolly scored his first league try for the first team when a Kennedy turnover put Connolly down the right side and outpaced the cover to score a lovely try. Though reduced to 14 men when Jake Wall was sent to the bin, unfortunately for the visitors Ashbourne had an appetite for more and Simon Deevy was at his elusive self for the first of his two tries. From a lineout on the right in their own half Ashbourne hooker Norton found James Rooney and his ball from the top went straight to McNally. Kennedy received the ball and reversed the ball to Deevy coming at a angle on the halfway line. He broke the cover and weaved his way through the cover to score under the post and Dunne converted.
The bonus point try was achieved before half time when runs by Deevy and Kennedy set up O’Neill score for another converted try. Ashbourne turned at the break leading by 24 points to nil.
The second saw Ashbourne score three more tries with Suttonians responding with one of their own. First up was another run by Deevy 8 minutes into the second half. Another Norton Rooney line out again found Jake Wall who set up the maul. Alan Wall broke right and when stopped it was recycled to Deevy who first tried the left side but reversed and went right to score to the left of the post. Dunne converted.
Ashbourne emptied the bench and all 5 subs were introduced. Toolan came on at 10, with Kennedy moving to scrum half and McNally reverting to 15. A ball from the base of a scrum from Kennedy found Toolan breaking left into the Sutton defense and when he passed left he found McNally who raced over the line for a try. Toolan converted the try and Ashbourne now lead by 38 points to nil.
Suttonians broke back with a well-taken try covering the length of the field but failed with the conversion. Mark Rooney replied quickly when he broke from the halfway line. He was stopped and when the ball was recycled through a number of phases it back right and McCaghy put Rooney over to finish off the move he started. The final score came from Gavin Kennedy when he followed up his own kick to touch down for a final score of 48 points to 5 and nice way to finish the league campaign.
Team:
Ciaran Roche, Daniel Norton, Alan Wall, Jake Wall, Jeff Mahon, James Rooney, Mark Rooney, Simon Deevy, Conor McNally, Gavin Kennedy, Matt Connolly, Tristan Cramer, Charles Coyle, Casey Dunne, Stephen O’Neill
Subs:
James McCaghy, Frank Keegan, Eugene Gallagher, Kelan Toolan, Adam Sherrard
Ashbourne 2nd XV ran out easy winners as well. Having got a fright at the start and going down to an early unconverted try but soon settled down to run in 8 tries and 5 conversions to run out winners by 50 points to 5. The try scorers were Kelan Toolan x 2 tries, and Jack O'Brien, Dan Cahill, Mark Norton, Shane Keogh, Shane McNulty and Connor Meehan all added one try each. Toolan added 5 conversions.
Team: Ciaran Boylan, Shane Boland, Frank Keegan, Shane McNulty, Stephen Murphy, Martin Gallagher, Eugene Gallagher, Shane Keogh, Edward Conaty, Kelan Toolan, Conor Brennan, Daniel Cahill, Jack O’Brien, Chris Scanlon,
Subs:
Stephen Magee, Conor Meehan, Sebastian Bulrada, Mark Norton