Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

9 C
Ennis
9 C
Ennis
HomeSportsEnnis RFC proud of its Grand Slam heroes

Ennis RFC proud of its Grand Slam heroes

Ivan Smyth speaks to Ennis RFC president Dermot Hallahan in the wake of club graduates Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan and Conor Moloney becoming Grand Slam champions with Ireland U-20s

online pharmacy lexapro buy with best prices today in the USA
buy revia online revia online no prescription

Barefieldโ€™s Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan alongside Kildysartโ€™s Conor Moloney were part of the first Irish squad to ever win a Grand Slam at this grade.

All three men are products of Ennis RFCโ€™s underage system with Butler and Coughlan coming off the bench in last Sundayโ€™s thumping 59-5 win over Scotland. The former kicked three conversions while scrum half Coughlanโ€™s pin point pass culminated in Josh Hanlon crossing the whitewash.

Moloney came off the bench in Irelandโ€™s nail biting 17-16 win over France in Round Two with the win igniting dreams of a first U-20 Grand Slam.

Ennis RFC President Dermot Hallahan states it was a proud day for the club when the three men secured Grand Slam honours.

โ€œThis achievement for the three of them will be there for the rest of their days irrespective of what they do next. Not many can say they have won an U-20 Grand Slam so to have three from the club ensured it was a very proud day.โ€

The Ennis connection ran deeper than just the three men who took to the field. Scrum half Matthew Devine, who was replaced by Coughlan in the 55th minute, has a connection to Ennis RFC with his uncle Padraig Brennan coaching the menโ€™s U-18 side.

Hallahan hopes the experience that the trio have enjoyed in recent weeks helps propel them to greater heights both provincially and nationally.

โ€œWe would have a strong team ethos here in Ennis. Iโ€™m sure they experienced it to a greater degree with the U-20 team. To play against the best in your age class and to come through will give
them confidence.

โ€œIf they can stay injury free then hopefully they might get more appearances with Munster and maybe Ireland. Itโ€™s tough because not many from U-20 make that step up but they have shown before that they can be counted on.โ€

After the trio came off the bench in Munsterโ€™s Champions Cup win against Wasps, the focus immediately shifted to establishing themselves in the Irish U-20 set up.

The trio were immediately called in to the Irish squad as they played a warm up game against Italy with Butler slotting a penalty in the defeat.

That loss appears to have galvanised the side as they beat traditional powerhouses France and England away from home while also conquering Wales and Scotland. They also avenged that challenge match defeat to Italy along the way to this triumph.

โ€œBeating France and England will be great for them. They will always have it in their heads that they beat those sides and did so away from home.

โ€œThere might only be a few who come from that side and represent Ireland at senior level but at the end of the day if these guys accumulate a few Munster caps we will be delighted.โ€

The club itself is thriving on the field with their all conquering Girls U-18.5s facing Carrick-Thurles in the Cup final.

Meanwhile, on Saturday week the Ennis Boys U-16s travel to Musgrave Park for a final showdown with Waterford outfit Waterpark RFC.

The Clare side sealed their place in the final after an unforgettable semi final with Rugbaรญ Chorca Dhuibhne finished 14-14 as Ennis progressed due to scoring the first try of the game.

โ€œThese are the games you want your teams to be playing. They say if you are playing after Valentineโ€™s Day you are doing well and after St Patrickโ€™s Day even more so. If you are playing underage rugby going in to April then you are enjoying success.โ€

The club President is relieved the club have managed to retain a large volume of underage players after the pandemic led to little action in the last two years.

โ€œBy the very nature of club rugby you only have players for three to four hours a week. They had two years of no on field action.

โ€œThere is a critical development phase from roughly aged 14 to 17 and players in that age bracket couldnโ€™t play or train. The hard work of coaches helped to keep them involved and interested
in what was a very tough time.โ€

โ€œWe managed to hold on to a lot of the 16s group and 18s Girls which is an achievement in itself. It is important for people to get out, play sport and socialise so while itโ€™s wonderful to reach finals, to have all our teams playing again is great for the players themselves.โ€

This Week's Edition

Latest News

Advertisment
Advertisment
error: Content is protected !!