Roots & All is a project where we pick a few teams that don’t normally make the spotlight week in week out and feature them regularly throughout an entire campaign.
So they think it’s all over, well it is now as another Claremorris RFC season draws to a close.
The 13’s season finished a few weeks back while the 14’s have a Connacht plate final scheduled for Thursday night against Sligo RFC. A win here would complete a dream league and plate double for this excellent young team.
The 17’s season finished in disappointment as they lost out to Creggs in the Connacht league semi-final last weekend. Creggs were well in command and led 15-0 at the half time break. The second half was a much tighter affair but Creggs still ran out comfortable winners 22-5. It has been an unusual season for the 17’s were a glut of games before Christmas was followed by three game in four months. This meant it was hard to keep players together. The fixture imbalance is definitely something that needs to be looked at by the Connacht branch.
All in all it has been a successful season with the U14’s claiming league glory earlier in the season and so winning the club’s first ever youth rugby trophy. Hopefully other age groups will do something similar next year.
The mini rugby season finished with a bang as we finished up winning two trophies over the final week of the season. Firstly the U10’s claimed the Connemara cup which is hosted by An Ghaeltacht RFC in Carraroe. This is the second year in a row an U10 team from Claremorris has brought the trophy back to Mayo. After league wins against Galwegians and An Ghaeltacht Claremorris were in the final where they beat a tough An Ghaeltacht side to claim glory. This team is a credit to their coaches, Pearse Hahessy, Micheal Gleeson and Joe Gilmore. Also a huge well done to the Parents and supporters who travelled to Carraroe to cheer on the team.
The U11’s were not to be outdone as they also had some silverware to keep them company on the long journey home as the won the Joe Moran National U11 title held in Naas RFC. The winners of this tournament were decided not on victories but on sportsmanship, attitude, skill and behaviour. Traits that the Claremorris lads displayed in abundance from once they got off the bus to the final whistle in their final game.
They also played some great rugby throughout the day with wins over Cobh Pirates and Naas, draws against Malone of Belfast and Suttonians and the only defeat coming against Dublin powerhouse Old Belvedere. These lads had great support not just on the day but right throughout the season .To win a tournament of this nature is a great achievement and a huge amount credit must go their coaches Eddie McLoughlin and Fergal Leonard for the work they have done with this team throughout the season.
There was also a second Connacht winner of the day in Naas as the lads from Ballina RFC were awarded the runners up spot. There were 42 teams competing from right across the country in this competition and this can go down as another great day on the national stage for Connacht rugby.
To mark another excellent mini rugby season we held an end of season awards and disco last weekend. It was great to see so many players come along to the party. There were most improved player awards in all age categories and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day. Hopefully our end of season will be ever bigger and better with even more players playing rugby with Claremorris RFC.
Thanks for listening to me all season @p_cunnane.
Here at HoR we are very grateful to Paul and everyone at Claremorris RFC for sharing their 2012/13 campaign with us. They are doing youth, Connacht and indeed Irish rugby proud and we wish them all the best in the future, hoping of course they come back and check in with us from time to time!
