After their tense win last week against AIB the Tallaght men’s first team now just need to finish the job.
They take on Bective in Donnybrook on Friday night under the lights in a game moved a day forward because of the Women’s international in the stadium the next day. A Tallaght win would put them in the final and then they will be hoping for a Clontarf win the next day away to leaders Seapoint to give them home advantage for that final. Kick off is 8PM in Donnybrook Stadium.
In the youths the Under 11’s travel to Greystones, meeting at 9.00am Sunday. All other groups have training in Firhouse as normal. Next week is the St.Patrick’s Day weekend so no training, but the youths will be participating in the Tallaght parade and everyone is ready to join in.
Please make your best effort to get out and support all our teams.
Alan Sower celebrates his first try for the senior team
Tallaght 1sts: 10
Try: Alan Sower, Tony McManus
AIB: 8
Metro League Division 7 Tymon Park 02/03/2019
The Tallaght first team took on leaders AIB knowing they needed to win to have any chance to make the Metro Division 7 final for the third straight year. After two of the warmest weeks ever witnessed in Ireland in February, the weather took a cruel turn with high winds and driving rain making passing and kicking near impossible in the first half. AIB adapted to the conditions quicker and trapped Tallaght in their own half for the first twenty minutes with some smart tactical kicking. Tallaght’s discipline wasn’t great as they were constantly pinged for offside and eventually AIB took advantage to kick a penalty to make it 3-0.
AIB were testing Tallaght out wide but twice Simon Collie came to the rescue with textbook try-saving tackles. Tallaght finally got some territory off some good tactical kicking from Adam Nolan and Darryl Keogh. They tried to maul the ball over the line and when it was deliberately collapsed AIB had a man sent to the bin.
They went close to a try after the forwards had several pick and drives near the line but eventually they were turned over by AIB who were consistently good over the ball all day. Before half-time Tallaght came close again to scoring when Collie looked certain to score after a smart backline move only to be stopped by a high tackle. The ref played advantage and Tallaght got the ball over the line but the ref ruled the ball hadn’t been grounded and then forgot about the high tackle which merited a yellow card and blew for half-time with the score still at 3-0 to AIB.
Tallaght had the advantage of the wind at the in the second half and out-half Dave Clarke was pinging AIB back into their own half with a series of excellent kicks. Tallaght were dominating up front now and from a lineout won by the excellent Alan Moore the maul took off and rumbled ominously towards the AIB line. To everyone’s shock suddenly backrow Alan Sower broke away completely free from the maul and no AIB player noticed in time to stop him getting over the line for a try. It was his first try for the Tallaght first team and he celebrated wildly and was enveloped by all his team-mates who were delighted to congratulate him. The conversion was missed but now Tallaght led 5-3.
From the restart Clarke again put Tallaght in a good position deep in the AIB half with another fine kick. After some strong runs from replacements Jack Russell and Sean Hanlon, Adam Nolan threw a smart pop pass to put prop Tony McManus in for a try in the right hand corner to make it 10-3 to Tallaght. With only eight minutes to go Tallaght just needed to keep AIB pinned in their twenty two. However Tallaght’s discipline, which had been excellent since half-time, deserted them again as they conceded a series of penalties to allow AIB to advance up the pitch. Eventually Simon Collie was shown a yellow card for one team penalty too many and after more pressure AIB finally got over for a try in the corner with two minutes to go to make it 10-8, although the sideline conversion had no chance of making it in the wind. Tallaght got a massive break though when the restart was knocked on by AIB. Tallaght smartly wound down the clock with a series of pick and drives until Dave Clarke got the word from the ref that time was up and he kicked the ball out to signal celebrations from Tallaght.
Tallaght coach Tom Leigh was delighted with the win. “That was a performance of real character against a bloody good AIB side who’s been a credit to the division since being promoted last season. We lost to them out in DCU by two points and we edged it here today by the same margin so there was very little between the two teams. We’re not in the final yet though as we still need to beat Bective away next Friday to guarantee it. But I can’t praise enough the character we showed to keep going even though we were behind for a lot of the game. Our captain Adam Nolan got hurt but stayed on and played through the pain to make some key contributions. Ken McGovern recovered from a bad start in the lineout to be man of the match making several big tackles and always carrying the ball with real menace. Simon Collie didn’t score today but he saved our bacon with his incredible defence on a couple of occasions and was a constant danger with his counter-attacking runs.”
“But I was particularly happy today that the two try scorers today were two of our unsung heroes in Al Sower and Tony McManus. Al is a coaches dream in that he can play anywhere in the pack, front-row, second-row or back row. He’s picked where the team need him to play and he never complains. He just quietly gets on with it and puts in the same consistent performance no matter where he’s asked to play. Tony is a feisty character but one of the mainstays of the squad and he’s similar in that he can play all across the front row and puts in a real shift every time out. It’s lads like this that are the foundation stones of a good squad.”
“We got some great news during the week when a really promising young player Luke Brady joined the squad. He wasn’t playing today but he took part in the warm-up drills with the squad and I’m really delighted he got to see a match which showed how special being a part of Tallaght RFC can be. I also want to express thanks on behalf of the squad and the coaches to all the friends and family who showed up today to support the lads in weather than you wouldn’t put a dog out in. They all got drowned wet but stuck with the lads when it was not looking good. We can’t express how much their support means to us and we share the win today with all of our supporters on the sideline. We just need to win next week against a Bective side who won’t be a pushover and then we can look forward to another final.”
Man of the match: Ken McGovern
Tallaght RFC
15. Simon Collie
14. Karl Segrave
13. Daryl Keogh
12. Padraig Jones
11. Rob Hudson
10. David Clarke
9. Andrew Rudd
1. Tony McManus
2. Ken McGovern
3. Andy Grace
4. Alan Moore
5. Joe Ivers
6. Kevin Quinn
7. Alan Sower
8. Adam Nolan (Captain)
Substitute Positions
16. Sean Hanlon
17. Colin Morrison
18. Andy Caswell
19. Jack Russell
20. Ciaran Keane
21. Aaron Shanahan
22. Shane Guerrine
Report: Jim O’Connor
Photos: Anne Kavanagh
Andy Grace (Happy 30th!) and Alan Moore await a lineoutKev Quinn makes another strong carryTallaght celebrate at the final whistle
On Saturday the Tallaght men’s first team have a crucial match in their bid to make the Metro Division 7 final for the third straight year. Third placed Tallaght take on leaders AIB in what is effectively a must-win game. Though Tallaght have two games left to AIB’s one, if Tallaght lose they will need to win their final game against Bective and hope at least two other results go their way. Tallaght lost by a point to AIB earlier in the season in a very tight match but if they can repeat the form of last week when they beat UCD well, they will have a great chance. Kick-off is 3PM in Tymon Park.
At the same time the Tallaght/DLSP combined team ‘Tallasalle’ play their final regular season Division 11 game at home to Clontarf, the team they are due to meet in the league final. The result won’t affect the final positions in the table and Clontarf will have home advantage regardless but Tallasalle will want to lay down a marker ahead of the final. Kick-off is 3PM in Kirwan Park.
In the youths there is training for Bisto’s ladies Friday at 7.00 at St Marys. The Under 9’s travel to Stillorgan for a blitz, meeting at 9.00am Sunday. All other groups have training in Firhouse as normal.
Please make your best effort to get out and support all our teams.
From left to right, Linn Staunton, Emma Irvin, Hannah Hodges, Abbie Keeley, Lily Marron
The Bisto’s are the under-16s and 18’s girls team made up of St. Marys, Old Belvedere, Blackrock and Tallaght players and named after their late great coach Phil “Bisto” Preston.
Recently five of the squad (who are listed below with their registered clubs) were selected for the Metro Leinster under-18 Squad for 2019.
Hannah Hodges- Blackrock
Emma Irvin- Tallaght
Abbie Keeley- Tallaght
Lily Marron- St Mary’s
Linn Staunton- St Mary’s
They went through multiple screenings over the last few months during mid term breaks and evenings after school. These have taken place in Energia Park in Donnybrook and in Greystones RFC. During last week’s mid-term break they had a squad session in
Energia Park and then a match squad was picked for an event in Barnhall later in the week.
One of the Bistos coaches Aileen McGovern takes up the story.
“Emma has been playing with the Bistos for four years and Abbie for three years. All five girls have put in a huge effort this year and have fully committed to training and matches which has paid off. They’ve also been completing rugby specific gym programs in their own time as well as keeping up with school and having part time jobs. I honestly don’t know how they do it all. They have become leaders on and off the pitch and have really inspired the younger under 16s in knowing that they too could make the Leinster squad some day. They put in 100 per cent effort while still having fun and enjoying the game.”
“Emma is also in the process of applying for American scholarships which is looking promising and another girl that didn’t get selected in the final 5 has been selected for an American scholarship. I’m extremely proud of all of the Bistos and this selection of the “fab 5” is just a small reward for all the hard work and commitment given by the coaches being myself, Barry Marron, Nick Hodges and our Bisto Mum Audrey Fanning. I would also like to mention the girls parents who are always there supporting and driving them places and making buns and sandwiches and generally being the extended support for the whole squad.”
Everyone at Tallaght RFC congratulates all of the Bisto girls and we look forward to seeing them playing for Leinster in the years to come.
Try: Alan Moore, Dave Clarke, Rob Hudson, Karl Segrave, Aaron Shanahan
Con: Rob Hudson 3
Metro League Division 7 Belfield 23/02/2019
Tallaght took on UCD looking to get back to winning ways after losing their place at the top of the table. They started well with the pack making constant ground before lock Alan Moore broke through for a try which Rob Hudson converted to give Tallaght a 7-0 lead. Tallaght were dominating possession and their backline was working well together to create chances out wide which were just failing on the final pass.
From a botched Tallaght lineout near the UCD line, the relieving kick was fielded by Hudson who counter-attacked superbly beating several tacklers on a mazy run. He was stopped just inside the UCD twenty two but the ball was moved to out-half Dave Clarke who broke through two tackles to go over for a second Tallaght try. Hudson converted to make it 14-0.
From the restart a misjudged pass put Tallaght under pressure but they held firm on their line with hooker Ken McGovern making several dominant tackles to see off the threat. Then after strong running from Simon Collie and Karl Segrave, Hudson went in for his own try in the left hand corner to make the half-time score 19-0. Tallaght kept going in the second half and Segrave raced away for a fine try to make it 24-0. Then the game went into something of a lull after that and Tallaght make some errors to leave themselves trapped in their own half. UCD eventually took advantage and got over for a try to make it 24-5.
But this stirred Tallaght into action and another excellent break from Clarke looked sure to create another try but his offload was knocked on. However it was only a brief respite as another good break from Collie put replacement winger Aaron Shanahan away for another fine try which Hudson converted again to make it 31-5. UCD scored the final try of the match to make the final score 31-10 to Tallaght.
Tallaght coach Tom Leigh was happy to get back to winning ways. “It wasn’t a perfect performance and there are things we still need to improve on but it was a big improvement and we played some great rugby. We now need to back this up in the next two weeks and beat AIB at home and Bective away and then we’ll definitely be in the final. To do that we’ll need the whole squad to pitch in and train well over the next two weeks.”
Man of the match: David Clarke
Tallaght RFC
15. Simon Collie
14. Rob Hudson
13. Daryl Keogh
12. Padraig Jones
11. Karl Segrave
10. David Clarke
9. Andrew Rudd
1. Tony McManus
2. Ken McGovern
3. Andy Caswell
4. Alan Moore
5. Joe Ivers
6. Daniel Pomares
7. Alan Sower
8. Adam Nolan (Captain)
Replacements:
16. Kevin Quinn
17. Andy Grace
18. Brian Lacey
19. Sean Hanlon
20. Shane Guerrine
21. Aaron Shanahan
On Saturday the Tallaght men’s first team are back in league action after a four week break. They are away to U.C.D. in the Metro League Division 7. Tallaght are looking to bounce back from two defeats on the bounce to make a push for the final and kick-off is at the slightly earlier time of 2.30PM in Belfield.
After winning in the cup last week, the Tallaght/DLSP combined team ‘Tallasalle’ are back in Division 11 league action this Saturday. They are away to Stillorgan-Rathfarnham looking to extend their winning run to four games ahead of next week’s meeting with Clontarf, who Tallasalle will also meet in the league final. Kick off in Rockfield Park is at 3pm.
In the youths there is training as normal for Bisto’s ladies Friday at 6.45 at St Marys. On Sunday the under 11’s have a blitz in Westmanstown meeting at 9.15. The minis are going to DLSP for the Kieran Burke blitz, meeting at De la Salle at 9.30. The under 9’s and older youths are training in Firhouse as normal.
Please make your best effort to get out and support all our teams.
Women’s League Division 4 Pitch 100, Firhouse 17/02/2019
Tallaght took on the bottom placed CYM needing to avoid defeat in order to avoid finishing bottom of Division 4 themselves. They had a bad start though when CYM took advantage of some poor tackling to score the first two tries of the game, converting one to take a 12-0 lead. However Tallaght got back into the game off the back of a great run from a scrum from Roisin Doyle who beat several tacklers in a run that took her deep in the CYM twenty two. Tallaght kept the pressure on and eventually Ellen Crotty forced her way over in the corner for a try to make it 12-5.
Tallaght were cooking now and almost straight from the kick-off full back Megan Fogarty broke out of her own twenty two and went the length of the pitch to score an outstanding individual try. Aisling Pyke made the conversion and now the game was tied at 12 all. CYM hit back with another try another some basic pick and drives but Tallaght countered again when a great run by Pyke put Fogarty away for her second try of match to make it 17-all at half-time.
In the second half Tallaght had a strong wind at their backs and they made smart use of it with Pyke pinning CYM back in their own half with several excellent tactical kicks. CYM tried to play their way out of the their twenty two but Tallaght’s defence led by Lisa Kennedy, Karen Corrigan, Angelika Gertz and Anne Kavanagh held firm. Eventually the pressure told and after strong runs by Vikcy Cobbe and Martina Fitzpatrick, Shauna Power popped the ball to Seana Greenhalgh who forced her way over for her first try for the club to give Tallaght the lead for the first time in the game at 22-17.
The game was still in the balance and CYM came hard at Tallaght again and looked like scoring but the awesome Ellen Crotty made a tackle to force the CYM winger into touch to save the day. Another dangerous threat from CYM was resolved by Lisa O’Connell making a smart interception and then carrying the ball to safety. Then Ellen Crotty was set free down the wing after some smart passing by Pyke, Kavanagh and Jacinta Purcell. Crotty showed her power to brush off a couple of tackles and then sprint clear to score under the posts.
The conversion was missed but Tallaght now had a commanding lead at 27-17 lead. CYM kept coming at them but Tallaght defended confidently and the game ended with Ash “The Smash” Pyke forcing a CYM player into touch with a typically emphatic tackle.
Tallaght coach Adam Nolan was proud of his teams recovery after a bad start. “Our defence wasn’t good enough at the start with too many people not committing to the tackle. But we bounced back and scored some great tries to be level at half-time. We used the wind really smartly in the second half and Aisling Pyke’s brilliant kicking put us in the right areas of the pitch.”
“I want to thank the whole squad who left everything out on the pitch today. It was incredibly tough to pick a player of the match as so many players put their hands up. Vicky Cobbe was relentless in her carrying and Roisin Doyle was immense in carrying, tackling and winning a couple of crucial turnovers on the ground.”
“In the backs Ash Pyke ran the show with aplomb and Ellen Crotty and Megan Fogarty both showed their quality with a brace of fine tries each. But our player of the match is Seana Greenhalgh who scored her first try for the club today. Seana only took up the sport this season and she’s worked incredibly hard on her game and this was definitely her best game for the club so far.”
“The league has been tough this year but it was great to finish on a positive note and now we’re looking forward to the cup which starts in a few weeks.”
Woman of the match: Seana Greenhalgh
Tallaght
15. Megan Fogarty
14. Angelika Gertz
13. Ellen Crotty
12. Anne Kavanagh
11. Lisa O’Connell
10. Aisling Pyke
9. Shauna Power
1. Martina Fitzpatrick (Captain)
2. Lisa Kennedy
3. Karen Corrigan
4. Seana Greenhalgh
5. Vicky Cobbe
6. Roisin Doyle
Replacements:
16. Jacinta Purcell
Report: Jim O’Connor
Photos: Cathy Ready/Anne Kavanagh
With no game again this week for the men’s first team, the Tallaght/DLSP combined team ‘Tallasalle’ are the star turn on Saturday. They’re in cup action as they travel to over to the east coast to take on Suttonians in the Guilfoyle-James Cup (Metro J6). Kick off in Station Road is at 3pm.
Then on Sunday the women’s team play their final league game of the season when they take on bottom of the league CYM. Tallaght lost away to CYM earlier in the season and they will be anxious to sign off a tough league campaign on a positive note with a win which will make sure they don’t finish bottom themselves. Kick-off on pitch 100 in Firhouse is at 1PM.
In the youths there is training as normal for Bisto’s ladies on Friday at 6.45 at St Mary’s. On Sunday the under 9’s have a blitz in Stillorgan at 10AM, meeting in Stillorgan at 9.30. Everyone else is training as normal in Firhouse, 10am for minis, under 8’s and under 10’s and all older youths training at 10.30am.
Please make your best effort to get out and support all our teams.
Teresa from the Old Mill presents the cheque to Luke Tyrrell Chairman of Tallaght RFC
The Old Mill in Firhouse continued it’s long-standing support for Tallaght RFC over the Christmas just gone. They decided to donate the proceeds of their hugely popular Christmas Draw to the club and yesterday they had the cheque ready.
Teresa from the Old Mill presented the cheque for an outstanding total of €1,800 to Tallaght RFC chairman Luke Tyrrell and members of the club’s men’s and women’s teams were there for the presentation.
Tyrrell was hugely appreciative of the donation. “On behalf of the club, I want to thanks Brian, Teresa and all the staff and customers of the Old Mill who bought tickets. I particularly want to thank all the lounge staff who sold the raffle tickets so enthusiastically in the run-up to Christmas. This donation will be an important boost to our funding for the remainder of the season.”
With the start of the Six Nations on Saturday there are no games this weekend for either of the two men’s or the women’s senior teams.
In the youths there is no training for Bisto’s ladies on Friday as many are attending the women’s international in Donnybrook at 5PM. On Sunday the under 9’s have a blitz in Westmanstown at 11am, meeting in Westmanstown for 10.30. On Sunday youths training is dependent on the weather as the hall is unavailable due to a volleyball competition. Gerry and Audrey will update parents via whatsapp and Facebook if there are any changes or cancellations due to weather.
