J2 2009-2001 Season in review
The J2’s started off their League campaign with a glut of league games in quick succession, with three great wins over Lansdowne, Blackrock and Clontarf respectively and an extremely close, tough and exciting loss against St Mary’s (as has been the case in our last five meetings with St Mary’s).
However, that was to signal the best of the season’s results due to mitigating circumstances: namely lack of competitive games. With the withdrawal of two clubs from the J2’s
league there was a serious lack of fixtures in the middle of the season and this resulted in the J2’s only playing four games between the 4th October 2009 and the 30th January 2010. With four games in four weeks at the start of the season the J2’s had to wait patiently for the return fixtures in the league. While the J2’s tried in vain to organise challenge games against other clubs, they even travelled to Young Munster for a game at J2’s level (resulting in a 5-0 win for Old Belvedere). It was hard to maintain the push for the league without games and the J2’s came unstuck in the run in.
In the Albert O’Connell Cup the J2’s again started brightly with a 38-10 win over Old Wesley and a 35-3 win over Monkstown, only to come unstuck again against St Mary’s RFC for the second season in a row in the cup in another ding dong battle away in Templeville Road, that again must go down as the game of the season at this level with a 5-10 loss.
Overall the season must be judged as a success considering the J2’s were playing in their first season back at Division A Level and had to contend with extremely long gaps between competitive fixtures. There were some stand out performers such as Keith Eustace at No 7, Gavin McCarthy at prop and Andy Keane at No 9. The team also benefited from an attitude that training is key and players such as Billy Carlos, Rob Cleere, Doug Kennedy and the aforementioned Gav McCarthy and Keith Eustace rarely, if ever, missing training. This helped to create a great team spirit. With the return of seasoned performers such as Dave Shanley, Aidan O’Brian and Tim Jago, there was a good mix of experience and youth and exuberance
The team was coached by Mike Lavelle (Backs) and Peter O’Donnell (Forwards).
A big thank you must also go to Jonathan Sharkey for his training of the Junior Squad as a whole and also to the one person whom as a Club Old Belvedere RFC owe the survival of Junior Rugby to, the one and only Steve O’Leary. Also a massive thank you must go to Peter O’Donnell who jointly coached the J2’s and the U-20’s Pennant teams. His knowledge of the dark arts of forward play were invaluable.
The J2’s team would like to thank to all those who supported the J2’s over the season, your support was a great help to the team last season and may not be mentioned that often but is always appreciated. We look forward to seeing you all on the sidelines again this season.
Many thanks,
Mike Lavelle, J2’s Manager/Coach