SENIOR XV - SEASON REVIEW 2009/10 

2009-10 was our most successful season ever in the AIL. We won Division1B by eight points, leading us to the AIL Semi Finals fought out between the top four teams in the land.

The League campaign started strongly with convincing wins over UCC and Buccaneers. The third match against Young Munster in Limerick saw us gain a creditable three all draw, having had no more than 30% possession.  We then went to Ballymena in determined mood and gained another good win and a vital bonus point.

Galwegians was our next game away and sadly we let this one slip. It was the least of our performances during the season, but a losing bonus point was secured in defeat. Galway has not been a happy hunting ground for us. Dungannon at home brought us five points and then on to Ballynahinch for a very difficult match.  We won reasonably comfortably but we did not react well to some unfathomable refereeing decisions and failed to secure what could have been a vital bonus point.
 
The second half of the season heralded the rematch with Young Munster at The Lodge. Over 160 minutes only one point separated us, the advantage laying with the visitors having kicked a penalty with the last kick of the game. That loss (15-16) hurt.  The defeat was self inflicted, but a losing bonus point was an important consolation.
 
We won our remaining last six matches convincingly, scoring 27 tries and 217 points and in the end won the league with room to spare.  For the first time in the Club’s history we were in the AIL play offs.
 
The AIL Semi Final pitted us against former winners St. Mary’s at Templeville in front of the TV cameras, a huge crowd and under a cloudless sky. This was a titanic struggle between two fine teams which ebbed and flowed, but not taking our chances in the first half cost us in the end.  Unfortunately, one moment of bad luck in the second half really was the defining memory and the ultimate difference between the sides. Such huge disappointment must be used as a learning curve, an experience which many great teams have to endure before they prevail. This experience will stand us well in future battles, and let us hope that we can lay this ghost in the coming season.
 
Another highlight of our great campaign was the Leinster Senior Cup Final (again our opponents were St. Mary’s). Although it was a tryless match, a memorable battle ensued. It was probably the best game of the season in which neither side’s line was crossed.  There was little between the teams and St. Mary’s prevailed (9-3) despite a sustained and prolonged assault on their line in the final quarter. Nonetheless, it was a very strong Cup run, with notable victories over Clontarf and, in particular, Blackrock in the semi final at Stradbrook.
 
Most of this young squad is with us again, but a few have departed, notably Paul Spivey who has gone to Mosley, Chris Keane to Skerries as Player Coach and Jonathan Slattery on a world tour. We wish them all well for the future.
 
The whole Senior Squad deserve great credit for their dedication, determination and the pride in the Jersey over a long season. Coach Phil and his ADC Matt have brought this group of players closer to their Holy Grail. The Physios James & Emma were invaluable as was Doc Stokes (who enjoyed every lunch).  The entertainer Zag (Cruiser) did his thing all season long with the odd didactic quip and much merriment, an important ingredient.
 
We have raised the bar for the coming season and look forward to clearing it with room to spare.
 
Eoin J. Deering (Zag's other half)