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Posts tagged ‘Ballina Killaloe RFC’

23
May

U11’s at Thomond Park

Photo’s of our U11 Mini’s in action at Thomond Park during half-time of the Munster vs Edinburgh Pro14 semi-final qualifier recently.

Photo credit (c) Bridget Delaney; Nenagh Guardian

IMG_1130 IMG_1131IMG_1128 IMG_1133 IMG_1135IMG_1126 IMG_1143 IMG_1144 IMG_1147 IMG_1151 IMG_1152 IMG_1153 IMG_1154 IMG_1155 IMG_1169 IMG_1170 IMG_1171 IMG_1178

8
May

U11’s in action at Thomond Park

Our U11’s got the massive honour of playing in the half-time Mini rugby game at Thomond Park during the Munster vs Edinburgh Pro14 semi-final qualifier on Saturday 2nd May.

Well done to all the players and Coaches Mark Ryan and Brendan Foley for a great season of rugby.

17
Apr

U14 End of season tour: Revenge for Tountinna.

U14 Carlow-1

Revenge for Tountinna.

As the tired wedding guests traversed the heights of Tountinna and came into sight of Lough Derg, the great lake of the Shannon, and the Slieve Bernagh mountains to the west, they were set upon by the murderous attack of a superior force led by a fierce woman. No mercy was shown. The entire wedding party — including the King of Leinster — was slain on the slopes of Tountinna. They were buried on the spot, and the graves marked with several medium sized blocks of native stone for ever know as the graves of the Leinster Men.!
April, Friday the 13th 2018 in glorious sunshine the combined rugby sides of Newport, Ballina/Killaloe and Scariff’s under 14’s (on occasion known as the North Munster Rebels) set off for the battle ground of Oak Park the home of Carlow Rugby.  The date a historic one would see the inaugural tie that is the Carpmael Cup.  Excitement was palpable.  The impending arrival of the Rebels was all over the airwaves as Kilkenny/Carlow Local Radio (KCLR) carried news of the game and the kick off at 6.30pm.  (see the link https://kclrfanzone.com/carpmael-cup-carlow-2018/ )

The boys dressed as if to catch the eye of a Nenagh maiden on a Friday Night at ‘Pulse’ nite-club,  lined up for the tour photo.  Style was to the fore alright. But it was Owen Drost (SRFC) with his retro Dickie bow which won the prize for best dressed player.  Little did we think that was all Owen was going to win that day. The touring party was joined by eight of the player’s parents.  All equally excited with the thoughts of a trip away.  No one was to be disappointed with the day that would unfold.

Arriving at Oak Park in plenty of time for the kick off the boys took to the pitch with all the exuberance of young bullocks being released into green pastures for the first time.  Once a vigorous warm up had been concluded the team retired for selection and to don the Black and White of Ballina Killaloe RFC.  Team selection was disquieting for the coaches. While most places were nailed down on the bus up the question of who would replace the non-travelling  pair of Liam Minogue (SRFC) at full back and Shane O’Hallaron (NRFC) at scrum half needed addressing.  With no volunteers for full back, it was the young Spaniard (on student exchange for the year) affectional known as Manuel ‘Murphy’ who stepped forward.  Delighted Declan (coach) thrust the 15’s jersey towards Manuel only to be met by the questions – ‘Were is z dat position?’ and ‘Whats I do dere?’  In a display of true coaching excellence from which Josef ‘Joe’ Schmidt could learn a lesson Declan spent 3 minutes explaining the role in broken English for ‘Murphy’ to grasp.  Then disaster struck – Aaron Leonard (BKRFC) who had received a knock in the warm up had to be ruled out – at least for the first half.  But Diarmuid Cantillon (NRFC) who had been Aaron’s understudy for much of the year was ready to shine and shine he did.
The game began in a haze for the Rebels. A flurry of tries from the home side saw the tourists down 14 to nil within 8 minutes. Based on their start it wasn’t guaranteed that the Rebels could hold on to ‘Nil’ or would they be forced into negative figures.  Clearly the boy’s heads were still on the tour bus and not in the game.

They say ‘Cometh the hour – Cometh the man’.  And this took the form of the 5’8’’ blonde bombshell that is Mick Doyle of Feakle (SRFC).  Much like his name sake from Castleisland now sadly departed when Mick demands more he will show you what he means.  And after claiming a ball from his own out-half’s restart he lay waste to four Carlow forwards.  This provided the platform! He had sucked in all remaining forward to halt his gallop.  Enter Conor Whelan (SRFC) otherwise know as ‘Helicopter Whelan’ playing for the first time in his career at scrum half flashed a pass worthy of Murray himself.  Whelan’s pass was to set in motion a series of lighting passes and ‘loop-around’s’ which saw Aidan(Feck Sake) Ryan (NRFC) go in for a try in the corner.  The try was duly converted by Cillian O’Connor (BKRFC) a stalwart at No. 10 throughout the season for the Rebels.  The boys were back in Town!
The second half saw the introduction of Aaron Leonard (BKRFC) for Diarmuid Cantillon. Aaron Collins (SRFC) known as ‘The Special One’ a forward who had to fill in as a back in the first half, gladly made way for Fionn O’Casey on the wing. Luke Nolan of Mountshannon (SRFC) one half of the Nolan sisters in the second row (the other being Daniel -no relation) made way for Matthew Ward (NRFC).  ‘Wardie’ would prove to be the catalyst that would set the comeback in motion.  His disruptive influence at training sessions which he brings to his game was to prove to be the down fall of a disciplined Carlow side.

As the second half began it was 21-7 in Carlows favor.  From the drop off the forwards set up the perfect podium which allowed clean ball out to O’Connor.  A text book skip pass fed the second centre ‘Macca’ (Stephen McCormick, NRFC) who completed two sidesteps worthy of Thomond Park to go in under the posts.  Both Macca’s parents who had travelled and whom were central to much of the organization of the tour hugged and kissed, joy unconfined at ‘Juniors’ try.
Carlow quickly dampened any comeback aspirations with two tries in quick succession.  Both try’s excellently executed like only a Leinster side can who are set on breaking Munster men’s hearts.  But they only dampened the fire. They didn’t quench it.  Cliché’s such as ‘Tooth and Nail’ cannot do justices to what I then witnessed.  Aidan (Feck Sake) Ryan went on to demonstrate a cocktail of speed, size and strength never before seen in Carlow at such an age level.  Young Ryan an avid hunter of North Tipperary game (pheasant ,grouse and trout) in his spare time, stalked and bagged three more tries to make the perfect quartet and round off his season’s tally to 78 tries and thus gaining himself the title ‘Player of the year’.  However, Carlow weren’t finished yet and like Aarons Collins little sister at his 13th birthday Party they were there to wreck it!  A mistake in the Rebels back line (which will be the subject of a documentary when footage of the match is released by RTE) saw two missed tackles allow Carlow the easiest try of the day.  Disaster!

A minute left the score 31-36 in Carlows favor.  Rebels tired, batter and bruised. They came a long way both in distance and metaphorically.  Only two years together as a team.  Boys who wouldn’t have known each other 24 months previous, let alone play sports together as a team.  What could be done! Who would provide a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ type moment?  Tomas (I don’t mind)O’ Farrell (BKRFC) that’s who!
From the kick-off he claimed a ball that sent the crowd wild. The crowd, which had started at about 20 strong now had built to what must have been 200 as news of the epic encounter had filtered from Oak Park out on to social media.  This steal by O’Farrell was followed by a forwards display that would not be out of place in a Munster team of the 00’s.  Carries by forwards Leonard, the two Simons (BKRFC) both Cal and James, Nolan and Wardie, with interplay by all the back most notable Shane ‘Speedy’  Geraghty (BKRFC) got them there – just inches from victory. The Rebels were camped on the Carlow try line. Surely this epic display of true grit had earned the Rebels the right to a victory.  Over the line the rampaging forwards go.  At the head? Who else but Leonard.  It’s down……. the whistle blows… Is it??  Please god let it be. These boys deserve it. Sutton says a quick novena………..   But No! With the X-ray vision of Superman the referee determines it to be………. Held Up!

‘It’s not over yet boys!’ came the roar from Dan ‘The Man’ Nolan. A cry to rally any band of brothers.  ‘Scrum down boys – let’s go! Let’s do it the hard way! Dan bellows.

The Scrum sets, the feed is perfect but unbelievable for the first time in the match Carlow from somewhere have strength enough to drive the Rebels the couple of inches they need to rob the ball.  In a flash it’s at the back of the scrum all that is required is for the Carlow scrum-half to kick the ball dead.  He doesn’t! He knocks it on!  Surely we have to go again. Surely the scrum is re-set in the Rebels favor.  The whistle blows three long high pitched gusts.  It’s over. The dream of a Carpmael Cup Victory is over. It took over  1000 years but it came that day in April -Friday the 13th no less – and I was there…………………………REVENGE FOR THE GRAVES OF THE LEINSTER MEN!

17
Apr

U14 End of season tour: Revenge for Tountinna.

U14 Carlow-1

Revenge for Tountinna.

As the tired wedding guests traversed the heights of Tountinna and came into sight of Lough Derg, the great lake of the Shannon, and the Slieve Bernagh mountains to the west, they were set upon by the murderous attack of a superior force led by a fierce woman. No mercy was shown. The entire wedding party — including the King of Leinster — was slain on the slopes of Tountinna. They were buried on the spot, and the graves marked with several medium sized blocks of native stone for ever know as the graves of the Leinster Men.!
April, Friday the 13th 2018 in glorious sunshine the combined rugby sides of Newport, Ballina/Killaloe and Scariff’s under 14’s (on occasion known as the North Munster Rebels) set off for the battle ground of Oak Park the home of Carlow Rugby.  The date a historic one would see the inaugural tie that is the Carpmael Cup.  Excitement was palpable.  The impending arrival of the Rebels was all over the airwaves as Kilkenny/Carlow Local Radio (KCLR) carried news of the game and the kick off at 6.30pm.  (see the link https://kclrfanzone.com/carpmael-cup-carlow-2018/ )

The boys dressed as if to catch the eye of a Nenagh maiden on a Friday Night at ‘Pulse’ nite-club,  lined up for the tour photo.  Style was to the fore alright. But it was Owen Drost (SRFC) with his retro Dickie bow which won the prize for best dressed player.  Little did we think that was all Owen was going to win that day. The touring party was joined by eight of the player’s parents.  All equally excited with the thoughts of a trip away.  No one was to be disappointed with the day that would unfold.

Arriving at Oak Park in plenty of time for the kick off the boys took to the pitch with all the exuberance of young bullocks being released into green pastures for the first time.  Once a vigorous warm up had been concluded the team retired for selection and to don the Black and White of Ballina Killaloe RFC.  Team selection was disquieting for the coaches. While most places were nailed down on the bus up the question of who would replace the non-travelling  pair of Liam Minogue (SRFC) at full back and Shane O’Hallaron (NRFC) at scrum half needed addressing.  With no volunteers for full back, it was the young Spaniard (on student exchange for the year) affectional known as Manuel ‘Murphy’ who stepped forward.  Delighted Declan (coach) thrust the 15’s jersey towards Manuel only to be met by the questions – ‘Were is z dat position?’ and ‘Whats I do dere?’  In a display of true coaching excellence from which Josef ‘Joe’ Schmidt could learn a lesson Declan spent 3 minutes explaining the role in broken English for ‘Murphy’ to grasp.  Then disaster struck – Aaron Leonard (BKRFC) who had received a knock in the warm up had to be ruled out – at least for the first half.  But Diarmuid Cantillon (NRFC) who had been Aaron’s understudy for much of the year was ready to shine and shine he did.
The game began in a haze for the Rebels. A flurry of tries from the home side saw the tourists down 14 to nil within 8 minutes. Based on their start it wasn’t guaranteed that the Rebels could hold on to ‘Nil’ or would they be forced into negative figures.  Clearly the boy’s heads were still on the tour bus and not in the game.

They say ‘Cometh the hour – Cometh the man’.  And this took the form of the 5’8’’ blonde bombshell that is Mick Doyle of Feakle (SRFC).  Much like his name sake from Castleisland now sadly departed when Mick demands more he will show you what he means.  And after claiming a ball from his own out-half’s restart he lay waste to four Carlow forwards.  This provided the platform! He had sucked in all remaining forward to halt his gallop.  Enter Conor Whelan (SRFC) otherwise know as ‘Helicopter Whelan’ playing for the first time in his career at scrum half flashed a pass worthy of Murray himself.  Whelan’s pass was to set in motion a series of lighting passes and ‘loop-around’s’ which saw Aidan(Feck Sake) Ryan (NRFC) go in for a try in the corner.  The try was duly converted by Cillian O’Connor (BKRFC) a stalwart at No. 10 throughout the season for the Rebels.  The boys were back in Town!
The second half saw the introduction of Aaron Leonard (BKRFC) for Diarmuid Cantillon. Aaron Collins (SRFC) known as ‘The Special One’ a forward who had to fill in as a back in the first half, gladly made way for Fionn O’Casey on the wing. Luke Nolan of Mountshannon (SRFC) one half of the Nolan sisters in the second row (the other being Daniel -no relation) made way for Matthew Ward (NRFC).  ‘Wardie’ would prove to be the catalyst that would set the comeback in motion.  His disruptive influence at training sessions which he brings to his game was to prove to be the down fall of a disciplined Carlow side.

As the second half began it was 21-7 in Carlows favor.  From the drop off the forwards set up the perfect podium which allowed clean ball out to O’Connor.  A text book skip pass fed the second centre ‘Macca’ (Stephen McCormick, NRFC) who completed two sidesteps worthy of Thomond Park to go in under the posts.  Both Macca’s parents who had travelled and whom were central to much of the organization of the tour hugged and kissed, joy unconfined at ‘Juniors’ try.
Carlow quickly dampened any comeback aspirations with two tries in quick succession.  Both try’s excellently executed like only a Leinster side can who are set on breaking Munster men’s hearts.  But they only dampened the fire. They didn’t quench it.  Cliché’s such as ‘Tooth and Nail’ cannot do justices to what I then witnessed.  Aidan (Feck Sake) Ryan went on to demonstrate a cocktail of speed, size and strength never before seen in Carlow at such an age level.  Young Ryan an avid hunter of North Tipperary game (pheasant ,grouse and trout) in his spare time, stalked and bagged three more tries to make the perfect quartet and round off his season’s tally to 78 tries and thus gaining himself the title ‘Player of the year’.  However, Carlow weren’t finished yet and like Aarons Collins little sister at his 13th birthday Party they were there to wreck it!  A mistake in the Rebels back line (which will be the subject of a documentary when footage of the match is released by RTE) saw two missed tackles allow Carlow the easiest try of the day.  Disaster!

A minute left the score 31-36 in Carlows favor.  Rebels tired, batter and bruised. They came a long way both in distance and metaphorically.  Only two years together as a team.  Boys who wouldn’t have known each other 24 months previous, let alone play sports together as a team.  What could be done! Who would provide a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ type moment?  Tomas (I don’t mind)O’ Farrell (BKRFC) that’s who!
From the kick-off he claimed a ball that sent the crowd wild. The crowd, which had started at about 20 strong now had built to what must have been 200 as news of the epic encounter had filtered from Oak Park out on to social media.  This steal by O’Farrell was followed by a forwards display that would not be out of place in a Munster team of the 00’s.  Carries by forwards Leonard, the two Simons (BKRFC) both Cal and James, Nolan and Wardie, with interplay by all the back most notable Shane ‘Speedy’  Geraghty (BKRFC) got them there – just inches from victory. The Rebels were camped on the Carlow try line. Surely this epic display of true grit had earned the Rebels the right to a victory.  Over the line the rampaging forwards go.  At the head? Who else but Leonard.  It’s down……. the whistle blows… Is it??  Please god let it be. These boys deserve it. Sutton says a quick novena………..   But No! With the X-ray vision of Superman the referee determines it to be………. Held Up!

‘It’s not over yet boys!’ came the roar from Dan ‘The Man’ Nolan. A cry to rally any band of brothers.  ‘Scrum down boys – let’s go! Let’s do it the hard way! Dan bellows.

The Scrum sets, the feed is perfect but unbelievable for the first time in the match Carlow from somewhere have strength enough to drive the Rebels the couple of inches they need to rob the ball.  In a flash it’s at the back of the scrum all that is required is for the Carlow scrum-half to kick the ball dead.  He doesn’t! He knocks it on!  Surely we have to go again. Surely the scrum is re-set in the Rebels favor.  The whistle blows three long high pitched gusts.  It’s over. The dream of a Carpmael Cup Victory is over. It took over  1000 years but it came that day in April -Friday the 13th no less – and I was there…………………………REVENGE FOR THE GRAVES OF THE LEINSTER MEN!

7
Apr

Munster women’s U18’s

Congratulations to Maeve Óg O’Leary and Roisin Houlihan who lined out for Munster womens U18’s earlier today in Mullingar at the Women’s 7’s Interprovincials.
Great to have such a strong representation at inter-pro level from our club!
Well done girls!

MunsterU18-2 MunsterU18-3 MunsterU18-4 MunsterU181

25
Mar

St Anne’s CC Killaloe U19 Cup success

Former U16/U19 members of Ballina-Killaloe RFC share the moment of St. Anne’s CC Killaloe’s historic victory in the O’Brien Munster Schools Cup with their former club coach, Niall Tuite.

Back Row: Hugh Denning, Felim Tuite, Jack Lynch, Ciaran Sheedy

Front Row:David Slevin, Marc Loughern, Niall Tuite and Harry Byrne

 

StAmmesU19

5
Feb

Rugby round up: February

The 3rd/4th February saw plenty of action across all age groups :

U7/8 Mini’s traveled into Old Crescent RFC for Blitz

U9’s played Newcastlewest RFC at Home in Clarisford Park

U10’s traveled to Shannon RFC for Mini Blitz

U13 Youths beat Shannon RFC in their League Match

U14 Youths played Ennis in a friendly at Clarisford Park

U15 Youth team, (combined with UL Bohs/St Mary’s) beat Richmond RFC in their League match

Mini Girls traveled to Roscrea RFC for a Blitz

U15 Girls beat Listowel RFC in their Cup match at UL 4G

U18 Girls lost to Listowel RFC in their Cup match at UL 4G

U13 vs SHN U13 vs SHN1 U13 vs SHN6 U13 vs SHN8 U7-8 OC U9 4-2 U10 4-2-18

2
Feb

BK RFC Club Gear

BK RFC Club Gear
Available to order soon:
1. Club Beanie-€10.00
2. Fully Waterproof Training top- €32.00
3. Skinny Tracksuit Bottoms-€25.00
4. training T shirt-€18.00
5. 1/4 Zip Tracksuit top-€30.00

a package is available of Tracksuit top ,T shirt and Skinnys for €55.00

 

BKRFC Gear1 BKRFC Gear2

16
Jan

U13 Match vs Clanwilliam RFC

Sunday 12th January saw our U13 Squad travel to Clanwilliam RFC for a challenge match.

In tightly contested game our U13’s emerged victorious 10-7.

Many thanks to all those at Clanwilliam for hosting us.

 

U13 Squad-2 U13 v Clan

29
Nov

U11 Mini blitz in Scariff RFC

The Under 11’s took part in a Blitz in Scariff on Sunday 26th November. Beginning their day with a comfortable win against  Garryowen, the team lined out against a well drilled Shannon side. BKRFC conceded a soft early try and it looked like it could be a difficult game. However with captain for the day, Zac Dillon finishing off a great team try BallinaKillaloe showed great character to turn the game around and  win by a single try. Their final game was in worsening conditions against the hosts who took the lead in the second half. Ballina Killaloe defended courageously and worked very hard for Brendan Minogue to get their reward drawing level with a controversial TMO decision in the last play of the game.
Well done to all the boys!
u 11 s at Scariff
Also, the parents of the Under 11s  who don’t get enough credit for braving mud, tears, blood(once!) rain wind and almost sub zero temperatures to cheer on this great young team.Thank You!
U 11 parents