Thurles Second XV, the season so far
Thurles 2nd xv have been in action in the Gleeson League in the first half of the season. To say the team were challenged with call ups to the firsts and injurys would be an understatement. But they fielded a team and put in some fine performances.
Before we move onto the match recap we must salute a retired loyal clubman in Dwayne Stanley by name and Stanley by nature. Dwayne was a regular for Thurles over his time playing for the black and white. He always turned up, and always gave his best. He was a key player for the 2nd XV as the years galloped on. His energy, comitment and honesty was his DNA. A man to encourage rather than critisise his fellow players. He steps away from rugby knowing that he gained the admiration of his “compadres” and coaches. It would have been a great day for Dwayne as captain if he had snaked a win in a Gleeson League final with his brother Roy, the travelling doctor.
Roy, like Dwayne, saw night shift, long hours of hospital duties and the journey from Galway to fill the” Bearna Baoile”, To tog out for the 1st and 2nd team duties.He saw it as no obsticle. Whether in the fowards or backs he never uttered a word of complaint but rowed in enthusiastically.
Thurles 2nd XV v Thomond / Presentation
Our first match against Thomond in limerick on a friday might was a challenging one. The boys gave it their all, and the older latchicoes like Donncha Ryan, Daniel Lanigan Ryan, Jack Kavanagh, Conor “Young Jack” Ryan, Ger McCormack, Shane Nugent,Richie Houlihan, Brian O Connell, Mark Cummins, Tommy Connolly, and Andrew Bourke blended well with the young bucks Oisin O Gorman, Cian Mackey, Ridas, Con Phelan, Sean Lloyd, Luke Molumby and Jock Fogarty to put up a solid display, with bouts of pressure especially at the end of the 1st forty minutes and the start of the second half were not rewarded.
In summary T/P were a stronger outfit but were made to work for the garland of victory. One notable performance on the night was that of Luke Molumby at scrum half for the first time. Luke excelled on the night and made three outstanding scrum half breaks that gutted the Thomond defence but in each case a final last ditch tackle or a contrary bounce of a ball deprived him of a score. Season underway and an honest effort put in by all.
Thurles v Ard Scoil Old Boys
Our second ficture was at home to ArdScoil Old Boys. A pattern that emerged in this match and the following Richmond match was of lacking intensity in our play and especially tackling allowed Ard Scoil to race in for three early trys, but if theres fight in the dog it will come out at some stage. Rather than bending the knee and utter mettaphorically Duran’s famous words “no mas”. Thurles dominated the second half but again failed to convert pressure into points. It was in this match that Alex Bourke let the coaches know that regarding the essential qualities of a rugby players to get stuck in, he had it in spades. In the Richmond match when asked to move into the front row there was no hesitation. Today sadly in this match Adam Hackett damaged his ankle but he returned to training in the last week. Another Moycarkey man, Odhran Lanphier had come into the squad and showed great anthusiasm to make progress. Thanks to Stephen Shaw for doing the water. In the Richmond match, the experienced Colin Nolan, Dylan O Shaughnessey, and young Cian Ralph were added to the squad. Again, the lack of intensity in the early phases allowed Richmond in for some handy scores. Harsh words from the coaches reddend the ears of the players and the goal was set not to concede a score in the second half. Fair play to the group they did just that, and landed on 2 scores of their own. The unity of the squad was never threatened and with the younger players finding their feet and confidence there was some very positive vibes coming through.
Thurles v St Marys
Saint Marys travelled with a strong squad to Thurles with three solid results behind them against Thomond (draw) Ard Scoil Old Boys ( 3 point loss) Garryowen(draw). With call ups to the firsts, Thurles had the bare 15. Evan Ryan joined his young friends in the squad. Their was no slow start to this match, the very bottom line was NO MISSED TACKLES. It made all the difference. Marys felt they could steam roll Thurles, but it was quite the opposite. With Thurles showing the intensity needed to win the match. Any player finds the energy when he has the ball in his hands, but he must have “cahones” to tackle and bounce up again and search for the next one. And every player did it.
In the second half Marys had their period of dominance and reduced the Thurles lead. Rather than sit back Thurles took the game into the Marys 22. An overthrow at the lineout was snapped up by Richie Houlihan who side stepped the scrum half and took the outhalf on the outside only to be tackled inches short of the line. He had made the breach and seconds later the whitewash was crossed. Game over. Points collected. In the huddle after the match Brandon Meaney echoed Mick Fitzgeralds post Grand National win in describing the enjoyment they got out of the enthusiasm with which they tackled. Again, Stephen Shaw made sure the boys were hydrated. Next match is a friendly against Roscrea on the 12th of December with Gleeson League resuming after the well earned Christmas break.
Thurles 2nd xv have been in action in the Gleeson League in the first half of the season. To say the team were challenged with call ups to the firsts and injurys would be an understatement. But they fielded a team and put in some fine performances.
Before we move onto the match recap we must salute a retired loyal clubman in Dwayne Stanley by name and Stanley by nature. Dwayne was a regular for Thurles over his time playing for the black and white. He always turned up, and always gave his best. He was a key player for the 2nd XV as the years galloped on. His energy, comitment and honesty was his DNA. A man to encourage rather than critisise his fellow players. He steps away from rugby knowing that he gained the admiration of his “compadres” and coaches. It would have been a great day for Dwayne as captain if he had snaked a win in a Gleeson League final with his brother Roy, the travelling doctor.
Roy, like Dwayne, saw night shift, long hours of hospital duties and the journey from Galway to fill the” Bearna Baoile”, To tog out for the 1st and 2nd team duties.He saw it as no obsticle. Whether in the fowards or backs he never uttered a word of complaint but rowed in enthusiastically.
Thurles 2nd XV v Thomond / Presentation
Our first match against Thomond in limerick on a friday might was a challenging one. The boys gave it their all, and the older latchicoes like Donncha Ryan, Daniel Lanigan Ryan, Jack Kavanagh, Conor “Young Jack” Ryan, Ger McCormack, Shane Nugent,Richie Houlihan, Brian O Connell, Mark Cummins, Tommy Connolly, and Andrew Bourke blended well with the young bucks Oisin O Gorman, Cian Mackey, Ridas, Con Phelan, Sean Lloyd, Luke Molumby and Jock Fogarty to put up a solid display, with bouts of pressure especially at the end of the 1st forty minutes and the start of the second half were not rewarded.
In summary T/P were a stronger outfit but were made to work for the garland of victory. One notable performance on the night was that of Luke Molumby at scrum half for the first time. Luke excelled on the night and made three outstanding scrum half breaks that gutted the Thomond defence but in each case a final last ditch tackle or a contrary bounce of a ball deprived him of a score. Season underway and an honest effort put in by all.
Thurles v Ard Scoil Old Boys
Our second ficture was at home to ArdScoil Old Boys. A pattern that emerged in this match and the following Richmond match was of lacking intensity in our play and especially tackling allowed Ard Scoil to race in for three early trys, but if theres fight in the dog it will come out at some stage. Rather than bending the knee and utter mettaphorically Duran’s famous words “no mas”. Thurles dominated the second half but again failed to convert pressure into points. It was in this match that Alex Bourke let the coaches know that regarding the essential qualities of a rugby players to get stuck in, he had it in spades. In the Richmond match when asked to move into the front row there was no hesitation. Today sadly in this match Adam Hackett damaged his ankle but he returned to training in the last week. Another Moycarkey man, Odhran Lanphier had come into the squad and showed great anthusiasm to make progress. Thanks to Stephen Shaw for doing the water. In the Richmond match, the experienced Colin Nolan, Dylan O Shaughnessey, and young Cian Ralph were added to the squad. Again, the lack of intensity in the early phases allowed Richmond in for some handy scores. Harsh words from the coaches reddend the ears of the players and the goal was set not to concede a score in the second half. Fair play to the group they did just that, and landed on 2 scores of their own. The unity of the squad was never threatened and with the younger players finding their feet and confidence there was some very positive vibes coming through.
Thurles v St Marys
Saint Marys travelled with a strong squad to Thurles with three solid results behind them against Thomond (draw) Ard Scoil Old Boys ( 3 point loss) Garryowen(draw). With call ups to the firsts, Thurles had the bare 15. Evan Ryan joined his young friends in the squad. Their was no slow start to this match, the very bottom line was NO MISSED TACKLES. It made all the difference. Marys felt they could steam roll Thurles, but it was quite the opposite. With Thurles showing the intensity needed to win the match. Any player finds the energy when he has the ball in his hands, but he must have “cahones” to tackle and bounce up again and search for the next one. And every player did it.
In the second half Marys had their period of dominance and reduced the Thurles lead. Rather than sit back Thurles took the game into the Marys 22. An overthrow at the lineout was snapped up by Richie Houlihan who side stepped the scrum half and took the outhalf on the outside only to be tackled inches short of the line. He had made the breach and seconds later the whitewash was crossed. Game over. Points collected. In the huddle after the match Brandon Meaney echoed Mick Fitzgeralds post Grand National win in describing the enjoyment they got out of the enthusiasm with which they tackled. Again, Stephen Shaw made sure the boys were hydrated. Next match is a friendly against Roscrea on the 12th of December with Gleeson League resuming after the well earned Christmas break.
