MALONE The Cregagh Redsocks
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB Versus
SHANNON
MALONE 2s vs COOKE Junior Cup round 2 Women’s AIL
Malone versus
Suttonians 5pm ko
Saturday 4th December Kick off 2.30pm
Encasing architecture
We are extremely proud to be supporting Malone RFC, who have played such a significant role in the rugby community both locally and nationally for over a century. At this time, Walsin and Malone make a great team as both are aiming high; Malone on their rugby journey and Walsin experiencing unprecedented growth to become one of the largest facade companies in Ireland. I have always had an interest in the sport, having played for my local club for many years and was delighted to be asked to get involved with Malone. Staff members regularly attend home and away games and there is a real buzz in the company around the club’s recent successes. So far we have been delighted to play a small part in the club’s ongoing refurbishment programme and will continue to support Malone RFC as it goes forward. Ian Sinclair, Managing Director, Walsin Ltd.
Proud Sponsors of
Walsin Limited | Blaris Industrial Estate | Altona Road | Lisburn, BT27 5PU www.walsin.co.uk
A MESSAGE FROM KEITH MURRAY PRESIDENT MALONE RFC On behalf of all the members of Malone Rugby Football Club I would like to welcome everyone here today. It is an Honour and privilege to be the 85th President of Malone RFC in our 129th year. I am delighted also to extend our welcome to Shannon RFC and Cooke RFC, their Presidents Mick McLoughlin (Shannon) and Richard Irvine (Cooke), guests and supporters. It’s been quite a while since both teams visited Malone. Today we have a host of games - our 1st XV play an AIL 1B game against Shannon; the 2nd XV play a Junior Cup second round game against Cooke, and then to complete the afternoon our 1st XV women’s team play an AIL game against Suttionians. Division 1B is again proving to be a very competitive league with both Malone & Shannon being beaten last time out. Both sides have played 7 games each, only winning two so far. Looking at the league table the importance of bonus points will be crucial to where both sides finish up. Todays game is vital for both teams The Junior Cup game will be a closely fought affair also, with both clubs looking to progress further in the competition. Our 1st XV women’s team are sitting exactly the same as our 1st XV men with 2 wins from 7 games and this afternoon’s game against Suttionians looks like being a tight contest. As ever we are indebted to our sponsors, thank you on behalf of all our members.
I would like to thank all our club volunteers who turn up to look after our Club on a very regular basis. Your hard work is often forgotten but not unseen. Thank you all To all our supporters, families and friends I ask for 100% support and commitment for all our teams, and respect for the opposition and the officials. As this is our last home AIL game before Christmas I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. After today's games I want to welcome everyone back inside the clubhouse for some traditional Malone hospitality. Finally I hope you all enjoy your day at Gibson Park, good luck to all the teams and I look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Keith Murray, President, Malone RFC
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OUR VISITORS TODAY
SHANNON
Shannon Rugby Football Club is the most successful club in the All Ireland League, having won the competition nine times.
They hail from Limerick near the banks of the Shannon river. The club is one of the top amateur sides in Ireland and has seen many of its players progress to professional and international rugby. Shannon was founded on the 18th February 1884, in the Shamrock Bar, a pub by the old Park Bridge, Corbally Road, Limerick. The founding members were Paddy Lynch, Dan Duggan, Richie Gleeson, Pierce Hartney and Joe Hegarty. Paddy Lynch captained the first Shannon team and Stephan Hanrahan was president of the club for the first two years of its existence. Shannon remained a junior club for the best part of 70 years, during which time they supplied numerous players to Garryowen's successful senior sides. Shannon won the Munster Junior Cup for the first of many times in 1914. Their first Transfield cup was won in 1938. The following year, the Munster Junior Cup was won again. One year later (1940), in the process of winning their first Charity Cup, they added both the Munster Junior Cup and Transfield Cup. Shannon's consistent success as a junior club eventually led to the club attaining senior status in the 1953-54 season, becoming Limerick's fifth senior club. It was not until 1960 that Shannon won their first Munster Senior Cup, defeating University College Cork, 6-3 in a replay at Thomond Park, having drawn 8-8 the previous week at Musgrave Park, Cork. Over the years, since the club's inception, Shannon have had numerous temporary grounds, among them the field at the
Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley and Mick Galwey celebrate a play off victory in 1998.
Island Bank, Gilligan's field, Johnny Cusack's field and Egan's Field on the Mill Rd. in Corbally. The first purchased grounds were 14 acres of land at Fir Hill, Gortatogher, (better known as Athlunkard) just two miles from Limerick city. However, a few years ago, it was determined that this was not big enough, so it was sold to Corbally Utd soccer club in favour of our current more spacious grounds at Coonagh off the Ennis Road. Shannon currently have 3 training pitches there, floodlights and newly built dressing rooms, and are developing two more pitches. While still a junior club, Shannon became co-tenants with Bohemians RFC at the Munster RFU-owned grounds at famed Thomond Park. In 1967, they completed their own Club Pavilion there. In 1978, the Pavilion was extended to the size it is today. A milestone in the history of the club was the celebration of their centenary in 1984. The Shannon women's side compete in Division 1 of the Munster League. Shannon RFC fields underage teams for boys and girls from u6s - u20s and Shannon made history in 2017 as being the first club in the country to field a girls u20s side.
REMEMBER TO HAVE PROOF OF YOUR COVID STATUS READY WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE CLUB HELP MALONE TO KEEP MEMBERS AND GUESTS SAFE!
PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN NOT SEATED
Club Captain’s Christmas Message This festive period I want to extend warmest wishes to all club members, coaches, volunteers, players and sponsors. It’s been fantastic to get back to the club this season and some sort of normality, including the double headers and lunch today. Despite all of the uncertainty at the moment, I hope that everyone has a safe and very merry Christmas and that we are back as normal in the New Year. Up Above! Peita
Malone RFC Christmas Opening Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24th, 25th December) - Closed Boxing Day (Sunday 26th December) - Open at 4.00pm (Ulster vs Connaught 19.15 ko) New Year’s Eve - Closed New Year’s Day (Saturday 1st January 2022) - Open (Ulster vs Leinster 19.35 ko)
MALONE MINIS Adam McNamee’s rugby journey so far
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Receiving his award from Robbie Diack–
In the thick of things at Malone
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Adam McNamee started his rugby journey in 2006, just four years old, when he first arrived at Gibson Park as a Malone Mini. Two great mini coaches, Peter McFadden and Peter Robson spent many hours teaching Adam and many other mini players the basics of tackling, rucking and scoring tries. Adam especially enjoyed his first rugby international tour when he represented Malone Minis at a tournament in Madrid in 2011 and in his final mini year he picked up the coveted prize for Player of the Year, receiving his trophy from Malone legends Chris Henry and Robbie Diack. Graduating from Malone, Adam went on to play his schools rugby at Methodist College Belfast, and with his Malone grounding, was a regular in the first or second teams for his year. At this stage, Adam fancied himself as a free running centre, but experienced Methody coach, Davy Wells, took one look at him and said “Second Row for you son!” And his fate was sealed. At Methody, Adam reached a Medallion Shield semi-final, before graduating to the 1st XV in his fifth year. Here, he joined a particularly strong Methody team that went all the way, winning the Schools Cup Final in 2019 with Adam securing a place on the bench. The following year, 2019/20, Adam helped Methody to a Schools Cup semi final, where they narrowly lost to a strong Wallace team featuring Nathan Doak, Ben Carson and Reuben Crothers in their ranks. As Adam was preparing for the 2020/21 season, the pandemic struck, bringing a promising schools career to a premature end. However, opportunity knocked, when on his 18th birthday Adam received a call from Ulster Rugby inviting him to join up with the Ulster Academy. Adam threw himself into this wholeheartedly and was picked to play in a few U19 games but these,
TO ULSTER
once again, fell victim to COVID. His big break came recently in August of this year when Adam was picked to start all three Ulster A games against Leinster, Munster and Connacht. He also appeared from the bench in the Ulster A game in Banbridge a few weeks ago against a strong Leinster team that had a number of Irish Internationals in their ranks Adam was delighted to return to his roots at Gibson Park this season and proudly pulled on the Malone shirt for his first All Ireland League game against Navan and the big second row settled well, helping the team to a good win. He is really relishing his time at Malone and representing the club in the All Ireland League. Recently Adam has been part of the Ireland Under 20s training camps as they build towards next year’s Under 20s Six Nations and World Cup tournaments. He is currently keeping his head down and training hard and hopes to be part of the Ireland Under 20s team after Christmas. For now though, his main focus is to help Malone climb the table and get a few more wins in the league.
A dander down With the financial state of the club now sound, plans were afoot to make improvements. One of the members, Val Smyth, an architect, drew up plans for the restructuring of Gibson Park to provide two pitches by taking in the surrounding track, removing the banking at the corners and changing the direction of the pitches to what we know today. The Department of Eduction agreed to grant aid the project to one third of the cost. Also in 1960 Bryce Fleming was the driving force behind the formation of a Colts XV. The object being to attract young people to the club and provide a steady player base. The early and mid sixties saw a dramatic increase in membership, the club was now fielding 10 teams and results improved steadily over the decade. In 1965 Malone reached the Senior Cup final, only to be beaten 9-6 by Instonians and the following year the 2nd XV won
the McCrea Cup. Since 1961 the Committe had been considering buiding a new pavilion and in 1965 it was decided to start raising funds. Plans were drawn up which included a large hall for basketball and badminton so that the club would qualify for a larger grant by providing facilities and fielding teams for more than one sport. Tenders were invited and in 1966 a contract valued at £22,000 was placed. The cost was financed by a Government grant of £11,000, a loan of £3,000 from the IRFU, a grant of £500 and a loan of £500 from the National Playing Fields Association. £5,000 would be provided from club funds and the balance from a bank overdraft. The club’s £5,000 had been raised by levying £5 per head on players, holding dances and several very successful Christmas Carnivals at Gibson Park, plus numerous other events. On 29th April, 1967, the new pavilion was opened by Malone President Charlie
Harte, serving his second term and the then President of the IRFU, Dermot O’Donovan. Following this ceremony, Malone played an Ulster President’s XV which incuded three British Lions, Tony O’Reilly, Syd Millar and Roger Young Malone won! Also in 1967 the club extended the playing facilities by taking a 10 year lease on a pitch owned by Willowfield Unionist Association. Changes since then have fully integrated our ‘Top Pitch’, although still rented, more fully into the Malone landscape. So in its 75th year Malone now had facilities appropriate for a senior club. It didn’t take long before the members were pressurising the committee to provide a bar and in November 1968 the process of obtaining and licence and building an extension to the clubhouse to provide a bar area started. The licence was granted on the morning of 15 January 1969, by the afternoon the stock was ordered and the bar was opened the same evening. It came as something of a shock when upon opening the bar the Ministry of Education claimed a repayment of 90% of the grant provided for the original pavilion. This was to be repaid over seven years, but after three repayments the outstanding balance was extinguished. By now the club was fielding 15 teams each week - 11 in Ulster leagues, a Wednesday XV and three Colts teams playing on Saturday mornings. During this decade the club won the McCrea Cup in 65/66 and 66/67, the Junior Cup in 67/68, the Crawford Cup in 67/68 and 69/70 and the Fourth Division Championship in 66/67 and 68/69. The first team won the Ulster Senior league in 1968/69 and with the clubhouse now providing a proper base, they were ready to explode into the next decade and put some silverware in the trophy cabinet.
Next time: The troubled 70s
IN THESE YEARS
Where better to start - England win the World Cup 1966
The Beatles changed the face of popular music forever.
John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States was assasinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas
DO YOU REMEMBER?
1967
Some memories of the day and the year.
Malone open new pavilion
Club President Charlie Harte addresses the crowd.
MALONE 1. Tommy O’Hagan
3. Aidan McSwiggan
2. Claytan Milligan
5. Stewart McKendrick
4. James McAlister
6. Dan Kerr
8. Harry Andrews
7. Dave Cave Captain
9. Shane Kelly
10. Conor Spence
11. Jonny Betts 12. Callum Smith 13. Nathan Brown 15. Aaron Sexton
14. Rory Campbell
TEAM PL W L HIghfield 7 7 0 Old Wesley 7 6 1 St Mary’s 7 5 2 Armagh 7 5 2 Shannon 7 2 4 Naas 7 3 4 Old Belvedere 7 2 5 Malone 7 2 5 Navan 7 2 4 Banbridge 7 0 7
D 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
PF 191 181 189 139 152 157 135 128 115 119
PA 100 116 135 132 122 183 169 167 195 187
DIFF 91 65 54 7 30 -26 -34 -39 -80 -68
B 3 3 5 2 7 5 3 3 1 4
PTS 31 27 25 22 17 17 11 11 11 4
16. Darryl Maxwell 17 Ben Halliday 18 Zac Devine 19 Gareth Millar 20 Lewis Finlay 21 Ricky Greenwood
Today’s match ball sponsored by
SHANNON 1. Conor Glynn 2. Jordan Prenderville 3. Luke Rigney 4. Lee Nicholas- Captain 5. Sean McCarthy 6. Kelvin Brown 7. Charlie Carmody 8. Colm Heffernan 9. Ian Leonard 10. Richard Mullane 11. Darren Gavin 12. Alan Flannery 13. Killian Dineen 14. Ikem Ugwueru 15. John O' Sullivan Replacements: 16. Alex Long 17. Darragh McSweeney 18. Kieran Ryan 19. David Smith 20. Joshua Costello 21. David Maher
MILLAR McCALL WYLIE JUNIOR CUP
When Malone play Cooke, the
MALONE SECONDS 1
Lee Barlow
2
Connor Kelly
3
Johnny Caskey
4
Jonny Davis (c)
5
Michael McAlister
6
Dean Hewitt
7
Ryan McKenchie
8
Scott Finlay
9
Murray Houston
10
Matt Hamilon
11
NIco Andress
12
Jack McMurtry
13
Neil Alcorn
14
Tim Cuane
15
Sean Lynch
16
Steve Nicholl
17
Paddy Neill
BLACK There’s nothing like a Junior Cup derby to whet the appetite and today’s encounter with Cooke has the makings of a game to remember. Malone come into the tie after a bit of a slow start to the season, losing to Randalstown and then Lisburn. As with most second teams, the challenge is to keep the same squad for every game, call-ups and injuries play havoc with consistency of selection. Experienced players such as Jonny Davis, Scott Finlay and Zak Devine have played a major part in building the squad, leading by example and younger players like half backs Matty Hamilton and Murray Houston are starting to take control of games. After a morale boosting win over Ballymena at Gibson Park the team are undefeated in their last three games, beating Academy, Larne and Lurgan. The team, sponsored by former players Danny Diamond (Practitioner Bar) and David Irvine
W
ROUND 2.. result is always
OR WHITE
(Bloomfield Fuels) always take each game on its own merits, and are looking forward to the clash with Cooke, who saw off Portadown in round one. This will be Malone seconds’s first game this season against a Championship One side. In Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship League One, with just under half their matches played, Cooke sit exactly half way in the table and are looking for a strong performance today following a tough league match last week. There is a mix of youth and experience in the team, Stuart Elwood in the back row is always reliable in a contest and the front row has shown it can stand strong. In the back line, the lively George Robb fills the full back slot with the ever youthful Andy Nelson on the wing. There may even be a cameo appearance from experienced head coach Phil Cartmill, who has named himself on the bench.
COOKE RFC 1.
Dan Dougan
2.
Jacksan Milligan
3.
Ian Moxen
4.
Dan White
5.
Callum Foreman
6.
Stuart Elwood
7.
Adrian Dodd
8.
Toby Mannus
9.
Ryan Flavelle (c)
10
Andy Hannah
11. Andy McMurray 12. Jack Knox 13. Jonny Backus 14. Andy Nelson 15. George Robb 16. Jonny McClune 17. Philip Cartmill
Around the club Youth scrum half clinic
The scrum halves from the various youth teams got a pre-Christmas treat tonight when Ulster's David Shanahan took them for a scrum half clinic. David spent a lot of time running passing drills and working with each player individually. A great session and very beneficial to all the scrum halves involved. Many thanks to David for taking the session.
Academy underway The Malone Academy got underway on Wednesday with good numbers attending the first session with Chris and Gareth. All welcome.
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Delighted to continue our association with Malone
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The Coach’s Corner Again, we have both senior teams at Gibson Park today. The 1st XV welcome Shannon and the 2nd XV line up against Cooke in the Junior Cup. We are in the middle of a 6-week block of fielding both teams. This has proved challenging with injuries and unavailability. A disappointing first half performance last week against Armagh left us with too much to do in the second half although the boys showed character in scoring with the last play of the game to secure a losing bonus point. We take it and move on to Shannon today. Adam McNamee is added to the injury list. We welcomed Teigan Erasmus back to Belfast this week to continue his rehab from a
torn bicep suffered against Queens. Teigan hopes to return to play in January. It's a year since we lost club legend Chippy Baird. I hope as a squad we can put in a performance today that Chippy would be proud of. A performance full of character and honesty. Let’s raise a glass to Chippy after the games today.
Up above, down below. William Leacock
Covering rugby in Ulster
With the women
BACK ON TRACK AFTER RAILWAY DISASTER BALLINCOLLIG 19 MALONE 33 The Energia Cup game against Railway Union saw Malone slump to a heavy defeat but credit goes to the squad for picking themselves up for the following week’s All Ireland League game away in Cork to Ballincollig. A strong finish to the first half, with three quick-fire tries, set Malone up for a 33-19 bonus point win at Tanner Park. It was a first victory for Jamie McMullan’s side since the opening round back in September and it moved them up to sixth place with Ballincollig a point behind in eighth.
Clever kicking from Peita McAlister established field position for Malone and the forwards began to get over the gain line before the breakthrough try. Centre Emma Jordan injected pace onto the ball, cut past Ballincollig’s two halfbacks and darted in under the posts for Holly Brannigan to convert. A powerful Maginnes run quickly had Malone back in scoring range and Durkan’s neat kick over the top was grounded by full-back Brannigan. Durkan knocked over the conversion, and it was 19-0 at the turnaround after McAlister’s well-weighted kick was gobbled up by Anna Stanfield. Ballinacollig responded early in the second half when Sarah O’Donovan dived over from a ruck for an unconverted try.
Women’s 1st XV after their win over Ballincollig.
Barely four minutes later, Malone were caught napping by Gemma Lane when she took a quick tap from halfway and sprinted in behind the posts. Her half-back partner Griffin converted. ’Collig were now fired up and looking to close the gap further, but Malone gradually moved back downfield, Durkan starting a prolonged attack with a strong run and in the 65th minute, nice hands from McAlister and the centres sent Brannigan over. Durkan converted impressively and also added the extras to Jones’ close range try, as the International front rower helped to win a scrum penalty before pouncing to score from a ruck. ‘Collig hit back when Clare Coombes went over over to the left of the posts, Griffin converting but the closing stages were scoreless and Maone held on for a fantastic win. MALONE: Holly Brannigan; Anna Stanfield, Emma Jordan, Ella Durkan, Erin Jones; Peita McAlister (capt), Shirelle Wilson; Sarah Murphy, Neve Jones, Chrissie McKee, Hannah Beattie, Rebecca Smyth, Ashleigh Currie, Chloe McIlwaine, Lauren Maginnes. Replacements: Niamh McCloskey, Donna McGovern. Scorers: Ballincollig: Tries: Sarah O’Donovan, Gemma Lane, Clare Coombes; Cons: Kelly Griffin 2 Malone: Tries: Emma Jordan, Holly Brannigan 2, Anna Stanfield, Neve Jones; Cons: Holly Brannigan, Ella Durkan 3 HT: Ballincollig 0 Malone 19
MALONE WOMEN VS
SUTTONIANS
1. Sarah Murphy 2. Neve Jones 3. Chrissie McKee 4. Hannah Beattie 5. Jennifer Collins 6. Rebecca Greenaway 7. Jo McMorris-Cloughey 8. Lauren Maginnes 9. Anna Stanfield 10 Peita McAlister (c) 11. Emma Taylor 12. Ella Durkan 13. Emma Jordan
AIL continues
14. Donna McGovern
This Satuday sees the visit of Suttonians to Gibson Park.
15. Holly Brannigan
The Dublin side have a similar record to Malone, played seven, won two, and sit one point below the home side in seventh. Last time out against Wicklow, Suttonians scored six tries to end a three match losing run. This may be a mid table clash, but both sides will be looking to kick on from their recent wins and push towards the top end of the league. There’s a lot at stake for both sides and it should be a closely fought encounter to round off the afternoon at Gibson Park. Kick off for this one is at 5.00 pm
Subs: 16. Asheigh Currie 17. Jasmine Ward 18. Erin Jones 19. Shirelle Wilson
POTTINGER’S ENTRY, BELFAST