Skerries Rugby legends competed in their first Vets tournament in Wanderers RFC recently for the Brian Brownlee Memorial Trophy…
Records will show that they were the last remaining Skerries rugby team to compete for this season. This boils down to the unusual training methods of the coaching staff under the watchful eye of Nicky McDonough, (rumour has it that there is Jameson or two involved to help improve the players co-ordination and recovery!)
Put into a tough group with Blackrock, Exiles, our three pool games were 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. because 3 teams were tied on tries, points etc, 3 teams emerged from this group of death. In the pool stages, Robert McAuley 2 tries, Conor Ryan, Billy Mulcahy and Rock McMahon all crossed the white line, while the defence kept the opposition teams at bay.
Skerries produced their best performance against Paddy Power and won 4 tries to 1 to book their semi final spot. Joe McNally and Billy Mulcahy had the pick of the tries while Aidan McCann who was sprung from the bench after his injury contributed to a big D game.
Back to the hospitality enclosure and more Jameson. A semi final spot against our Group winners, the team was more prepared and focused. It was a tight game with no quarter taken or given by either team. 20 mins could not separate the teams so the “golden try” rule came into play.
Skerries were denied a try in extra time, after a superb chip over the defence by McDonough, the ball was judged to have crossed the goal line before it bounced, the try was denied for Ryan. Play continued, Skerries attacked and were the better team until a agonising intercept ended Skerries participation in the competition.
Part of this Fundraiser is to charge each team €;500 and the winner is picked from the hat who then receives all the monies raised to a Charity of their choice. Skerries Legends was “St Francis Hospice, Raheny”. Out of the hat came Skerries Legends and a grand sum of €;6,100 which will go to St Francis Hospice.
Good day all round for the Team , semi final spot on first outing, €;6k raised for charity and Leinster beat Munster and dare I say it, a few Jameson to help us on our way. Thanks to Wanderers RFC for organising the event, we will be back next year.
SKERRIES: Nicky McDonough (Player/Manager), Aidan McCann, Rock McMahon, Robert McAuley, Tom McDonald, Joey McNally, Billy Mulcahy, John O’Reilly, Vinny Hutton, Brian Twomey, Colm Lowdnes, Conor Ryan and 13th man was Owen Taffe
