Ennis Rugby Club Coach, John Queally with players Michael Sweeney and Odhran Flynn. Photograph: Natasha Barton.
Ennis RFC president Dermot Hallahan readily admits that this is proving to be an exciting and successful season for the club.
Over the coming weeks supporters of the club will be following the fortunes of a number of club teams that have progressed to the latter stages of their competitions in the province.
“Given the difficulties of the past two years with the Covid lockdown, the real challenge was to keep people engaged and keep them motivated. It pushed us to find new players and to promote the younger players and get them believing that they can play at senior level. Twelve or thirteen of our under 20 team have represented the seniors this year and that gives them confidence. They need to learn the trade and hopefully, the club will benefit in the years to come”, Dermot told The Clare Echo this week.
Dermot agrees that “the successes achieved by Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan and Conor Moloney with Munster and with the Irish under 20’s has been a huge boost for the club as has the achievements of Alannah McInerney and Chisom Ugwueru on the girls side. Their successes makes it real for the other club players who wnt to emulate them. It is great to see guys they played with who came from a junior club, showing what is possible at Provincial and National levels”.
The club president believes that “this is the kind of fillip needed at this time of the season and the most important think is to enjoy it. All the payers are looking forward to coming to training and travelling to games and having the bus journeys home where they make the bonds”.
Continuing he said “Sunday’s Munster under 16 final is another huge occasion for the club. That squad had their challenges during the lockdown but they responded well to the challenges. The squad includes some really good players, some of whom are on Munster development squads. They have trained hard all season, two and three times a week. They have shown great commitment. They have given up social occasions which are important landmarks in teenagers’ lives”.
Dermot readily agrees that “it’s important to have underage teams coming through and for the club to continue to transition players up the ranks to the senior team. Senior clubs on our doorstep in Limerick and Galway are ready to pounce for these players and that is a huge challenge for us. A few months ago I noted eight former Ennis players representing various AIL club. Players being approached by senior clubs is an ongoing challenge for the club”.
Counting all teams from minis to adult level, girls and boys the club fields sixteen teams. All of this takes a lot of planning and a lot of financing. “We have about sixty coaches involved across all levels. You must have at least three or four coaches with each team. The challenge is in identifying volunteers”, according to the club president.
Right now the focus is on Sunday’s under 1t6 final and the president is confident that Ennis will have big support at the game. “I was very impressed with the big crowd that travelled to Thurles last week to support the girls and I expect another big following on Sunday. These are things those involved will remember regardless of the result. We have had enough dark days. It’s important to enjoy these occasions which those involved will reminisce about in years to come”.
The club is organising buses to take supporters to the final on Sunday and those wishing to avail of this should contact any club official.
