Clon launch their sixth adult team

Article by Jonny Stapleton

Clondalkin over 35s (10) vs Bective over 35s (15)


















With a full quota of youth teams, four senior men’s sides and a women’s outfit all donning the yellow and navy of Clondalkin Rugby Club this season it seemed Gordon Park playing numbers had reached an insurmountable high. However, the record for the most amount players to play for the club in one term was somehow extended further when an over 35 side fielded in the Winters Cup. And fittingly in the season of CRFC personal bests that wasn’t the only numerical record to be broken by the competitive veteran side when they were in action recently. The Gordon Park sides over 35 outfit boasted the highest ever average age of any Clondalkin side. In fact, although some will argue otherwise, the Winters Cup team bar one or two young guns could have contested in an over 45 cup competition.

Gordon Park was awash with ghosts of Clon rugby’s ancient past last Wednesday night as veterans of the 45 plus kind dusted off their heavy leather boots before the few with teeth put in their gum shields before taking to the field. Despite the side, which was certainly more oldie than golden, substantial age they competed exceptionally. After seeing off the challenge Stillorgan thanks to the kicking expertise of Barry Connell they came within inches of defeating league champions Bective in round two.

Tries from second team old hand turned Winters Cup team young gun Alaric Collier and man of the match Jimmy Cahill saw the hosts get within five of a team that train and play together regularly and boast a former Leinster regular. The Clon side, which included senior club coach Robert Hayes, the brilliant Eammon Stapleton and the second oldest player ever to score for the club in a non over-age fixture Mick O‘Brien, completely dominated the second half but just could not get the score and hence get the victory their play deserved. Many believe that if the great Finbarr Butler took to the field the score would have been drastically different but many peoples favourite for the second team player of the year award wouldnt take to the field against his former club. He was quoted as saying the following "I've put many hard years in with Bective and i would feel like i was betraying the players i played with in the past. As the lads who train regularly know, the Bective jersey still means a lot to me and i would not have been able to commit myself fully to the Clondalkin cause tonight".

Added by Murts April 20, 2010 (1:59PM)

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