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TRINITY PREPARE FOR NEW SEASON!!
30/09/2006
The Trinity rugby squad are training hard as they prepare for the new season. As is usual in recent years, pre season started with a week long training camp held in College. Players trained twice a day conditioning in the morning and field work in the early evening. Sessions were well attended and the enthusiasm and intensity was outstanding for this time of the year.
Every three or four years Trinity naturally have a big clear out. But with the highly controversial relegation to Division two the club have lost an unprecedented 23 players from the senior panel of 40 (with four more suffering long term injuries). Niall Conlon has taken a contract with Ulster. Matt D’Arcy, Ronan Doherty and Hugh Hogan gone to St Marys, Paul Doran Jones, Marc Warburton, Darren O’Reilly and Donal Crotty to Lansdowne. Martin Garvey and Philip Howard to Clontarf. Brian Canavan, Mark O’Neill, Cian Culliton and Darren Hayes to Blackrock. David Rowe to Wanderers, Gregory Herrera to Greystones, Barry Kinsella to Old Belvedere. Killian O’Neill to Buccanneers. With Robert Dickson, Declan McDonnell and Conor McShane taking jobs in London Tom Burns and Richard White have taken jobs in Singapore and New York respectively. All the above played at least once for the 1st XV last season.
These players have put their body on the line for DUFC over the years and the Club would like to take this opportunity to wish them all luck in their future careers and rugby endeavours. They will all be greatly missed.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Obviously with so many players departing, this presents great opportunities for the young players coming through. The Trinity U20s have made the past two All Ireland U20s finals (three of the past four) winning one and losing the other to Shannon 15-14. The new look 1st XV will be relying on these players to fulfil their potential, and step up to senior rugby.
Here is a brief summary of the competition for places. At full back Gareth (Gaz) Murphy returns and will be competing with Colm Coyle and possibly Paul Gillespie who can also play centre or the full back spot. Two Leinster U19s reps come into freshman year, Colin Murphy Belvedere College (who can also play wing) along with Andrew Wallace Terenure College who can also play out half and centre.
Trinity have several top class.wingers in Irish schools Shane Hanratty, Irish U19s/Leinster U20s Shane Monahan, Killian Stafford who was outstanding for the 1st XV against Cork Con in the final game last season. After some great performances for the 2nd XV Eoin McNamara will eagerly contest the two wing spots. Seye Ashiru is back after two years away and is looking strong and very fast in training.
At centre the club have an embarrassment of riches with five quality players ready and able to start. Captain Brian Hastings (Irish U19s and Munster U21s). Former U20s captain and Leinster development player George Byron is back from injury. Leinster U21s Conor Donohue is back from a groin injury after missing most of last season. Paul Gillespie who played for Connacht U21s last season is a utility player with an unorthodox ability to break the line, he played several quality games for the 1st XV last season. U20s centre Eoin Fleck has made this years Leinster U20s team and will be pressuring the guys ahead of him. Unfortunately Eoin’s partner in the U20s last season Robert Green broke his leg in a holiday accident this summer. Robert may get back before the end of the season. Freshman Richard Brady Ulster schools U18s played some games in AIL Division three for City of Derry last season could also feature as the season develops.
At out half, Ulster U21s Johnny Watt who was a regular 1st XV player last season is back and he will face stiff competition from the highly talented Micheal Boland who kicked the winning drop goal to beat Oxford University last season for the 1st XV. Micheal is still U20s. Gareth Murphy and Paul Gillespie are talented first receivers, who can step in at any time. Martin Dufficy from Belvedere College and this season’s Leinster U19s will provide quality depth for this season.
At scrum half; Ulster U21s Joey Burns who played the majority of the 1st XV games last season is back and he will continue his competition with former Ulster schools rep Eddie Hamilton who played consistently for the U20s last season. Look for former Blackrock College SCT scrum half Brian Johnston who is still U20s to challenge for a place on the senior squad.
In the forwards the students will be virtually all new to this level of competition. At loose-head prop they have last season’s Ulster U21s Graham Murphy competing with Loughborough University recruit John Clarke. at tight- head prop Triston Goodbody (who can play loose-head) is competing with 6’2 – 19st American Universities prop Andrew King. An interesting newcomer when he arrives from Galway, will be last years Connacht U21s prop Mike Kelly who can play both sides of the scrum. Outstanding international freshman props Paddy McCabe (Belvedere College – Irish Schools U18s) James Gettings (Gonzaga – Ireland U19s and Ruaidri Murphy (Castleknock College - Irish U19s) will provide quality depth and a great future to DUFC.
The club have been dealt a severe blow over the summer with both their very talented and strong U20s tight-head props from last season, Eoin O’Cuinneanan (eye injury) and Craig Telford (illness), who are both out for the foreseeable future. Good luck to both those lads on their upcoming operations and rehab.
At Hooker; sixth year, Medical student Matt Crockett is the only regular returnee to the pack. Last season Matt had a fabulous season, where he represented Irish universities, Ireland Clubs XV and Ulster A. He will be challenged strongly by last years 2nd XV top forward Mark Cooney and U20s hooker the ‘nuggety’ Ben Cunningham, who was outstanding for the U20s last season. Former Leinster schools hooker Eoin Mullen is on the U20s squad and Irish schools U18s hooker Ciaran Egan from Roscrea will be an interesting addition to the club.
In the second row Trinity have five players competing for two spots. At the front of the line out Ciaran Condren, who has worked hard in the weight room all summer, will compete with Greystones recruit and former Leinster U21s Shane Mullane. Utility back five player Richard Morrow,another player who has worked hard over the summer, could also feature in this position. In the middle of the line out 6’5 Roger Young will be under pressure from his U20s team mate Max Cantrell and possibly Ireland U19s and Leinster U20s second row the 6’6 – 17st Tom Walsh who will be coming into freshman year this season along with Irish U18s 6’5 – 17st youths second row Donal Byrne from Blackrock College
The back row as always in Trinity is an embarrassment of riches. At blindside flanker Philip Rowe who was injured most of last season after playing for the Connacht senior team early last season will be hoping to have an injury free campaign. He will be trying to hold off Corinthians recruit Steve Curtin and possibly last years U20s captain and Connacht U21s Shane Young who can play either side. U20s second row the rangy Max Cantrell could also feature in this position. Veteran and former 1st XV regular Eddie Molloy who has been out of the game for 18 months with a groin injury hopes to return around Christmas time to make the competition more intense.
At open-side former Leister U21s rep and combative Ross Condren who was out for most of last season, will be in an epic battle with the very talented Shane Young for the #7 jersey. They will be closely monitored by this seasons U20s captain and former Leinster schools Mark Lynch who is an outstanding prospect for the future.
At number eight; last years Connacht U21s Richard Morrow will challenge former Ulster U21s the very vocal Peter McFeely in an interesting battle. U20s #8 Brian Coyle (former Leinster schools) will be looking hard for one of these guys to drop their guard.
30/09/2006
The Trinity rugby squad are training hard as they prepare for the new season. As is usual in recent years, pre season started with a week long training camp held in College. Players trained twice a day conditioning in the morning and field work in the early evening. Sessions were well attended and the enthusiasm and intensity was outstanding for this time of the year.
Every three or four years Trinity naturally have a big clear out. But with the highly controversial relegation to Division two the club have lost an unprecedented 23 players from the senior panel of 40 (with four more suffering long term injuries). Niall Conlon has taken a contract with Ulster. Matt D’Arcy, Ronan Doherty and Hugh Hogan gone to St Marys, Paul Doran Jones, Marc Warburton, Darren O’Reilly and Donal Crotty to Lansdowne. Martin Garvey and Philip Howard to Clontarf. Brian Canavan, Mark O’Neill, Cian Culliton and Darren Hayes to Blackrock. David Rowe to Wanderers, Gregory Herrera to Greystones, Barry Kinsella to Old Belvedere. Killian O’Neill to Buccanneers. With Robert Dickson, Declan McDonnell and Conor McShane taking jobs in London Tom Burns and Richard White have taken jobs in Singapore and New York respectively. All the above played at least once for the 1st XV last season.
These players have put their body on the line for DUFC over the years and the Club would like to take this opportunity to wish them all luck in their future careers and rugby endeavours. They will all be greatly missed.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Obviously with so many players departing, this presents great opportunities for the young players coming through. The Trinity U20s have made the past two All Ireland U20s finals (three of the past four) winning one and losing the other to Shannon 15-14. The new look 1st XV will be relying on these players to fulfil their potential, and step up to senior rugby.
Here is a brief summary of the competition for places. At full back Gareth (Gaz) Murphy returns and will be competing with Colm Coyle and possibly Paul Gillespie who can also play centre or the full back spot. Two Leinster U19s reps come into freshman year, Colin Murphy Belvedere College (who can also play wing) along with Andrew Wallace Terenure College who can also play out half and centre.
Trinity have several top class.wingers in Irish schools Shane Hanratty, Irish U19s/Leinster U20s Shane Monahan, Killian Stafford who was outstanding for the 1st XV against Cork Con in the final game last season. After some great performances for the 2nd XV Eoin McNamara will eagerly contest the two wing spots. Seye Ashiru is back after two years away and is looking strong and very fast in training.
At centre the club have an embarrassment of riches with five quality players ready and able to start. Captain Brian Hastings (Irish U19s and Munster U21s). Former U20s captain and Leinster development player George Byron is back from injury. Leinster U21s Conor Donohue is back from a groin injury after missing most of last season. Paul Gillespie who played for Connacht U21s last season is a utility player with an unorthodox ability to break the line, he played several quality games for the 1st XV last season. U20s centre Eoin Fleck has made this years Leinster U20s team and will be pressuring the guys ahead of him. Unfortunately Eoin’s partner in the U20s last season Robert Green broke his leg in a holiday accident this summer. Robert may get back before the end of the season. Freshman Richard Brady Ulster schools U18s played some games in AIL Division three for City of Derry last season could also feature as the season develops.
At out half, Ulster U21s Johnny Watt who was a regular 1st XV player last season is back and he will face stiff competition from the highly talented Micheal Boland who kicked the winning drop goal to beat Oxford University last season for the 1st XV. Micheal is still U20s. Gareth Murphy and Paul Gillespie are talented first receivers, who can step in at any time. Martin Dufficy from Belvedere College and this season’s Leinster U19s will provide quality depth for this season.
At scrum half; Ulster U21s Joey Burns who played the majority of the 1st XV games last season is back and he will continue his competition with former Ulster schools rep Eddie Hamilton who played consistently for the U20s last season. Look for former Blackrock College SCT scrum half Brian Johnston who is still U20s to challenge for a place on the senior squad.
In the forwards the students will be virtually all new to this level of competition. At loose-head prop they have last season’s Ulster U21s Graham Murphy competing with Loughborough University recruit John Clarke. at tight- head prop Triston Goodbody (who can play loose-head) is competing with 6’2 – 19st American Universities prop Andrew King. An interesting newcomer when he arrives from Galway, will be last years Connacht U21s prop Mike Kelly who can play both sides of the scrum. Outstanding international freshman props Paddy McCabe (Belvedere College – Irish Schools U18s) James Gettings (Gonzaga – Ireland U19s and Ruaidri Murphy (Castleknock College - Irish U19s) will provide quality depth and a great future to DUFC.
The club have been dealt a severe blow over the summer with both their very talented and strong U20s tight-head props from last season, Eoin O’Cuinneanan (eye injury) and Craig Telford (illness), who are both out for the foreseeable future. Good luck to both those lads on their upcoming operations and rehab.
At Hooker; sixth year, Medical student Matt Crockett is the only regular returnee to the pack. Last season Matt had a fabulous season, where he represented Irish universities, Ireland Clubs XV and Ulster A. He will be challenged strongly by last years 2nd XV top forward Mark Cooney and U20s hooker the ‘nuggety’ Ben Cunningham, who was outstanding for the U20s last season. Former Leinster schools hooker Eoin Mullen is on the U20s squad and Irish schools U18s hooker Ciaran Egan from Roscrea will be an interesting addition to the club.
In the second row Trinity have five players competing for two spots. At the front of the line out Ciaran Condren, who has worked hard in the weight room all summer, will compete with Greystones recruit and former Leinster U21s Shane Mullane. Utility back five player Richard Morrow,another player who has worked hard over the summer, could also feature in this position. In the middle of the line out 6’5 Roger Young will be under pressure from his U20s team mate Max Cantrell and possibly Ireland U19s and Leinster U20s second row the 6’6 – 17st Tom Walsh who will be coming into freshman year this season along with Irish U18s 6’5 – 17st youths second row Donal Byrne from Blackrock College
The back row as always in Trinity is an embarrassment of riches. At blindside flanker Philip Rowe who was injured most of last season after playing for the Connacht senior team early last season will be hoping to have an injury free campaign. He will be trying to hold off Corinthians recruit Steve Curtin and possibly last years U20s captain and Connacht U21s Shane Young who can play either side. U20s second row the rangy Max Cantrell could also feature in this position. Veteran and former 1st XV regular Eddie Molloy who has been out of the game for 18 months with a groin injury hopes to return around Christmas time to make the competition more intense.
At open-side former Leister U21s rep and combative Ross Condren who was out for most of last season, will be in an epic battle with the very talented Shane Young for the #7 jersey. They will be closely monitored by this seasons U20s captain and former Leinster schools Mark Lynch who is an outstanding prospect for the future.
At number eight; last years Connacht U21s Richard Morrow will challenge former Ulster U21s the very vocal Peter McFeely in an interesting battle. U20s #8 Brian Coyle (former Leinster schools) will be looking hard for one of these guys to drop their guard.
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