December 2016/17 Volume I Issue No. 1 The Official Garryowen F.C. Newsletter THE STAR “One Club, One Direction, Together” Welcome Seamus Downes, Club President, 2016/17 I wish to express my gratitude to my fellow Club members for electing me as President of The Star gets a makeover Garryowen FC in our 132ⁿ� year. Welcome to the first edition of the revised club Garryowen F.C. is important to all newsletter, ‘The Star’. Within this edition, we of us. As a rugby club, our have asked members of the club executive, to foremost concern is what happens provide an overview of the highlights on the pitch. However, at all times we must be vigilant throughout the first part of Season 2016/17. We to ensure that we take care of business off the pitch, in hope that readers will find this publication order to ensure the future success of the Club. informative and we look forward to including I am delighted to welcome Quattro Plant as our new content from across the club, in future editions. main sponsor for the 2016/2017 season. I would also like to acknowledge Mark and Kate Fleming of We wish all our members and supporters, a very Medicare, who have been our main sponsor for many Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. years. Medicare have committed to remain on as partners, alongside the Hogan Family and Volkswagen, Yours in Rugby, who have remained sponsors throughout our twenty- five years in the A.I.L. To our Corporate Sponsors, Tony O’Rourke Pitch Advertisers, Corporate Hospitality Supporters and Chairman of Communications Fund Raisers, please accept my sincere thanks on behalf of the Club. Anthony Geoghegan We continue to field teams at every age group including Assistant Editor a girls tag rugby team who are making great progress . We also continue to field firsts, seconds, thirds U20’s and veterans. I wish all of our playing members an enjoyable, successful and above all safe remainder of the season. I wish the entire senior management and their players, the best for the remainder of the season and thank you for your heroic efforts to date on behalf of the club. Please remember that we are all members. From our youngest player at under 6 level, through to our Club Trustees, we all want what is best for the Club and should all strive to contribute to its success, in whatever way we can. In this regard, I have one request of you, The Seniors recorded a derby win over Young Munster last Friday Take Pride. Garryowen FC is sponsored by Garryowen Rugby Club @GarryowenFC GarryowenRugby.com Dermot Morrissey – Club Chairman As you are aware we set out a 3 Other highlights in recent times have included: year plan for the club in 2014. Key missions were: « Hosting of two Under 19 International A) To put our Finances in order matches and ensure a sound financial « International Wooden Spoon Event footing for future years. We are « Regeneron Annual Sports Day very optimistic that by end of « Highly successful corporate event for the All 2016 we will have met our bullet payment Blacks game. commitment to the bank and our aim will be to « Hosting All Black Maoris in Dooradoyle continue to deliver a strong financial performance this « Continued success of ‘Cash for Clobber’ season. This will be paramount on meeting future « Christmas Trees Sales, challenges. B) To compete in Top 4 of Division 1A of the Ulster There is a huge amount of effort still required to Bank League. Our flagship senior team lie fifth in Div. achieve the full potential of our club. We need to ensure 1A. A brand of exciting, brave and innovative rugby has that what has been put in place on and off the pitch is seen some great performances this year. Great sustained and improved upon. To really make the progress has been seen across all our adult sides and progress required we need to further optimise our this feeds into the success of senior team. Our Under- facility potential, embrace the local community and get age sides continues to be very strong and vibrant. everyone in the club pulling as “One Club, in One History was made recently when we fielded our first Direction, Together“. girls rugby team in a tournament in Cork. David Hayes – Chairman of Rugby, Following from last season, thanks at a loss to their parting and wish As the season progresses all teams to a considerable effort from a them well in their future are settling and improving number of people we have endeavours. performance week on week. We recruited a sizeable number of new Our teams are doing very well in would like to commend all those who young talented players and are the various leagues. We found represented the club at national and delighted to have them join our ourselves short of numbers early provincial level. Congratulations to ranks. on, suffering in three cup Conor Murray on the tremendous We are delighted to welcome to competitions as a result, losing to results versus all three Southern our coaching staff Denis Leamy Nenagh in the Senior Cup, Hemisphere Teams, most specifically with the First XV , Dermot Newcastlewest in the Transfield the win against the All Blacks in McInerney with the Second’s, Rory and St. Mary’s in the McInerney Chicago. Brosnan and Kevin Hartigan joining cup. That said we have 20 points at Congratulations also to Alex the Under 20’s and Dave Nolan in the time of writing in the UBL. Wootton on making his senior debut the Thirds’. Played 8 won 4 lost 4 with 4 bonus for Munster. We wish a speedy Unfortunately, we said goodbye points. Played 4 in the MS2L recovery to all those players currently to quite a few players and winning 2 and losing 2. Played 3 in on the injured list and not forgetting members of staff including, Paul DWT U20 win 2 losing 1 Played 5 in Neville Furlong who is fighting a tough Neville, Kieran Ronan and Mark GL 3rds winning all. battle with illness. Keane , the club is most definitely Garryowen F.C. would like to congratulate the following players in representing their Nation and Province: Conor Murray: Munster/Ireland/Lions Bill Johnston Munster/Munster A/Ireland U20’s Peadar Collins Ireland Mike Sherry: Munster/Ireland Sean O’Connor Munster/Munster A/Ireland U20’s U19’s/MunsterU20’s Development Ronan O’Mahony Munster/Munster A JP Phelan Munster/Munster A/Ireland U20’s Daniel Hurley Munster U19’s/Munster Andrew Conway Munster/Munster A Steve McMahon Munster/Munster A/Ireland U20’s Development David Johnston Munster/Munster A U20’s Dave McCarthy Munster U19’s Alex Wooton Munster/Munster A Sean O’Connor Munster U20’s Development Harry Byrne Ireland U18 Conor Oliver Munster/Munster A Barra O’Byrne Munster U20’s Development Clubs/Munster U18 Clubs Sam Arnold Ulster/Munster Steve McMahone Munster U20’s Development Derry Gleeson Munster U18 Clubs Liam Coombes Munster U20’s Development Jack Mullany Munster U19’s Bailey Faloon Munster U20’s Development 2 Underage Michael Power — Chairman of Youth Rugby, We have over 500 members All the teams are performing well in their respective making Garryowen one of the leagues. The boys and coaching teams continue to do largest underage clubs in the Garryowen proud both on and off the pitch. Schools country. This large group are rugby has been a particular challenge however thanks nurtured and developed by a to the hard work of the management and coaching great team of coaches and team our Under 16’s are now featuring strongly in parents. Sunday mornings are a their Pan Munster League. very enjoyable affair with an atmosphere and energy I would like to express my sincere thanks to our that is the envy of all clubs that visit. Central to the coaches, managers and parents and without whom Sunday morning culture is the friendly welcome that we could not provide the kids with this wonderful all our members and visitors experience. The experience and we could not continue to make Garryowen breakfast barbeque is also central to this Garryowen the best club in Ireland. festive atmosphere and well done to all involved. Every Sunday morning enormous energy is released by excited and enthusiastic kids in our growing mini’s section. Coaches and parents alike enjoy seeing the youngest Garryowen members go through their paces and develop lifelong friendships and learn the basic skills of rugby. When not taking part in training, our U8’s-12’s participate in fun blitzes, throughout North Munster. Growing from strength to strength, the girl’s tag is proving very popular and adds great balance to the club. Under the watchful eyes of a great team of coaches the girls are enjoying tag rugby and building friendships. This is where the skills begin to show as the boys get I would also like to encourage all members to get their opportunity to demonstrate all their hard work involved. Garryowen is you club and the more over the years. everyone contributes the more enjoyment you and your children will get from it. The Clubhouse We at ‘The Star’ wish all members of Garryowen FC a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. On Behalf of Garryowen FC, we wish the To celebrate the holidays and say farewell to a year following members and their fiancés, very best of exciting rugby, on Sunday, December 18�� Santa wishes on their Nuptials. and his elves will be visiting our clubhouse and will « have surprises for our young stars Conan Doyle, Director of Rugby, Senior team coach.