Sligo RFC V Midleton RFC – Nov 2013 – Match Programme

I am honoured to serve as President of Sligo Rugby Football Club for this season. It is my pleasure as President of Midleton RFC to be here in Hamilton Park today. Welcome to all Sligo and Midleton supporters to this, our third home fixture in the Ulster Bank League Competition 2013-14. A special welcome to Both clubs will be mentioned in each other's histories, for entirely different Andrew McCarthy, President of Midleton RFC. reasons but at least we can enjoy this game without the tension that accompanied that promotion/relegation clash fifteen years ago. I ask you all to join us for a minutes silence before today’s game in memory of our friend and member Conor Brady who tragically died last I played in that game in Portlaoise and I am delighted to see you back in the month in the United States. May he rest in peace. Senior ranks where you belong. After a great win on the road in Ards last week we hope to continue that I wish Sligo all the best for the future and look forward to welcoming you to form today. I wish all teams in each Cork next season. section and their coaches continued success and assure you all of our appreciation of your dedication and endeavour. Andrew Mc Carthy President Thanks to the ground staff for their Midleton RFC efforts in maintaining the pitches and upgrading the premises to such a high standard. In these difficult times good leadership is vital and I thank sincerely the committees who run the financial affairs of the club and generate sponsorship. Thanks also to our generous sponsors for their continued support.

I wish Simon Galvin and his coaches, team captain Mark Butler and his team success today and for the season.

Brian Mullan President Sligo RFC

Cover photo - Sligo RFC representatives from every team in the Club from U7 to Seniors I am honoured to serve as President of Sligo Rugby Football Club for this season. It is my pleasure as President of Midleton RFC to be here in Hamilton Park today. Welcome to all Sligo and Midleton supporters to this, our third home fixture in the Ulster Bank League Competition 2013-14. A special welcome to Both clubs will be mentioned in each other's histories, for entirely different Andrew McCarthy, President of Midleton RFC. reasons but at least we can enjoy this game without the tension that accompanied that promotion/relegation clash fifteen years ago. I ask you all to join us for a minutes silence before today’s game in memory of our friend and member Conor Brady who tragically died last I played in that game in Portlaoise and I am delighted to see you back in the month in the United States. May he rest in peace. Senior ranks where you belong. After a great win on the road in Ards last week we hope to continue that I wish Sligo all the best for the future and look forward to welcoming you to form today. I wish all teams in each Cork next season. section and their coaches continued success and assure you all of our appreciation of your dedication and endeavour. Andrew Mc Carthy President Thanks to the ground staff for their Midleton RFC efforts in maintaining the pitches and upgrading the premises to such a high standard. In these difficult times good leadership is vital and I thank sincerely the committees who run the financial affairs of the club and generate sponsorship. Thanks also to our generous sponsors for their continued support.

I wish Simon Galvin and his coaches, team captain Mark Butler and his team success today and for the season.

Brian Mullan President Sligo RFC

Cover photo - Sligo RFC representatives from every team in the Club from U7 to Seniors Sponsors

The Glasshouse Hotel

Cosgrove’s Centra Maugheraboy Sponsors

The Glasshouse Hotel

Cosgrove’s Centra Maugheraboy SLIGO RFC TEAM SHEET MIDLETON RFC TEAM SHEET

1. Wesley Maxwell 1. Kevin Brierly 2. Tadhg Power 2. John Silke (Capt) 3. Ross Mannion 3. Coran Keane 4. David Heath 4. Ryan lehane 5. Michael McMorrow 5. Aidan McCarthy 6. Eoin Matthews 6. Graham Mulcahy 7. Rory Kerins 7. Dave O’Sullivan 8. Eddie Connell 8. Sean White 9. Paddy Pearson 9. Rob Colan O’Leary 10. Stefan Moir 10. Christian Walker 11. Colm Egan 11. Diarmuid Rohan 12. Gavin Foley 12. Bryan Morris 13. Chris Nairn 13. Jade Criuckshank 14. Colin Keane 14. Kieran Burns 15. Mark Butler (Capt) 15. Diarmuid O’Sullivan 16. Adrian McHale 16 David lee 17. David Greene 17 Sam Deady 18. James Wilson 18 Colin Fitzpatrick 19. Billy Leahy 19 Mat Coakley 20. Enda Gavin 20 Danny May 21. Craig Adams

Coach - Simon Galvan Assistant Coach - Roger Burrows Manager - Cathal Culhane SLIGO RFC TEAM SHEET MIDLETON RFC TEAM SHEET

Coach - Simon Galvan Assistant Coach - Roger Burrows Manager - Cathal Culhane Message to Sligo RFC from Pat Fitzgerald, President, IRFU. The 2012/2013 Ulster Bank League has given us great entertainment and a nail biting As President of the Irish Rugby Football Union, I am delighted to extend my best wishes to climax that we couldn’t have predicted. Now it’s the time of year again for new beginnings Sligo RFC. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Brian Mullan on being elected President in clubs the country over. New members will be joining with fresh hopes, dreams and and I wish him and all players and members of the club every success for the season. renewed tactics.

The Sligo club is a formidable force in the North West of Ireland. It performs a telling role in Rugby is enjoying increasing popularity with the recent success of our national and making available the provision of rugby in your expanding community, from under age level up the line to your senior side, which itself has impacted significantly in Division 2b of the provincial sides. However, where would Irish rugby be without the dedication shown in Ulster Bank League by finishing ninth and 11th place of 16 clubs in the two seasons since rugby clubs the length and breadth of the country? From underage to first-team players, your promotion to senior status. hundreds of coaches pledge years to the development of players – players who week in week out, dedicate their time, their talent and their weekends to ensure that rugby continues On behalf of the IRFU I pay tribute to all volunteers throughout club rugby in appreciation to thrive at a local, provincial and national level. of their invaluable contribution to the success of our game. But while I believe that Irish rugby generally is in good order, we face many challenges and as President I invite you to support This is Ulster Bank’s fourth season as the Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU, the IRFU in its objectives as outlined in the presentation this season of the Union’s third Strategic Plan, as together I believe we can maintain our values and enrich the enjoyment we a partnership which includes title sponsorship of the All-Ireland Club League and of the get from our game. Irish Club International team. It set out the aspirations for Irish rugby covering the next four years to 2017 and is titled: - “From Grassroots to International success, one Island, one passion, one vision.’’ It incorpo- As part of our ongoing commitment to communities across Ireland and our understanding rates the launch of Plan Ireland whose aim to establish the pre-eminence of the Ireland team in that rugby clubs are the foundations of Irish rugby, we created a club initiative called the top echelons of World rugby, while at the same time helping the Provinces to maintain their ‘Ulster Bank RugbyForce’. The programme, which coincides with our overall sponsorship, own levels of success is designed to provide rugby clubs with support to renovate and upgrade their facilities as I also urge your support for the Union’s Club Sustainability Report. One of its key recommen- well as unite club members and local volunteers. dations is the removal of payments to players in the amateur game and which I believe are not in the best interests of the club game. Over 300 clubs from all over the country have entered RugbyForce to date. Each year four lucky clubs, one from each province, are awarded €5,000 worth of goods and resources. Be assured it is the determination of the Union and its Branches that our club game endures as The five winning clubs for 2012 – ‘13 (Richmond RFC, Birr RFC, Newry RFC, Midleton the bedrock of Irish rugby. The professional game will always be the shop window, but I assure RFC and Westport RFC) took part in the recent Ulster Bank RugbyForce Winning Week- you that the IRFU is committed in its resolve that securing the future of the grassroots game is essential. ends, which brought entire communities together to spend the day renovating their club’s facilities. See ulsterbank.com/rugby In this regard, I would like to thank Ulster Bank, for more details and look out for your chance to enter your club the official Community Partner to the IRFU, in this season’s Ulster Bank RugbyForce programme. which includes sponsorship of the Ulster Bank League, the Irish Club international team, the I speak for everyone at Ulster Bank when I say best of luck to Bateman All Ireland Cup, the Ulster Bank League awards and of the Ulster Bank Rugby- all the teams and we are excited to see how the 2013/20014 Force initiative. unfolds.

Best wishes to all at Hamilton Park. Ellvena Graham Ulster Bank Pat Fitzgerald, President – Irish Rugby Football Union Message to Sligo RFC from Pat Fitzgerald, President, IRFU. The 2012/2013 Ulster Bank League has given us great entertainment and a nail biting As President of the Irish Rugby Football Union, I am delighted to extend my best wishes to climax that we couldn’t have predicted. Now it’s the time of year again for new beginnings Sligo RFC. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Brian Mullan on being elected President in clubs the country over. New members will be joining with fresh hopes, dreams and and I wish him and all players and members of the club every success for the season. renewed tactics.

Best wishes to all at Hamilton Park. Ellvena Graham Ulster Bank Pat Fitzgerald, President – Irish Rugby Football Union

Conor Brady Rest in Peace

There was profound shock and sadness in Sligo RFC when news was received about the tragic death of Conor Brady.

Conor, a graduate of NUIG, was extremely popular with everyone in the club. He played in the under-age section from U-7 until U-18, where his father, Peter was a coach. He was an outstanding out-half, who starred in many games for Sligo. An all-round very talented athlete, he also played both minor and U-21 championship Gaelic football for Co. Sligo. He captained Summerhill College from the No. 10 position in the memorable Connacht Senior Cup semi-final against Sligo Grammar School in 2007, which his side narrowly lost.

The esteem in which Conor was held can be gauged from the huge numbers who called to his parents’ house and from the vast crowd who were present at his funeral.

Deepest sympathy from the President and from all members of Sligo RFC on their great loss is extended to Conor’s parents, Peter and Maureen, brother Donal, sister Shaunagh, and to all of his extended family.