Sligo RFC V Greystones

Welcome to Hamilton Park today for the visit of Greystones RFC and hard to believe that this is our final league match of the season. In particular I welcome President Adrian Goodrich and his colleagues from Greystones and hope they enjoy their trip to the North West. We are glad that our club do not have to rely on a result from this game to remain in As the season draws to a close for both George and myself, there the league for next season and realise that our visitors are enjoying second position in the table and destined for Division 4 next season. We wish them every success and look is no doubt that both of us have experienced the many highs forward to a good game of rugby today. and lows that make the game of rugby so wonderful to be part of. Great tries stupid mistakes, too many injuries, not enough It would be remiss of me not to say that it has been a disappointing end of season for Sligo points, great times with other Presidents, too much food, too after a very promising start and at one stage we were hopeful of being involved in much drink and not a lot of sleep. Then who would want it any competing for promotion in next season’s league but instead we were struggling to stay in different! the lower league. We are still a small club with a limited number of players and hence there is a huge responsibility on every player to work hard at training and match preparation and prioritise the game at the weekend. I want to express my sincere thanks to manager Des And as to the finale, what a fantastic way to finish our season Cosgrove who was totally committed to the challenge at all times and also coaches Joe Walsh than being in Hamilton Park experiencing the wonderful and Gavin Foley. hospitality laid on by this great club.

On a positive note I want to congratulate our development squad on their league promotion To George and Sligo rugby Club, I wish for next season. They really did our club proud - a great bunch of guys with great spirit you every success in the future and to and credit goes to their coaches Roger Burrows and Wesley Maxwell. Equally on a very our loyal band of travelling supporters, positive note I want to congratulate our brilliant U 18 squad who have just won the U18 cup. On Monday last they defeated Ballinasloe 50 – 7 in the final with an exhibition of most many thanks for your stamina in fol- entertaining rugby of highest quality enjoyed by all and including Pat Lam and lowing us around Ireland and for your Eric Elwood of Connacht Rugby to see Sligo RFC “do the double” and to experience the belief and commitment to the club. extent of talented players that we have in the youth section of our club. It wouldn’t surprise me if additional players from this team will now be sought by the Connacht academy to Adrian Goodrich join Jack Keegan, Cillian Gallagher, Darragh Cummins, Ryan Feehily and Matthew President Cosgrove. This same team did the double at U16 level and great credit Greystones RFC to them and coaches Michael O’Hehir, Simon Glavan and Joe Walsh. Also our ladies have again brought honour to our club with their cup win. Well done Ladies!

This extent of success brings additional responsibilities to all involved in the running of our club. It is now vital that we maximise the potential from the players in the youth section together with cementing our connection with Summerhill College and Sligo Grammar School who will have a major influence in the future development of the game in Sligo and hence the future of our club.

George Draper President Sligo RFC Welcome to Hamilton Park today for the visit of Greystones RFC and hard to believe that this is our final league match of the season. In particular I welcome President Adrian Goodrich and his colleagues from Greystones and hope they enjoy their trip to the North West. We are glad that our club do not have to rely on a result from this game to remain in As the season draws to a close for both George and myself, there the league for next season and realise that our visitors are enjoying second position in the table and destined for Division 4 next season. We wish them every success and look is no doubt that both of us have experienced the many highs forward to a good game of rugby today. and lows that make the game of rugby so wonderful to be part of. Great tries stupid mistakes, too many injuries, not enough It would be remiss of me not to say that it has been a disappointing end of season for Sligo points, great times with other Presidents, too much food, too after a very promising start and at one stage we were hopeful of being involved in much drink and not a lot of sleep. Then who would want it any competing for promotion in next season’s league but instead we were struggling to stay in different! the lower league. We are still a small club with a limited number of players and hence there is a huge responsibility on every player to work hard at training and match preparation and prioritise the game at the weekend. I want to express my sincere thanks to manager Des And as to the finale, what a fantastic way to finish our season Cosgrove who was totally committed to the challenge at all times and also coaches Joe Walsh than being in Hamilton Park experiencing the wonderful and Gavin Foley. hospitality laid on by this great club.

George Draper President Sligo RFC Sponsors

The Glasshouse Hotel

The Mespil Hotel

Cosgrove’s Centra Maugheraboy Sponsors

The Glasshouse Hotel

The Mespil Hotel

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

1. Conan O’Donnell 1. Timmy O'Donovan 2. Tadhg Power 2. Kevin Moes 3. Conor Mitchell 3. Ronan Kearney 4. James Wilson 4. John Campbell 5. David Cawley 5. Billy Norman 6. Matthew Cosgrove 6. Bobby Clancy 7. Matthew Davey 7. Alan Dempsey 8. Rory Kerins 8. Cormac O’Donoghue 9. Enda Gavin 9. Killian Marmion 10. Brooke Tremayne 10. Kurt Strachan 11. Colin Keane 11. Padraic Geoghegan 12. Aaron Spring 12. Brian Kingston 13. Daire Byrne 13. Simon Malone 14. Mark Rooney 14. Jack Keating 15. Stephen Kerins 15. Darragh Callan 16. Ross Mannion 16. Niall Carson 17. Gary Conneely 17. Shane Mulvaney 18. David Heath 18. Neil O’Brien 19. Aiden McNulty 19. Jason Curran 20. Michael Allen 20. Niall O’Brien Message from Louis Magee, President, Irish Rugby Football Union to Sligo RFC. The 2013/2014 Ulster Bank League was yet another nail-biting season, full of exciting and enthralling matches with titles being decided on the very last There is an understandable air of excitement at Hamilton Park this season following plays. Now it’s the time of the year when thoughts turn to new beginnings as teams the appointment of loyal club stalwart Gavin Foley as player-coach. across the country set out with fresh hopes, dreams and renewed tactics.

The Connacht Rugby Development officer leads the club into its fourth season in It’s been a great year for Irish rugby with the national side’s successful RBS 6 the Ulster Bank League with every prospect of renewed success for this most Nations campaign and some fantastic achievements from the provincial sides. powerful rugby force which does such sterling work for the well-being of the game Local clubs are the lifeblood of the game and we continue to be impressed and in the North West of Ireland. inspired by the dedication and passion of players, coaches, club staff and community volunteers. Week in, week out, you give your time and talent to ensure I also send my best wishes to club President George Draper and to all members in that rugby continues to thrive at a local, provincial and national level. all playing grades. I hope you derive every enjoyment and success from your respective season’s activities. This is Ulster Bank’s fifth season as the Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU, a partnership which includes title sponsorship of the All-Ireland Club League The Ulster Bank League this season promises another exciting campaign of and the Irish Club International team. enthralling inter-club rivalry. It also marks the introduction this season of revised regulations following the publication of a report into Club Sustainability, with the aim We’re proud to support grassroots rugby and as part of our ongoing commitment to of protecting the two fundamental pillars of club rugby, volunteerism and loyalty. communities across Ireland, we created a club initiative called ‘Ulster Bank Rugby- Amongst its key recommendations, and acting on the wishes of the majority of Force’. The programme, which coincides with our overall sponsorship, is designed clubs, is the removal of payments to players. to provide rugby clubs with support to renovate and upgrade their facilities as well as unite club members and local volunteers. The five winning clubs announced this As President, I wish to underline the appreciation of the IRFU to the many year (An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí, Gort RFC, Portarlington RFC, Skibbereen RFC and thousands of volunteers whose commitment and passion provides the healthy heart Armagh RFC) took part in the recent Ulster Bank RugbyForce Winning Weekends, beat of Irish rugby. In this regard, your Union is delighted that following the which brought entire communities together to spend the day renovating their club’s marvellous support of the Ireland team and another season of strong performances facilities. Since the initiative began in 2010, over €160,000 has been awarded to by our Provincial sides, that funding to the club and schools game is increased this 165 clubs. season to €9.5 million, together with an additional €1 million investment in the Union’s club loan scheme. For further information on Ulster Bank RugbyForce and all of Ulster Bank’s rugby initiatives, follow us on our facebook page www.facebook.com/UlsterRugby or on As regards club funding, I draw your attention to the value of taking part in the Twitter @ulsterbank_rugby. IRFU’s Your Club Your Country Grand Draw. Last season this initiative raised €530,000 between the 142 clubs who participated, so make sure you support your As clubs around the country get ready to kick off the new season on behalf of club and also are in with a chance to win some very attractive prizes. everyone at Ulster Bank I want to say good luck to all involved – let’s make it the best season yet! I thank Ulster Bank for their continued involvement as the official Community Ellvena Graham – Ulster Bank Partner to the IRFU. Its wide and popular activities include sponsorship of the Ulster Bank League, the Irish Club international team, the Bateman All Ireland Cup, the Ulster Bank League Awards and the Ulster Bank RugbyForce initiative.

Best wishes to all at Sligo RFC.

Louis Magee President – Irish Rugby Football Union. Message from Louis Magee, President, Irish Rugby Football Union to Sligo RFC. The 2013/2014 Ulster Bank League was yet another nail-biting season, full of exciting and enthralling matches with titles being decided on the very last There is an understandable air of excitement at Hamilton Park this season following plays. Now it’s the time of the year when thoughts turn to new beginnings as teams the appointment of loyal club stalwart Gavin Foley as player-coach. across the country set out with fresh hopes, dreams and renewed tactics.

Best wishes to all at Sligo RFC.

Louis Magee President – Irish Rugby Football Union. Sligo RFC Development - 400 Club Draw Sligo RFC Development 400 Club Draw

The 400 club is the lifeblood of the club for ongoing development of rugby in Sligo from the Juvenile section, through to Youths and right up to our 1st XV and Ladies teams.

Last year we were successful in achieving a sports capital funding grant of €50,000 to build an all- weather training facility at the club. This grant alone will not cover the total cost so we now have a major focus on fund raising over the coming 12 months.

Minister Michael Ring assisted with the drawing of the winners for this quarters Sligo RFC Development This started in earnest at the beginning of 2015 and a concentrated effort has been made to encourage 400 Club draw. Full details on this and on the winners on the Club website and next weeks papers. more into the 400 club. Membership in the 400 draw had dwindled but thankfully numbers are on the In the photograph are Tom Nielsen (Sligo RFC 400 Club draw organiser), Deputy John Perry, Ken O’Neill up and they need to be to achieve our goal for our all-weather facility. (Sligo RFC 400 Club draw organiser), Minister Michael Ring, Deputy Tony McLoughlin. Our juvenile members and youth teams train on all-weather facilities in the IT and Cleveragh, and miss out what our club is all about and the history that goes with it. We want to bring these players Membership of Sligo RFC Development – 400 Club includes: back to our club to train here. It is important that they see the Irish and provincial jerseys of Sligo RFC players hanging on the walls of the club and tell them that those players started where they are • Full Club Membership now. • Participation in the allocation of International Tickets (With reference to club rules and IRFU allocation of tickets) We would like to take this • Use of Club facilities opportunity to thank all of you • Birthdays and other parties / celebrations reading this, who have been in The development will enable the following; the 400 club for years and also to those of you who have • Delivery of All Weather Synthetic Pitch recently joined. For anyone else • Upkeep and Improvement of Clubhouse Facilities who is not part of it (yet!) we • It will enhance Rugby in the North West for ALL Age Groups would ask you to help us to The draw prizes are increasing monthly in-line with increasing number of continue with our development 400 club members. Draws to take place quarterly. drive and join the 400 club.

Please complete the attached 400 Club Application Form. Sligo RFC Development - 400 Club Draw Sligo RFC Development 400 Club Draw

The 400 club is the lifeblood of the club for ongoing development of rugby in Sligo from the Juvenile section, through to Youths and right up to our 1st XV and Ladies teams.

Please complete the attached 400 Club Application Form. TODAY’S MATCH SPONSOR

Port & Cheese Reception at 4:30pm sponsored by Home Care independent Living Sligo (Many thanks to Jacqui and her team)

Contact; Jacqui Cunningham Unit 1 Sligo Airport Business Park Airport Road Strandhill Co. Sligo

Phone: 071 9141765 Email - [email protected]

Home Care Independent Living Proudly supporting Sligo Rugby