The past two weekends have seen history made by one of Irelands newest rugby clubs. Despite this being the first year Tir Chonaill Seniors have entered the Ulster Minor League North, the team have now racked up two wins in a row and are starting to look like a real settled team, with a win over Derry City 4th backed up by a home rout against Donegal Town 2nd at Carrickfin on Saturday last. The players have worked very hard for these wins and suffered some big reverses away from home early in the season. Despite this, it was heads up and chests out as the team knew they were improving and that the first win was not far away. With a core of players from last years series of friendlies supplemented by new arrivals some from the world of GAA, the players and coaches are starting to find the best positions for all, and good numbers mean the competition for a starting jersey is hot and everyone is kept on their toes. Most of the team had never played rugby before, and it is a testament to their dedication, fitness and skill that they are able to win competitive games so quickly. It is also a tribute to their coaches, take a bow Joe McCann, Dave Geoghegan and Joe McConnell. The club is really on the way up, with our terrific minis and excellent Under 13 team having shown the seniors how it should be done, the seniors felt under pressure to emulate their young stars, and duly delivered in these two games.
Derry City 4th 8 v Tir Chonaill RFC 21
It had to come, and on a wet morning, spirits on the bus were high as we made our way across the border. Much conferring by the coaches over the week had deemed that old heads were needed and several positional changes required for that final step up after a spirited away defeat to league leaders Inishowen 2 weeks previous. Answering Tir Chonaills call became a bit of a family affair with father and son Eugene and James Doogan standing ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in the second row and James brother Shaun at centre. Also in the team were the McGarvey brothers Martin and Benny with their Dad Eugene piloting the bus! The changes worked a treat, with Tir Chonaill going in at half time 14 – 3 up after two tries from fly half Benny McGarvey and inside centre Shaun Doogan, both converted by Benny. The second half was more evenly matched with the visitors adding another try from Benny which he duly converted before Derry ran in a consolation try at the death. The dressing room was buzzing afterwards as was the bus and we even managed a sing song on the way home with our Inishowen RFC friends who were celebrating the Stag night of one of their players.
Tir Chonaill RFC 35 v Donegal Town 2nd 0
An eagerly anticipated game after last weekends heroics, and all the more since the visitors had beaten a below par TC on their own patch 3 weeks before. Despite high hopes, no one at TC would have believed that the win could have been so comprehensive. After a cagey few minutes at the start, TC upped the tempo and it became clear that this would be a special day. Despite the gale and rain, TC ran in 4 tries from Robert Wherly who gathered a loose ball and ran in under the posts, a stunning solo try from half way from centre Shaun Doogan who evaded several tacklers, full back Adrian Hanlon under the posts following great wing work by Ross Ward, and a great solo run from no. 8 Liam McGettigan off the back of a scrum in the first half. All tries were converted on a difficult kicking day by fly half Benny McGarvey with a boot that is becoming as prolific as the one of a certain Mr. O’Gara. TC went in at half time 28 – 0 to the good, and determined to complete the rout. The second half began with a prolonged siege of the TC line which was lifted with a good turnover in a ruck following several good Donegal T phases. Some changes slowed TC momentum, but a further try was run in by Adrian Hanlon after a grubber from Robert Wherly, a difficult conversion was nailed again by Benny. The coaches were unable to pick a Man of the Match, with at least 7 candidates named including all the try scorers plus hard hitting ball carrier Martin McGarvey and outside centre Bruce Vial, a stunning team performance.
Starting 15 on this historic day were 1.Fergus Sweeney, 2.John Paul Baska,3.Gary Gallagher (Captain),4.Eugene Doogan,5.Mark Doherty,6.Dave Geoghegan,7.Martin MgGarvey,8.Liam McGettigan,9.Robert Wherly,10.Benny McGarvey,11.Ceri Noyles,12.Shaun Doogan,13.Bruce Vial,14.Ross Ward,15.Adrian Hanlon: Subs Adrian O’Colla, Seamus McDyer and Thomas Kissane.
TC have stepped up several notches in the last few games, and eagerly anticipate all coming games starting with a Cup game against UUC at 14.30 in Carrickfin this Saturday, earlier that day at 11.15 our Under 13s entertain Letterkenny at the same venue…..All welcome to come down and watch our fast improving teams.
