Garryowen FC Notes w.e 23rd Sept 2007

Our Seniors returned from the International Amateur Championship held in Languedoc France with a 2-2 record and much needed game time under the belts for some of our younger players. The tour opened with an encouraging 20-13 win over eventual winners Languedoc/Roussillon but successive losses to Romania 37-25 and 35-29 to Tucuman (Argentina) put a temporary halt to our gallop. Our final match in the Yves Manoir Stadium in Montpelier saw us take on Cambridge and we had a rather facile 68-5 win over the injury hit University team. Coach Dara O'Sullivan no doubt picked up some pointers in advance of our defence of the AIB Cup v Lansdowne in the RDS on Sat 13th October. The draw was made in Dooradoyle on Tuesday before representatives from the IRFU, Munster Branch and various club officials.The annual Stephen Browne Memorial Cup was played in Derryknockane last Saturday. It was a high scoring affair with Young Munster emerging 28-22 winners before an appreciative attendance. Stephen's memory lives on and the goodwill and friendship engendered between the clubs is a testament to this wonderful young man prematurley called from this world. Coolmine from Dublin provide the opposition in a J2 friendly in Dooradoyle on Saturday at 3.45 p.m. The U18's played St. Mary's in the annual Tony Colbert Memorial Cup at Pa Healy's Field,Corbally where the home side ran out 8-0 winners in a keenly contested game.Both sides were very evenly matched and with defences pretty tight,the scoring opportunities were minimal. Indeed the game was largely played between the 22's . A significant charge by Garryowen on the St Mary's line early in the first half was matched towards the end of the half by St. Marys. Early in the second half a drop goal by St. Mary's gave them a narrow advantage but the light blues fought back bravely.The conditions did not make for individual brilliance but a solid performance by both backs and forwards kept the game alive until the final minute when Saints scored a try to seal the game .Coach Rob Laffan certainly has a platform to work off as they face into their first NML match against UL. Bohs on Sunday. Our U20's played Shannon in a friendly in Coonagh, going down 3-2 on tries in a lively affair. They too have their first NML outing against Young Munster in Dooradoyle on Sunday at 3.00 p.m.Members please note the closing date for joining the Club Lottery Syndicate is fast approaching. Paddy Ryan and Clem McInerney have all the details should you wish to participate. Already John Garrett has been extremely busy in this his Presidential Year. Eoghan Prendergast is our new Secretary and Kennny Smith joins Paul Cunningham,Michael Lucey and Tony Geoghegan on the executive committee.