Club News aRCHIVe- Season '09 / '10

Sept 18, 09 - Meet John Fotu
John Fotu, a New Zealand born Tongan, joins Cobh Pirates on September 25th. John is currently playing his rugby at Ponsonby Rugby Club, Auckland. He comes highly recommended by his club coaches, noteably, Bryan Williams, former All Black three quarter and coach of the Somoan National Team. Please welcome John to the Club, introduce yourself and help him settle in quickly.

     
Full Name: John Fotu
Preferred Position: Outside Centre  
Positions Played: InsideCentre,OutsideCentre,Wing  
Weight: 90kg  
Height: 1.76m  
Date of Birth: 11 July 1982  
Current Club: Ponsonby RFC, premier club, Auckland, NZ  
     
     

Sept 01, 09 - u19 Team Day

 

August 22nd, 09 - Munster Meteor BOWL Winners

August 22nd, 09
The Adult Tag Rugby finished on Sunday last. Overall, it was a major success, with over 100 participants over 5 weeks. The committee aproached Mrs. Noirin Doyle about the possibilities of moving the Eddie Doyle Memorial Trophy, long associated with the St. Stephen's Day 7s & which has waned over recent years, to become the trophy now associated with this competition going forward. Mrs. Doyle presented the trophy to the winning team, JBM's Cheetahs after a hard fought victory over Richie's Wasps. In the Bowl section, Digger's Stormers over came JJ's Wolf Hounds. All captains agreed prior to the knock out section to donate the winning cash prize to a nominated charity. JBM's teams decided to donate their winnings to the Clair Butler and Joslyn Nolan Fighting Blindness fund. Kelly Doyle won the Best Female Player and Sean Daly won the Best Male Player.Many thanks to Kathleen & Billy Dunne + Richie McGrath for providing a very welcomed BBQ after the games finished.

 

 

 

August 14th, 09
Munster Meteor 7s Draw
Grounds: Junior Tournament at PBC Wilton - Senior Tournament at Highfield

1200 Pitch 1 Cobh Pirates V Abbeyfeale A
1200 Pitch 2 Cashel V Kanturk B
1220 Pitch 1 Waterpark V Kilfeacle C
1220 Pitch 2 Richmond V Youghal D
1240 Pitch 1 Ballincollig V Bandon A
1240 Pitch 2 Castleisland V Crosshaven B
1300 Pitch 1 Bantry V Douglas C
1300 Pitch 2 Killarney V Carrigaline D

1320 Pitch 1 Cobh Pirates V Ballincollig A
1320 Pitch 2 Cashel V Castleisland B
1340 Pitch 1 Waterpark V Bantry C
1340 Pitch 2 Richmond V Killarney D
1400 Pitch 1 Abbeyfeale V Bandon A
1400 Pitch 2 Kanturk V Crosshaven B
1420 Pitch 1 Kilfeacle V Douglas C
1420 Pitch 2 Youghal V Carrigaline D

1440 Pitch 1 Cobh Pirates V Bandon A
1440 Pitch 2 Cashel V Crosshaven B
1500 Pitch 1 Waterpark V Douglas C
1500 Pitch 2 Richmond V Carrigaline D
1520 Pitch 1 Abbeyfeale V Ballincollig A
1520 Pitch 2 Kanturk V Castleisland B
1540 Pitch 1 Kilfeacle V Bantry C
1540 Pitch 2 Youghal V Killarney D

1615 Pitch 1 Cup Semi's A V D
1615 Pitch 2 Cup Semi's B V C

1640 Pitch 1 Bowl Semi's A V D
1640 Pitch 2 Bowl Semi's B V C

1700 Pitch 1 Plate Semi's A V D
1700 Pitch 2 Plate Semi's B V C

1730 Pitch 1 Plate Final
1730 Pitch 2 Bowl Final

 

 

August 2nd, 09

L-R: Michael O'Sullivan, Hon Sec, John Doherty, Cobh Hospital, Gill Jefferson, Chairman, Mrs Sliney, Mrs Doherty, Cobh Hospital

 

July 26, 09
Cobh Pirates have a limited number of Munster Season Tickets available for the forthcoming Season. The Season Ticket includes the 3 home group Heineken Cup matches in Thomond Park and the 3 Home Magniers League games being played in Musgrave Park and cost €240 (the price includes club membership for the coming year). Any member interested in purchasing a Munster Season Season Ticket should contact Michael O’Sullivan (087 6778726) or Finbarr O’Connor (086 8547465) or any committee member. As numbers are limited it is advised to apply as soon as possible. On behalf of Billy Dunne, Juvenile Chairman and his committee, many thanks to everyone who contributed and generously supported the Annual Flag Day last Saturday week. All funds raised will go towards the purchase of new equipment for the juvenile section, which now caters for up to 250 boys and girls from u6 to u18. We would also like to thank the various businesses in town that facilitated the collection over the course of the day at their premises.From next September, the IRFU are introducing a new age grade for underage rugby. Leprechaun Rugby will be starting for the under 6 age group. Any children born in 2003 or 2004 are welcome to Paddocks when the new season kicks off in September. The emphasis will be focused on enjoyment, group participation and introduction to rugby football under the mini section rules. Best wishes to Declan Carlos on a speedy recovery after his recent knee operations. Won't be long before we see you back on the bike again ! Congratulations to Jason Butler and Kevin Quinlan who have been selected for the next phase of the Munster Cadets Development Squad. This is a programme run by the Munster Branch to develop club juvenile players from the age of 14 to 16. Successful candidates at the end of the Cadets programme will advance to the Munster Youths u17 Development squad, where at the moment, Jason's first cousin, Eoin McSweeney, is currently going thru' his paces. Hard luck to the Cillian Farrell, Glen McKeown, Jack Cahill and Pete Chandler who missed out this time round.

Cobh Pirates are actively looking for new members, both on and off the pitch for the adult and juvenile sections. Please contact rugby@cobhpirates.com if you are interest, everyone is very welcome to the club !!

 

June 06, 09
Fund Raiser
The junior players will undertake a 10km run around the Great Island on July 18th
in order to raise funds for new gym and training equipment.
PLEASE SUPPORT !!!
Sponsorship cards are available from Peter Ahern, email: rugby@cobhpirates.com
This fund raising event is undertaken with the acknowledgement of Cobh Garda.

 

June 08, 09
New Coaches

At the recent AGM, a new Club Coach was appointed. Robbie Doyle, who lives in Killeagh, will take over the responsibilities of coaching the Munster Division 1 team and overall direction of rugby within the club. Robbie learnt his rugby with Christians, Cork, and after playing senior at out-half with both Highfield and Sunday’s Well, he returned to the junior leagues in 2006 to coach Youghal to the provincial league title and to the final of the All Ireland Cup in Lansdowne Road. He then moved to Old Christians were he instrumental in gaining Division 1 status for the club. He has represented Munster at youths & junior level, and played for Ireland at youth’s level. Robbie is very pro-active with his coaching education, and has attained IRFU Level 2 accreditation, along with many ancillary strength and conditioning courses.


Robbie will be assisted by Ray Duignan, who will have responsibility for forward play. Ray, a Galway native, is a long time member of Cobh Pirates, having played many years with the club, wining various Munster and county titles. Ray also represented the Irish Defense Forces on numerous occasions. He has started his coaching pathway with the juvenile section and had a very impressive season with the u16 team. He is an IRFU Level 1 accredited coach.

 

The new Club Captain is 2nd row, James Frahill. James is a product of the underage system. He was part of the team that had the great run since 1998 to mid '00s that won many titles for the club, most notably, the Munster Junior Cup in 2006. He then moved on to play senior rugby with Highfield for 2 years in the AIL Division 2. James returned to the club last season and was instrumental in solidifying the league status in Division 1 and ensuring the club took 3-in-a-row with Cork County Cup honours. To cap a fine season, he represented Munster in the Junior Inter-Pros for 2009.

 

The 1st XV will be managed by Kevin O’Keeffe, with physio/medic, Richie McGrath and kitman, Cormac Rafterfy.

The club wishes them the very best support for the new season.

 

June 06, 09
Tag Rugby
Adult Tag Rugby takes place every Monday night in the Paddocks, starting 22nd June 2009, All welcome !!
Cobh Pirates will be starting mixed Adult Tag Rugby on Monday June 22nd. A team of ten, with 4 current players, 3 women & 3 non-players can be registered on Monday June 15th at the clubhouse @ 7:30pm. Entry fee is 120Euros per team, with all funds returned in prizes and finals Day BBQ. There will be league matches every Monday for 4 weeks with the Finals on July 25th. For more information, please email: tagrugby@cobhpirates.com

May 08 , 09
AGM Presentations

A special presentation was made to Roisin Burke who has stepped down after many years overseeing the finances of the club. Roisin will continue as a coach in the mini section. We wish her well in her 'sabbatical' from committee work.

 

As is traditional in the 'Pirates, a presentation was made to Gordon Soans, on behalf of the members to mark his forthcoming wedding to Melany Heffernan, from Fermoy. We wish them both well for many happy years together.

Photo: Chairman Gill Jefferson, Gordon Soans and Tony O'Malley who made the presentation.

 

Munster Junior Inter-Pros
Photo: 1st XV Team Manager: Kevin O'Keeffe with Munster Reps: James Frahill, Eamon Ronan, Cillian Casey & Ruairi Geary

Summer Rugby Camp

The Munster Rugby Summer Camp will be held in the Paddocks on July 20th, all interested in this event, Download an application form here – a great time assured, with visits from the professional team and instruction from the Munster RDO team.

May 8, 09
Well done to all the recent winners at the Club Annual Awards held in the Clubhouse..

COBH PIRATES RFC ANNUAL AWARDS 2007 / 08
Award Winner    
Clubman of the Year Dermot Allistor    
       
J1 Player of the Year Josh Suszko    
J1 Most Improved Player Joey Hoyne    
       
J2 Player of the Year Dave McAuliffe    
J2 Most Improved Player Aaron Kennedy    


July 25, 08
Subscriptions are due for Season '08/'09
Full Membership : Playing / Non Playing - € 80
Full Membership : Playing / Non Playing Unwaged or Student - € 25
Juvenile Membership : Playing - € 10 plus € 4 for the new I.R.F.U. Identification Card

All juveniles must return the signed IRFU registration forms as soon as possible. Please bring a copy of your birth cert along with completed form to the registration officers on Saturday mornings with a total of € 14 ( 10 - club membership + 4 - ID Card).

May 07, 09
Well done to all winners and participating players from Cobh Pirates Committee, members and supporters to the young guys who played juvenile rugby in the Paddocks this season. We look forward to seeing you return over the summer months and next season.

COBH PIRATES RFC JUVENILE AWARDS 2008 / 09
Award Winner Sponsor Company
u12 Player of the Year Adam Devlin John O'Sullivan Lumberjacks
u12 Most Improved Player Neill O'Brien Thmoas Murphy Village Inn
       
u14 Player of the Year Jack Cahill Cmmdr John Kavanagh Irish Naval Service
u14 Clubman of the Year Kevin Quinlan Alan Whelan Whelan's Store
u14 Best New Comer Cormac Barry Ray Kenny Cove Cleaners
       
u16 Player of the Year Kevin Allen Ray Mills Great Island Motors
u16 Clubman of the Year Owen McSweeney Mick Gould O.N.E.
       
u18 Player of the Year Fergal Twomey Billy Dunne Express Delivery
u18 Clubman of the Year Conor McDowell Fiona Perryman Choice Communications