Page 60 - Lansdowne Yearbook 2020-21 Master Digital Edition

J3 – METRO LEAGUE consecutive victories before the season was
DIVISION 5 REVIEW cut short. Most enjoyable of these was what
proved to be the final game, a victory over
CYM who had shocked us with a trouncing at
Brian Whelan the beginning of the season in their Terenure
grounds. CYM came to HQ with high hopes of
Played 12 - Won 5 - Lost 7 a repeat of the pre-Christmas result, but they
PF 225 - PA 347 must have thought our lads had very short
Finished 2nd out of 7 in the league. memories indeed. Channelling his inner Oscar
Wilde, the always eloquent Tunney fired up his
The J3’s were deserving runners up in this charges before the match, saying: “to lose once
league not just because of their performances to these chaps may be unfortunate, but to lose
on the pitch – admittedly, a bit patchy - but twice smacks of carelessness!” Or words to
through their spirit off it as well. Invigorated that effect.
by the arrival of dream team coaching and
management duo of Dave Tunney and Reg And it worked. Apart from slight snoozes
White, this squad didn’t just come training in before and after the half-way mark, our lads
numbers, but were supported on the sideline dominated the game and gave a lesson in
on Wednesdays by their injured teammates tough upfront play, led by old war horses
too. And as for Fridays …! Cathal McNamara and Rob Timlin, with varied
and adventurous running out wide. Scores
When not playing, they were scheming from scrum half, Rob Kelly, Jack Mulcahy and
to arrange a junior tour to visit last year’s Ethan Bradley established a comfortable
teammate in Toulouse, David Mincheon. margin in the first half and in the second half,
They practised for that with a home-based Rob’s second try and another from Joao Vieira
Kangaroo Court, as part of a “Team Building” in the closing minutes were the cherry on the
day organised by Tunney. (Note to any more icing.
mature club members – NEVER, EVER attend
one of these sessions! You’re not safe, even as Best of all, it was that very bonus point win
a judge!) that edged us ahead of CYM in the league,
The team took a few poundings, particularly taking us to sole second place behind the
early on in the season, without reply in the runaway leaders Stillorgan/Rathfarnham, with
home fixture in the case of runway league the other six separated by one point.
winner, Stillorgan/Rathfarnham. However, Another very promising end to a truncated
high points of this group’s year on the pitch season, and with talent and grit on the pitch
included wins against Wanderers and Marys, matched with a great spirit off it, the future
but a particularly encouraging run of three looks bright for this group.
60 YEARBOOK 2020-2021