All Ireland League - Thread

[Donny B.]

I see Lansdowne lost as well to UCD.

Wasn't suprised by that result graet statement from UCD but Mary's and Tarfs defeats were big shocks!

4 of the away teams won yesterday in 1a u won't see that to often

In fairness the UCD team was about 2/3s current or former Leinster Academy or Ireland Under-20s

[Armchair]

I see Lansdowne lost as well to UCD.

Wasn't suprised by that result graet statement from UCD but Mary's and Tarfs defeats were big shocks!

4 of the away teams won yesterday in 1a u won't see that to often

In fairness the UCD team was about 2/3s current or former Leinster Academy or Ireland Under-20s

Yeah they certainly have quality players and will go well this year and will also be a great team to watch!

[FrankBurke]

Dolphin 15 Marys 10. Dolphin well on top in scrums & lineouts. Nice tries from Marsh & Sweetnam.

[Donny B.]

Dolphin 15 Marys 10. Dolphin well on top in scrums & lineouts. Nice tries from Marsh & Sweetnam.

Thanks. Couldn't find that result anywhere.

[FrankBurke]

Dolphin 15 Clontarf 21. Tadhg Furlong put in a good shift.

[Donny B.]

Was at the Marys Lansdowne game tonight. Lansdowne Winger Foster Horan the outstanding player on the pitch. Made ground every time he touched the ball. I know he's probably a bit small for a size-queen like Matt O'Connor but this kid could be worth another look at A level at least.

Marys went from being terrible to good to terrible to kinda okay for the last while. Cathal Marsh was the personification of this. Can do some great things but is also capable of errors that are frankly unbelievable. After Marys were under pressure in the second half, they won a penalty at the breakdown. Marsh lined up to take the relieving kick to touch. He didn't just miss touch, he didn't just mis-hit the kick, he actually managed to connect so badly that the ball barely travelled five yards from his boot and went straight to a Lansdowne player who couldn't believe his luck. I've literally never seen anything like it at any level of rugby. As well as that, some of his passing was so rank, that it was hard to credit that of the two 10's on the pitch, Marsh was the full-time pro.

In fairness he wasn't helped in the slightest by his scrum-half Matt D'Arcy, the fecking King of procrastinators at the ruck. Mark Sexton was the only Marys player to emerge with any credit, At least the two bonus points should help them in their battle against relegation cause that's all they've got to look forward to this season.

[Armchair]

Was at the Marys Lansdowne game tonight. Lansdowne Winger Foster Horan the outstanding player on the pitch. Made ground every time he touched the ball. I know he's probably a bit small for a size-queen like Matt O'Connor but this kid could be worth another look at A level at least.

Marys went from being terrible to good to terrible to kinda okay for the last while. Cathal Marsh was the personification of this. Can do some great things but is also capable of errors that are frankly unbelievable. After Marys were under pressure in the second half, they won a penalty at the breakdown. Marsh lined up to take the relieving kick to touch. He didn't just miss touch, he didn't just mis-hit the kick, he actually managed to connect so badly that the ball barely travelled five yards from his boot and went straight to a Lansdowne player who couldn't believe his luck. I've literally never seen anything like it at any level of rugby. As well as that, some of his passing was so rank, that it was hard to credit that of the two 10's on the pitch, Marsh was the full-time pro.

In fairness he wasn't helped in the slightest by his scrum-half Matt D'Arcy, the fecking King of procrastinators at the ruck. Mark Sexton was the only Marys player to emerge with any credit, At least the two bonus points should help them in their battle against relegation cause that's all they've got to look forward to this season.

Yeah from last year you would have thought Horan & Roche from Lansdowne would have been picked up by one of the academies both were under 21's last year so still young, Connacht could have done a lot worse than having a punt on them. I had thought that Horan was with London Irish but obviously that didn't pan out?

[goreyguy]

Don't think either Roche or Foster are top level quality... good players no doubt but both have flaws that would be exposed at a higher level.

Marshy had an off day alright, but some serious talent there. Needs to find more consistency in his game and try not to do so much.

[Donny B.]

Was at the Marys Lansdowne game tonight. Lansdowne Winger Foster Horan the outstanding player on the pitch. Made ground every time he touched the ball. I know he's probably a bit small for a size-queen like Matt O'Connor but this kid could be worth another look at A level at least.

Marys went from being terrible to good to terrible to kinda okay for the last while. Cathal Marsh was the personification of this. Can do some great things but is also capable of errors that are frankly unbelievable. After Marys were under pressure in the second half, they won a penalty at the breakdown. Marsh lined up to take the relieving kick to touch. He didn't just miss touch, he didn't just mis-hit the kick, he actually managed to connect so badly that the ball barely travelled five yards from his boot and went straight to a Lansdowne player who couldn't believe his luck. I've literally never seen anything like it at any level of rugby. As well as that, some of his passing was so rank, that it was hard to credit that of the two 10's on the pitch, Marsh was the full-time pro.

In fairness he wasn't helped in the slightest by his scrum-half Matt D'Arcy, the fecking King of procrastinators at the ruck. Mark Sexton was the only Marys player to emerge with any credit, At least the two bonus points should help them in their battle against relegation cause that's all they've got to look forward to this season.

Yeah from last year you would have thought Horan & Roche from Lansdowne would have been picked up by one of the academies both were under 21's last year so still young, Connacht could have done a lot worse than having a punt on them. I had thought that Horan was with London Irish but obviously that didn't pan out?

They did, on Roche anyway, he was in the Connacht academy since last season but seems to have left now.

[goreyguy]

Was at the Marys Lansdowne game tonight. Lansdowne Winger Foster Horan the outstanding player on the pitch. Made ground every time he touched the ball. I know he's probably a bit small for a size-queen like Matt O'Connor but this kid could be worth another look at A level at least.

Marys went from being terrible to good to terrible to kinda okay for the last while. Cathal Marsh was the personification of this. Can do some great things but is also capable of errors that are frankly unbelievable. After Marys were under pressure in the second half, they won a penalty at the breakdown. Marsh lined up to take the relieving kick to touch. He didn't just miss touch, he didn't just mis-hit the kick, he actually managed to connect so badly that the ball barely travelled five yards from his boot and went straight to a Lansdowne player who couldn't believe his luck. I've literally never seen anything like it at any level of rugby. As well as that, some of his passing was so rank, that it was hard to credit that of the two 10's on the pitch, Marsh was the full-time pro.

In fairness he wasn't helped in the slightest by his scrum-half Matt D'Arcy, the fecking King of procrastinators at the ruck. Mark Sexton was the only Marys player to emerge with any credit, At least the two bonus points should help them in their battle against relegation cause that's all they've got to look forward to this season.

Yeah from last year you would have thought Horan & Roche from Lansdowne would have been picked up by one of the academies both were under 21's last year so still young, Connacht could have done a lot worse than having a punt on them. I had thought that Horan was with London Irish but obviously that didn't pan out?

They did, on Roche anyway, he was in the Connacht academy since last season but seems to have left now.

No he wasn't, he played u20s for Connacht but he was never in the academy.

[Donny B.]

Big win for Marys tonight away to UCD, Belvo won away to Lansdowne too.

[Armchair]

Big win for Marys tonight away to UCD, Belvo won away to Lansdowne too.

Two good away wins and Ballinahinch off the mark with their first win against Garryowen who are yet to get a win. Clontarf looking strong at the top with another win

[FrankBurke]

Good win for Clontarf @ Cork Con. Tarf were in control throughout the game, their out-half (Joyce?) is a lovely kicker.

Tarf won 26 -13 with Con getting a consolation try with the last play of the game.

[FrankBurke]

Cork Con 14 UCD 6. College hammered in the scrums, especially in the first fifty minutes.
Jordan Coughlan was ok @ 12, but not v nimble on his feet. He slipped with the ball in hand at least three times.

[bgmusic]

Belvo 22 St.Marys 22.

[StrangeButBlue]

Lansdowne denied bottom side Garryowen their first win of the league campaign, as a penalty try late in the first half helped them to record 13-9 victory on the Aviva Stadium's back pitch.

There was considerable interest in this game due to the fact that former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan was present on the sideline for the visitors.

O'Sullivan has joined the Garryowen management set-up in an advisory role, as the Rory Brosnan-led outfit bid to avoid relegation to Division 1B.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/ulsterbankleague/30558.php

[future international]

Few pictures from UCD v Garryowen yesterday (1/3/14) in division 1A. Not near the standard of Colin H.


Luke McGrath - UCD v Garryowen - Ulster Bank Division 1A - 1/3/14 by StephenDevine, on Flickr


James Thornton - UCD v Garryowen - Ulster Bank Division 1A - 1/3/14 by StephenDevine, on Flickr


Paddy Dix - UCD v Garryowen - Ulster Bank Division 1A - 1/3/14 by StephenDevine, on Flickr


Andy Boyle - UCD v Garryowen - Ulster Bank Division 1A - 1/3/14 by StephenDevine, on Flickr

[future international]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this

http://www.knockon.ie/wp-content/upload ... b-2014.pdf

[simonno6]

nice shots FI

[ormond lad]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this

http://www.knockon.ie/wp-content/upload ... b-2014.pdf

Some good proposals
Player points system if done right could be very good.
Extension of cup competitions - division 2 Cup
changing leagues to less teams and home/away games wouldn't be bad with bringing back of playoffs for all divisions really good as without them less to play for too many clubs towards end of season. Playoffs that decide league trophy with regular league season deciding promotion.

The views of players surveyed were interesting
Half said travel distance was not a factor in playing but 29% would prefer to travel less than two (2) hours to a fixture.
45% receive either payment or material benefits (including car/accommodation) for playing.
53% were looking for between 15 and 18 games per season
67% prefer home and away format, with the majority looking for a “block” of three (3) consecutive games and one week off
65% prefer having play-offs at the end of the league season
In comments given by respondents, a large number emphasised the importance of having a segregated seasonal structure that clearly defines season windows for Provincial Leagues and/or Provincial Cups and the AIL competition