Shannon RFC

Shannon RFC
Full name Shannon Rugby Football Club
Union IRFU
Munster
Nickname(s) The Parishmen
The Parish
Founded 1884
Region Limerick
Ground(s) Thomond Park
Chairman John Leahy
President Noel Healy
Coach(es) Marcus Horan
Captain(s) Lee Nicholas
League(s) All-Ireland League, 1B
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.shannonrfc.com

Shannon Rugby Football Club is the most successful club in Ireland, having won the All Ireland League nine times. They hail from Limerick near the banks of the Shannon river. Shannon RFC is a member of the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch and as one of the top amateur sides in Ireland has seen many of its players progress to professional and international rugby. The 1st XV plays in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League.

History

Shannon was founded on the 18 February 1884, in the Shamrock Bar, a Pub by the old Park Bridge, Corbally Road, Limerick. The founder members were Paddy Lynch, Dan Duggan, Richie Gleeson, Pierce Hartney and Joe Hegarty. Paddy Lynch captained the first Shannon team and Stephan Hanrahan was president of the club for the first two years of its existence.

Shannon remained a junior club for the best part of 70 years, during which time Shannon supplied numerous players to Garryowen's successful senior sides. Shannon won the Munster Junior Cup for the first of many times in 1914. Their first Transfield cup was won in 1938. The following year, the Munster Junior Cup was won again. One year later(1940), in the process of winning their first Charity Cup, they added both the Munster Junior Cup and Transfield Cup.

Shannon's continued and consistent success as a junior club eventually led to the club attaining senior status in the 1953-54 season, becoming Limerick's fifth senior club.

It was not until 1960 that Shannon won their first Munster Senior Cup, defeating University College Cork, 6pts to 3 in a pulsating replay at Thomond Park, having drawn 8-8 the previous week at Musgrave Park, Cork.

Over the years, since the club's inception, Shannon have had numerous temporary grounds, among them the field at the Island Bank, Gilligan's field, Johnny Cusack's field and Egan's Field on the Mill Rd. in Corbally. The first purchased grounds were 14 acres (57,000 m2) of land at Fir Hill, Gortatogher, (better known as Athlunkard) just two miles (3 km) from Limerick city. However, a few years ago, it was determined that this was not big enough, so it was sold to Corbally Utd. soccer club in favour of our current more spacious grounds at Coonagh off the Ennis Road. Shannon currently have 3 training pitches there, floodlights and newly built dressing rooms, and are developing two more pitches.

While still a junior club, Shannon became co-tenants with Bohemians RFC at the Munster RFU-owned grounds at famed Thomond Park. In 1967, they completed their own Club Pavilion there. In 1978, the Pavilion was extended to the size it is today. There is talk currently of a further extension as the needs of a successful club in this professional age expand rapidly.

A great milestone in the history of the club was the celebration of their centenary in 1984. In a long and illustrious history Shannon have won everything that has to be won in the game. However, that does not diminish the hunger for success that is the hallmark of Shannon teams at every level.

Honours

Notable players

Munster

Three Shannon players, Brendan Foley, Colm Tucker and Gerry McLoughlin, played for the Munster side that defeated the touring All Blacks 12-0 on October 31 1978 at Thomond Park. Mick Galwey captained the Munster side when they finished as runners up in the Heineken Cup finals of 2000 and 2002. In the 2005-06 season seven Shannon players, including the captain, Anthony Foley, helped Munster win the Heineken Cup for the first time.

Ireland

The following Shannon players have represented Ireland at full international level.

British and Irish Lions

The following Shannon players have also represented the British and Irish Lions .[1]

See also Category:Shannon RFC players

First XV (2010/11)

D. O'Donovan
15
L. O'Dea
14
M. O'Driscoll
12
S. Kelly
11
G. Quinn McDonogh (k)
10
P. Rowley
9
E. McLoughlin
6
F. Walsh (c)
5
S. Duggan
4
K. Griffin
3
D. Casey
2
L. Hogan
1

16 - J. Cronin, 17 - K. O'Neill, 18 - D. Heffernan, 19 - C. McMahon; 20 - R. Guerin, 21 - T. Bennett (k), 22 - R. Mullane.

Current Munster-Contracted Players

Current Munster Academy-Contracted Players

2011/12 players in

2011/12 players out

References

  1. ↑ The Ireland Rugby Miscellany (2007): Ciaran Cronin
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