Senior Player Awards 2017

Friday night in the clubhouse was a rocking night with all four senior team squads gathered for the awards ceremony.

Needless to say it was not a quiet affair as the bar was packed full of hopefuls.

Sean Lee, Director of Rugby, thanked all the players for their efforts and said that getting around to see all teams play gave him a great sense of pride in the club and the commitment of all the coaches and players to their squads. 

Eugene Cadogan, President also thanked the players and coaches and wished them well for the summer and the season to come.

Up for grabs were Player of the Year and Most Inproved Player of the Year for the 1sts / 2nds / 3rds and 4ths.

4ths aka The Wildebeests 

Most Improved : Emmet Byrne

Player of the Year : Richie Withey

3rds

Most Improved : Stephen Hanley

Player of the Year : Damien Kelly

2nds

Most Improved : Stephen Kane

Player of the Year : Rob Kiersey

Overall Young Player of the Year: 

Andy McCabe

1sts

Most Improved : Brian Connolly 

Player of the Year : David Howard

President Eugene Cadogan with Sean Lee, Director of Rugby, Senior Player of the Year David Howard and Senior Squad Player/Coach Mark Whitehead.

Many thanks to Paul Sheehan Jewellers for his unfailing support for this event every year and the gift of a gents Tissot watch for the overall Senior Player of the Year  award.

A COOLMINE SUPER SUNDAY!

So Coolmine have they're very own Super Sunday with our U14s, U16s & U17s all contesting their respective finals tomorrow.

What an achievement from the club and our 13s and 15s weren't that far away either.

But it comes as no surprise to those of us who have witnessed the hard work and dedication of the youths over the season. 

While many other competitions were left behind due to the odd match misfire or unlucky break, overall the club youth system is the strongest it has been in a long time.

This hasn't happened overnight as the coaching groups for these teams will justify.

A long grind through the minis system, the inevitable loss of players with the  move into youth and schools system and the slow moulding and practice of the team, their style of play and the individual performances is a challenging cause- but a rewarding one.

And so it comes down to a day of reckoning for all tomorrow .

Regardless of the outcomes, their efforts have elevated the club this season and laid the foundation for a bright future ahead.

U14s

U14s tomorrow face off against Ashbourne in the Metro Plate final kick off 12.30 in Donnybrook.

This free wheeling happy crew take every game in their stride, some times at a cost for being a little too laid back but then have a powerful back line that have left most of their opponents in shreds. 

Once they're on song, there's no stopping them. 

Let's hope they show what they can do tomorrow.

U16s

Our U16s face season-long rivals Athy in the Leinster Schools Youth Cup. 

Having won all competitions at this grade last year, they are the form team and will be looking to get one over on their Kildare opponents who did themselves no favours by refusing to move the league semi while Coolmine were on tour. It was poor sportsmanship but should add spice to the encounter which kicks off at 4pm in Donnybrook.

While their pack dominated teams last year, the backs have been the ones stepping forward this year and should make for quiet a tie.

U17s

Arguably our U17s are in line for a 'Team of The Year' award this season. 

Quietly going about their business all season, these are a dogged bunch of lads who play with great heart and motivation and bring games to opponents from the get go.

Their sensational come back from 16-0 down to beat Cill Dara in the league semi was probably the best performance of a Coolmine team in Ashbrook in a long time and energised the youths and club as a whole.

Having led in the final vs Clontarf they were cruelly robbed of their lead by some appalling decisions at the end of that game.

But they came back with a bang against Seapoint last week and are now in the cup final tomorrow vs old foes Clontarf: the time to set the record straight is 11am in St Marys tomorrow.

No other team deserves more than these guys who work hard for each other and play as a team.

Make the effort to support these groups tomorrow.

They are the future.

Go n-éirí libh!

This week

Fixtures this week:

Tues 7.30

U13s semi v Malahide (plate) 

Wednesday 8pm

U17s semi v Seapoint (metro cup) Belvo 4G Distillery Road.

Next weekend 

U14s Plate final

Sunday 

U16s School Youth cup final Sunday