The second last week of our Legends selection and your application form to enter the competition will be available next wee and how to enter So here goes Week 13 – Outside Centre #13’s (1) Gerry Duignan Ger is the son of the late great founding member of the club- Fergus Duignan (RIP). There was no one more proud of seeing Gerry come all the way through the youths of the club and onto the 1st XV team, than Fergie.. & now without doubt he is smiling away looking down at his now Legend Nominee son. Gerry was a very robust, no frills hardy midfield player. Not many players managed to knock Ger over or indeed very few got past him either. Gerry was one a very few high pedigree backs that the club produced and was a great team player who was nearly as passionate about Ashbourne Rugby Club as his Dad. He was a very good ball handler and great reader of the game who could cut a great line when the opportunity arose. Gerry got on really well with all off the Kiwi contingent in the club so well that he decided to go and live in New Zealand. He now resides in wellington and has managed to put on the ‘Aul boots and ply a bit of Ashbourne trade down south. A true Gent from a great Ashbourne Rugby Family – Gerry Duignan (2) Brian Fitzgerald Fitzy, a former Castleknock Junior and Senior player would be one of the first real classy backs the club had at J1 level. Fitzy could put on most shirts of he backline as his skills fitted in most positions. He had Speed, Guile, Hands and passing to match the best and that along with great vison and a decent boot made Fitzy a welcome member of Ashbourne Rugby when he was nudged our way by the great Grimsey. Having played in every position along the backline apart from #9, Fitzy cemented his place in the centre and this is where he was most dangerous.. He was on the team that made the Towns Cup Final of ’99 and the Towns Plate winning team of 2001. Fitzy also was another Club Legend to get a Leinster junior cap and won that interprovincial championship with fellow players McLoughin & Mahon (who was captain). As well as his powerful performances on the Pitch, Fitzy had a fair few performances of the pitch too.. His deft skills on the Guitar and the belting out of rebel songs in the clubhouse after games and well into the early morn would be synonymous with Fitzy. He had a lasting impression on many teammate and supporters (female) alike and spent many a day away from ‘Knock and in his new home in Ash. Fitzy most remembered for; A famous night standing outside Stephens Green shopping centre waiting on a ‘Blind Date’ that never was! – His then teammates were the scorn of Fitzy’s wrath for their cleverly played out joke… (3) Jack Conlon Jack was a tower of strength for Ashbourne Rugby Club down the years. Aside from his brilliant playing ability in the centre he served as club secretary, treasurer and is a past Captain and President of the club and in those tough early years of the clubs existence Jack was the one the main drivers of the future of our Club. He formed a unique centre partnership with Michael Martin (another Legend Nominee) who’s silken hands and side stepping skills complemented Jack’s fierce tackling and magnificent physical attributes. Jack was in the words of many a back-row forward the best man to stay on his feet and ruck a ball off. He was very physically fit and a great defender and was well noted for a great upsurge in pace when within scoring distance of the line – some might say a ‘may fiener’ – others ‘eyes on the prize’ – either way Jack was all about winning. Jack most noted for; Jack will always be remembered for Captaining the winning J2 O’Connell cup – The first major trophy won by the club at the lower level we used to play. But he would be most noted for Never Letting anyone forgot that momentous occasion! – Good Man Jack. (4) Adam Sherrard Adam the son of our Famous Eurovision singer Johnny, came up through the mini and youths at Ashbourne, during those later youth years Ashbourne amalgamated with our close neighbours Delvin Rugby to form a very strong U18 team where Adam shone and once he ‘became of age’ unfortunately for Ashbourne the bright lights of Drogheda and the newly formed Boyne team enticed Adam from our grasps. Adam played for Boyne in their very strong years coming all the way through the J1 leagues and on into senior, he also played for Cork Con 1st team when studying down in cork during his college years. Adam had promised that he would return to his home Club before the boots got painted and hung, which he duly did in 2012. A great asset to get back to our Club Adam brought with him that experience which was easily to see, his tacking was top drawer stuff – handling was of the best but most of all Adams vision and where to cut a line or see an impending attack move was superb. It was obvious to all that the team which Adam had joined back was a formidable one and of course Adam was on that famous Towns Cup winning team – to make it 3 Towns cup medals (beside the 3 Eurovision titles his dad has) in the Sherrards mantelpiece. Adam best known for; Apart from his Famous Father – Adam would be most noted for his fondness of Weddings.. having recently took the dive himself, Adam has had the most caps at wedding receptions ever seen at our club. – That aside, Adam truly is a gifted and talented player that we are delighted to have back.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:58:21 +0000
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