Week 3 Ashbourne The Legends. Yes it is time!!!!! This is week it is about that important position - Blindside Flanker/No. 6 Who are the nominations and there are some interesting ones? Dont forget to like this post/page and Share with your friends (1) Conor Hickey Conor, another Tim O’Connor recruit, arrived to pre-season training in Ashbourne - a callow youth; with a Newbridge College number 5 jersey, earned in the schools senior cup campaign the previous season. He matured to become an excellent club captain later on in 1982/83. Like another club captain, who shall remain nameless, he tried to deny he ever played second row and that the number 5 jersey never existed. Conor was an excellent number 6 for Ashbourne and even though he is not in the team photograph, he is the proud holder of an O’Connell cup medal. He was an excellent line-out player, mobile, strong, good mauler of the ball, a “technical player” who did the “right things” even under pressure. Conor now resides State side on the West Coast as does another of the Blindside Legend Nominees. (2) Ken Duff Ken had deceptive speed and great covering ability in defence. Last ditch tackle and corner flagging was his speciality. In attack with ball in hand, he had a mighty body swerve and left many would be tacklers floundering. He was a good lineout man in the back and middle. Ken in his earlier years played with the ‘Chaps’ (Wanderers) but coming from Finglas he knew that match was bound not too last – Ashbourne was where Ken shone. Ken was part of the McGowan cup winning teams in ‘89 & ’90 and formed a serious back-row partnership with Craigie & Costello and later Mahon. He was club captain season 88/89 and also coached the First tem a few years later. Ken now lives in Texas with his wife, kids and grandkids. His famous quote was “don’t mess with the best, the best don’t mess”. He certainly was one of the best! Kens Most memorable moment There are quite a few but one that sticks out was a Metro cup game Vs Kens old club Wanderers at Milltown where Ash were leading coming into the last few minutes of the game, Wanderers made a break from inside their own half (by one just internationally retired - Mr Phillip Matthews) offloaded a ball to their flying winger who got past his opposite number and covering full back and was bound to score the winning try when the Finglas Flyer came from nowhere to smash tackle him right at the corner flag and save the day and we advanced to the next round. It was heard that many a Wanderer alacadoo that day was asking about that covering tackler – only for them to be told he was ‘one of yours’ at one stage, how sick they felt then!! (3) Ivan Craige A revolutionary Blind side Wing Forward to Club –Ivan as club Captain brought a whole new emphasis to the 1st team and its J1 status. Having recruited well and took the bold step of integrating our youth players into the senior ranks to get the mix right of experience and youth, he proved an outstanding Club captain and leader. Ivan’s best attributes to the game where his physical presence and hard-hitting tackling. A great inspiration to young players on the team whom he insisted on getting picked and was proven right with an unbelievable return of 24 wins from 27 outings in his year as captain.. He took our first trophy at J1 level – winning the McGowan cup in a ferociously competitive league competition including Navan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Delvin & Skerries which were all put to the sword in an incredible clean sweep campaign. A Hard, out & out 6, Ivan Also known for his Blond flowing hair (which he now has none left) who would never give up in any circumstances and was a fierce nemesis of all his opponents Ivan’s memorable Moment; When playing our final league McGowan cup game away to Navan, back in the day when No Subs where allowed (for injury or other) Ivan took a serious boot to his beautiful blond head, the red blood was instantly recognisable as he was now merging on a full blown Ginger head. A very nasty gash (and probably a worse dose of concussion) wouldn’t stop him from insisting on continuing playing so as to not to let the team down. He was patched up by front rower Mr (Doctor to the Ref) Deegan, whom made him look like Osama bin Laden in full battle head gear.. A sight not to be forgotten, and a day never to be!! – Winning & receiving the cup for the first time in our history. (4) James Rooney A more a-liken to a small Giraffe (or Ostrich some would say) than a rugby player, James is certainly no tame animal!! One of the famous Sibling’s from a serious Ashbourne past player & Legend Nominee – Pat. James brought some of the best ever-seen Line out jumping capabilities to our Club! Not only was James proficient at the Lineout & Back-row positions, he also was a well able Full Back, like his father! James rarely seen without his ‘twin’ brother (Mark) re-joined the club as a duo after being coached at a very high level in Clongowes Wood College. He was very well known for his fuse, which was about as short as a butt of one of his rollies. This led to many a coloured card in his earlier club playing career. This rage seemed to be softened with the addition of his long term GF Tish, whom has managed to get him back to doing what he does best – staying on the field & playing rugby. A serious Wing Forward (either side will do) a Massive option in the lineout & a great linkman & tackler around the park, James seems to have it all!! Is a current member of the 1st team squad and a winner of the acclaimed Towns Cup, Div 1b League campaign & member of the undefeated 1st team squad of 2013/14, he was also a member of the 2006 league winning team too.. James Memorable Moment; Apart from his infamous telephone call to tell the then captain to explain that he couldn’t get to a game that day, as his girl-friend’s Mother had crashed her car into her entrance gate and was needed to be brought to hospital, which later turned out to be a total farce which unfolded embarrassingly in front of (his GF) Tish!!, James had quite a few others, but his efforts in the Last League game this year away to Kilkenny when Ash were needing some inspiration, he played out of his skin and dominated the Lineout - a real testament to his outstanding Rugby Family & Club was certainly one of the best performances by James which turned the game and made it a perfect 14 from 14 wins in the league. What do you think?
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:44:30 +0000
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