Yes it is Legends time again and No the site wont be closed this week because we want to advertise our HOOKERS (of the jersey no.2 type!) Yes those great players or maybe lunatics that front up every week in the centre of front row. Yes it is a fine line between greatness and lunacy but all of these players have made a great impact in their time at the club and some have left their impact on the opposition as well....no further comment required when you see the nominations! Lets here what you think? (1) James Macaghy The ‘Rat Pack’ as it was known, Was a bunch of rugby mad young fellows coming through the clubs underage system – led by James and Mr Rory Gleeson!.. The group also well known for ‘other’ antics where a source for great players and many (worryingly) ended up on the 1st XV in Ashbourne. James followed the V. Good line of Hookers in the club and was part of the very strong 2006/07 all-conquering league side. James had a ‘Sabbatical’ from the club & moved to higher levels to join our close neighbours Navan. After picking up some good traits and wisely tips he returned to Ashbourne to be part of the team which won the Provincial Towns Cup. As well as playing a vital role in the undefeated League campaign of the same year, James has won some very noticeable honours when plying his trade with the club. He also would be well known for serving up some of the best rugby grub going in north county Dublin at the Family’s Coolquay lodge. A past Captain of the club, a great runner with ball in hand and always ready to get ‘down and dirty’ when needed. James would never cry out of any battle whatever the circumstance would be, A vocal leader when needed and senior member of the current squad. James most noted for; (As well as his notorious fondness of fatty foods and fat frog drinks), When our backs were well and truly against the wall in last season’s league game Vs Wicklow (away), James was introduced as a ‘Super Sub’ with less than 20 minutes remaining and trailing by 17pts, Ashbourne did the unthinkable and lead by James in a mesmerising comeback to score 3 tries to not only win the game but get the bonus try score too, this maintained our unbeaten campaign and many would say was the catalyst to our Clubs best ever season, James that day showed his true worth and rallied everyone to shoulder up and believe in each other.. (2) Sean Mahon Sean was one of the new breed of players to come through the youth system. A controlled aggressive player, who was very good in the tight and threw well in the line-out. Sean formed part of (some would say) the strongest front rows the club ever had. In Sean Deegan, Joe Reilly & Peader O, Sean had some serious players to lean on. His speed would leave many in his wake, and his smash tackling was ‘top drawer’ stuff!! Sean was captain of the club in the 90/91 season and won the McGowan cup that year following on from Ivan Craige’s win the year previous. He led the team that year to win an amazing 24 from 27 games. Sean was another player to represent the Club on the Leinster juniors in the Hooking position. He was a great leader on and off the field and a big organiser within the club. He was one of the members who organised the famous 3 match week tour to Holland (all games won) as Captain too. Seans rugby days ended prematurely with 2 bad shoulder injuries and even after surgery to try and re-kindle his playing was not to be.. Sean was a great help and drive in the social end of the club and indeed the initial development of the new clubhouse and facilities. Sean was well respected as a player and as a Club stalwart.. A True leader! Sean most noted for; Apart from his fellow Legend sibling Jeff, Sean who was a brilliant striker of the ball at scrum time, With his big bear of front row team mates (Deego & Joe) had the ability to lift both feet into the oppositions scrum and ‘steal’ many a ball against the head. Some might say ‘Mad’ some say ‘Genius’ – reality is Sean was an Ashbourne Hooker! (3) Dave Sutton Dave, a canoeist of Olympic standard came to Ashbourne in 1976 as a young fuzzy haired athlete, looking for a new experience in sport. He had all the attributes of a supreme athlete, speed, strength, mobility, ball-handling skills and endurance. He most certainly had durability-finishing off his career on the first team in Ashbourne at the ripe old age of 51. He was club captain in 1983/84 and club president in 2004/05 and 2005/06. Dave was a serious force with ball in hand, a brilliant lineout thrower and very powerful scrummager, he would also be well renowned for his aggressive ‘rucking’ - although many a ref would tend to disagree with Dave’s interpretation of this part of his skill set, Dave was a player you wanted on Your team and not one you want to be playing against! Dave has won many trophies with the Club and holds an amazing record of being on the famous team that won the O’Connell Cup as well as nearly 25 years later winning the Provincial Towns Plate and the Clubs first major trophy at J1. Dave also was a recognised Hooker at Interpro level and represented our Club for a few years with the Leinster Juniors. Although now living in Kilkenny and probably now seen more with a wooden stick in the hand than an oval ball as his sons like many in south Leinster have built a passion for the ‘hurl’ Dave is still a fond follower of the Clubs progression and would be regular side line supporter to any games he can get to. Most of all Dave was competitive to a fault and was most definitely a fully paid up member of the “hookers” guild. (4) Paddy McLoughlin The clubs very strong history of good Hookers continued when Paddy Mac joined Ashbourne, having left Bective (& Navan), before finding a club that he loved. Paddy was a real character and leader on and off the pitch, never left anything in the tank when playing and was a serious man in the tight. He would be known to put his head where many would dare put their boot and this resulted in many a visit to the local doctors for stitch’s to the helmet! Famously took Ashbourne as Captain of the Club to our First ever Towns Cup Final on our first year in the competition, only to be beaten by Paddy’s old club Navan in a fiercely contested final. His determination on the field was always noticed and he represented Ashbourne on the Leinster Juniors, winning the inter-pro campaign with his fellow Ashbourne players Jeff & Fitzy. He also was well known for his customary 6 pints in the 1 hour he was allowed after each game before getting collected. Paddy was a great source of passion and entertainment and a true ‘Ashbourne Hooker’
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 10:42:00 +0000