TERENURE COLLEGE ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE PIECE
By Daire Walsh
AS TERENURE College RFC look to build on their current rich vein of form, back-row Jordan Coghlan is confident the team can remain in the shake-up come the business end of the All-Ireland League Division 1A season.
Following their impressive victory against Cork Constitution at Lakelands Park last Saturday, Sean Skehan’s ‘Nure have recorded six wins on the bounce in domestic rugby’s top-flight.
This has elevated them to fourth-place in the table and keeps them firmly in the hunt for an All-Ireland League semi-final spot later in the year.
“I just want to win,” said Coghlan. “I’d be fairly peed off now if we weren’t in the final or if we haven’t won. That’s just the way I am. Especially when I was speaking to the coaches before I joined.
“When I came home, the vision they were giving me. Just looking at the squad, it would be hard not to see us doing well.
“That’s obviously why there was the frustration there when we were losing those games [three successive defeats early in the season]. Now it’s just a bit more clear what we can do. The lads have a bit more belief now in what we’re doing,” Coghlan explained.
Having previously lined out for Leinster, Munster, Nottingham and Leicester Tigers, Coghlan called time on the professional side of his rugby career at the age of 28 last summer.
He is one of several members of the Terenure squad to have played the sport on a full-time basis in the recent past with former St Mary’s College RFC fly-half Cathal Marsh included amongst this cohort.
In fact, given he was in the Leinster Academy at the same time as Marsh and the likes of winger Sam Coghlan-Murray, the Raheny native found himself amongst familiar territory when he joined forces with ‘Nure in advance of the present campaign.
“That was another big reason why I went to Terenure coming from the UK,” said Coghlan.
“Obviously linking up with those lads again who I would be close friends with. Coming over, seeing the squad that they were building.
“Even though it’s a very young squad, it certainly is a squad full of talent. They’re all a great bunch of lads as well. It’s easy when you come down to training and at the games when you’re such close mates. It’s great, a very good squad to be a part of.”