MY CLUB: HIGHFIELD RFC
By Daire Walsh
There were joyous scenes at Woodleigh Park on April 2, when Highfield RFC of Cork were crowned Ulster Bank League Division 2B champions for the second season in succession with a comprehensive 59-7 victory over Bective Rangers.
The Field had secured the fourth-tier title prior to the restructuring of the league for the 2015/16 campaign, and speak in relation to their pivotal triumph against the south Dubliners, veteran player Dave Kelly was delighted to see everything clicking for his side on the day.
“It was a bit mad. To be honest with you, we thought we’d sort of blown it the week before against Sunday’s Well, a local derby. Then we were just getting updates on the pitch, and we just knew then to keep going,” remarked Kelly.
“Thankfully we managed to get over the line then, and get the points difference back. It was great to get another title back-to-back. It’s unusual to happen in the AIL, so it’s great that way.”
Offaly native Kelly (a former Highfield club captain) had previously won the Ulster Bank League top-flight crown with Cork Constitution in 2008, and this season saw him reaching a significant milestone.
Kelly made his 100th consecutive appearance in the AIL for Highfield away to Rainey Old Boys last November, and he acknowledged that it was a nice honour to achieve in such a successful campaign for the club.
“I think I signed for Highfield back in 2009, and I managed to start all the games. There was a bit of a statistician in the club sort of keeping an eye on it, and I know I got an award for my 50th game in-a-row a few years ago.
“I just managed then before Christmas to get the 100th start in-a-row, so it’s nice just to get that off my back. It was nice to do it, and then nice to cap off the season with winning a back-to-back title as well.”
After impressing at underage and academy level, Kelly was handed a two-year full-time contract by Connacht, and even though injuries ensured that his time in the West was ultimately frustrating, he hails the professional approach that former Munster and Toulon prop Timmy Ryan, and current international James Cronin, bring to Highfield’s current coaching set-up.
“In fairness to Timmy, since he’s come, the training has been very professional. You can see from the professional approach he has to it, even just with time, just trying to keep lads off their feet as much as they can on the pitch.
“I suppose, in the professional set-up, the line-outs and stuff have been very good. We’ve James Cronin as well, who has played for Highfield. We have him up as well. We take on most clubs, and I suppose it has been a big benefit for that, even just for phase plays and stuff from Timmy,” Kelly added.