CLUB SCENE: MY CLUB
By DAIRE WALSH
ASHBOURNE RFC
Milltown Rd,
Archerstown Wood,
Ashbourne,
Co Meath
THESE are exciting times for reigning Ulster Bank All-Ireland Junior Cup champions Ashbourne, who are currently riding high at the top of the Leinster Junior League Division 1A table after five games.
Last January’s All-Ireland Junior Cup success against Enniscorthy at Donnybrook was preceded by their historic Provincial Towns Cup victory in 2014, and the Co Meath club’s Honorary Secretary Bill Duggan identified youth development as a key factor in the club’s recent growth.
“Since we’ve gotten into Division 1A in 2014, its been a positive way forward. That year we won the Provincial Towns Cup, the Seconds Towns Cup and we also won an area competition in the North East with our third team called the McGee Cup. The club was also 40 years old that year,” explained Duggan.
“The average age of the first team is around 23, so it’s a young team. We have one young lad who was playing senior cup with CUS last year, Brendan Meehan. Joey Szpara, he’s only just turned 19, and was part of the Leinster Youths programme. Jack O’Brien in the centre, he’s just turned 21. Matt Connolly is 21. From a club development perspective, it’s been very exciting.”
Originally from Thurles, Co Tipperary, Duggan also serves as the club’s Public Relations Officer. He first joined Ashbourne in 1979, and although he has never lived in the town itself, the club has left a lasting impression on him.
“I’m secretary for 20 years. I joined Ashbourne in ’79. I was up from UL, working in Swords. Bar the year I went back to college, I’ve been associated with Ashbourne Rugby Club ever since. I’ve never lived in Ashbourne, but I’ve always been associated with Ashbourne. That’t the one thing about rugby, I think, there’s a lot of club identity and loyalty to a club.”
The profile of Ashbourne RFC has steadily increased as, in addition to club members Helen O’Reilly and Kevin Beggs being prominent referees with the IRFU, it was also the home of the Ireland Women’s team for a number of years.
With Ireland claiming two Six Nations titles and a Grand Slam during their time playing their home matches at the club, Duggan acknowledges that their presence at Milltown House was beneficial in the long-run.
“The positive thing of the Women’s game in Ashbourne for the five years it was there, it allowed us to help develop the club. It put us on the map, it helped us – through the revenue that it generated in the club – to develop the facilities.
“Two years ago, we opened our 4G pitch, so we’ve a full-sized 4G pitch along with three all-weather natural pitches. They’re all floodlit, and you can play games, which is a revenue attraction as well. The Women’s game helped us in that. It wasn’t the only thing, but it contributed to that,” he added.