:: Dungannon Rugby Club :: by stagetimes.com

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Return of the Earls – Festival of Sport

Friday 19 August 2005

The spectators at Stevenson Park we treated to a very entertaining evening of sport when the rugby club and Dungannon Clarkes put on a 50 / 50 game of gaelic and rugby football.
We had a kick off or to be correct a ‘throw in’ under the all seeing eye of referee Eileen Jones. There followed two twenty-minute secessions of gaelic football with players showing their skills and would be skills. John McGuckin’s innate ability to find an opponent with his sublime passes and Goose Weir’s natural reaction when faced with Keith Blevins’s new hair style. He was so astonished that he missed an open goal.
Fast Eddie Holland was late for the start of the game but made his mark in the rugby secession by not only scoring the final try but by also failing to execute a touch down a few minutes earlier. However Eddie’s lapse pales into insignificance compared to that of Shane Treanor. A beautiful phase of rugby finally saw Glen Telford make space and send Shane through on the twenty-two. The pass was perfect and the run was beautifully angled. Shane rocketed through, crossed the line and started a soccer style celebration. Unfortunately he forgot that he had the ball in his right hand. Before he had a chance to touch down it fell from his grasp to an ‘oh’ and a peel of laughter from the spectators. The normally reserved Glen Telford could only laugh and shake his head whilst Shane’s brother Declan said, “This might keep him quiet for half an hour.” Referee Richard Chambers said he would like to have given the try because of the great build up but had to uphold the laws of the game.
One note of controversy occurred when Clarkes stalwart and match umpire John Gill disallowed what everyone thought was a good goal by a player in blue and white. Umpire Gill claimed that it had slipped into the temporary net via the side netting. The scoring team swore it was because an Edendork player had scored the goal.
The game was very entertaining, competitive and played in a great spirit. This was due in no small part to the leadership on the field of Andrew Hughes and Oliver Donnelly.
After the game Councillor Francie Molloy, Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council presented Dungannon Clarkes and Dungannon Rugby Club with a unique Return of the Earls Trophy that will be played for annually by the players from both clubs.
All in all a very entertaining evening at Stevenson Park.
Players: Keith Blevins, Aaron Brannigan, Paul Coulter, Liam Currie, Kieran Currie, Daniel, Barry Donnelly, Oliver Donnelly, James Doran, Edward Holland, Richard Holmes, Andrew Hughes, Paul Magee, Raymond McCann, Kevin McElduff, John McGuckin, Karl McGuckin, Paul O’Neill, Neil Patterson, Jason Pollock, Robert Pollock, John F.Quinn, Chris Rafferty, Michael Rainey, Colin Scott, Brian Simpson, Glen Telford, Declan Treanor, Shane Treanor, Adam Ward and Gareth Weir.
Referees: Eileen Jones and Richard Chambers.

Return of the Earls – Festival of Sport
Saturday 20 August 2005
The organisers of the Return of The Earls were blessed with great weather on Saturday afternoon. The rugby ‘tens’ at Stevenson Park saw Omagh, Clogher Valley, Cookstown and Dungannon clash with County Donegal teams, Inishowen and Donegal Town. Following the thrills and spills of the group stages Donegal and Dungannon met in the final with the latter taking the Return of the Earls Trophy and the Nelson Cup. Try scorers for Dungannon were Chris Blair (2), Jonny Peyton, Darren Simpson, Philip Eaglesham, Kyle Patterson, Philip Hall and Keith Blevins. Other members of the winning squad were Brian Simpson, Richard Holmes, Paul Montgomery, Gareth Richardson, Chris Holland, Richard Wright and Mark Farquhar who captained the side. The Donegal Team was led by Garry Prendiville who was assisted by David Barrett, Larie McAughin, Rory Meehan, Paul Brown, Nigel McNwaw, Kevin McKinty, Ronan Gillespie, Declan Gallagher, Luke Cape, Donal Martin, Keith Morrow, Ivan Corrigan, Brian Gorman, Eddie Gorman and non-playing Motivation Coach Kevin Sinclair.
The final was refereed by the excellent and long-suffering Shane Toolan of Ballyshannon RFC. Although Mr Toolan’s deafness was tested to the full by Donegal’s motivation coach he resisted the temptation to take the coloured cards from his pocket. David Cullen, Richard Chambers and Paul McAlister refereed in the preliminary rounds and said they enjoyed the exercise.
Mayor Francie Molloy presented the Return of The Earls Trophy to Dungannon Captain Mark Farquhar and Mr Pat Nelson proudly presented Mark with the Nelson Cup.

The success of the competition, which is in its second year, is due to the teams that took part and the people who helped organise the tournament. Thanks are due to Andrew Bates for organising the Clogher Valley team; Brian Harkin of Inishowen who brought Philip ‘Red Hugh’ McFadden that finely sculptured Adonis in shin guards to Stevenson Park along with John Merrit, Inishowen President, and his merry men. Our old friend Jackie Reid brought the men from Omagh, again thanks to Ashley Blair. Thanks also to Gareth Stinson who brought his troops from Cookstown and to finalists Donegal were organised by Garry Prendiville who is keen to return in 2006.

Simultaneously at O’Neill Park the Clarkes were hosting a gaelic football seven-aside competition. Killeeshil and Edendork moved across town to Stevenson Park to play in the grand final. This game was won by the sharper finishing Edendork whose captain, Brian McGuckin collecting the Return of the Earls Trophy and the Peter Feeney Memorial Cup.
Rugby Club President Gary Leslie thanked Oliver Morgan of South Tyrone/Donegal Equity and Diversity Initiative for his support in making the Return of the Earls Festival of Sport possible. Gary did not forget the workers; he was full of praise for those who assisted on the day. In addition to Owen Treanor, Cathal Skeffington and John Gill at O’Neill Park, Gary thanked rugby club members who helped out over the weekend including Allan Buchanan, Tom Cullen, Kenny Gallagher, Albert Ferguson, Steven Martin, W.J.McKenzie, Adrian Simpson, Will Taylor, Willie Ward, David Wishart, Davy Wright, Harold Walker and of course Ladies Committee members Bertha Patton, Laura Adair and Beatrice Forsythe. A word of appreciation too for the hurling and camogie youngsters of Dungannon who put on such a colourful display prior to the finals.

In addition to the Council members from Donegal and Dungannon & South Tyrone Andy Crawford, club member and current President of the IRFU, attended the event. In what is for him a very busy year we send our thanks to Andy for giving up an afternoon of his precious time to attend the event.

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