Last summer after the disappointment of relegation from Division 1B we all stated our goal was to not just get promoted but to win 2A, with a game to spare we did that. So, in our last game against Carlow we wanted to finish the job and be convincing winners of 2A. We knew the Carlow game was going to be tough as they still had to get a point out of it to guarantee 2nd place. The boys had to dig really deep after going behind but they got the win by 2 points. So, it was a great way to finish the season for the Performance Team.
But the other big success from another of the stated goals of the season was the performance of the Development Team. They topped off the season with a 10-10 draw in Carlow, and that set the tone for the day. They ended up 5th in the table, equal on points with the 4th placed team.
It was the commitment to training and the season long drive of the players wanting to get into the starting teams each week that made the seasons goals achievable. Even though, both teams still have Plate games to progress in, the League has been a success.
A lot has been asked of the players at different blocks of games commitment wise to training, and the guys bought in and each week they knew that what they had done that week wouldn’t be good enough the following week. So, they gave that commitment. A good example of that was the 30+ guys out training the Friday night the Ireland v Wales match was on in the club with a function for that game. On bad wet nights leading into the final two games when the pitches probably weren’t up to a session the boys still rocked up or when we had to make use of an alternative pitch when we were trying to save our own, the guys stepped up.
So yes job done. But there is still a lot to play for, for both teams this season. So, for now the boys can celebrate their achievements, because there are not too many Blue Pendants in LRFC. But the Plate comp looms large, for the Development Team and the Performance Team both out this weekend versus Edenderry and Wexford.
