Tullamore Rugby Club

Published: Fri 18 Sep 2009, 10:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 18 Sep 2009, 10:59 AM

Leinster League Division 1A 2009/10 The most important competition of the season starts next Saturday when Tullamore host former AIL side Monkstown in the first league match of the season. There are 8 teams in this top division of the league with both home and away matches in a league that finishes next March. The additional prize for the winners is a play-off with the league winners in the other three provinces for qualification for the All-Ireland League next season. That is Tullamore's ambition but have no doubt it is also the ambition of the other seven sides in the league. The favourites based on last season's results are Seapoint who finished only one point behind Navan who are now promoted. Already this season they have sent out a warning to everyone by winning their section of the Leinster Senior League Cup. Boyne are another team to watch out for as holders of the Provincial Towns Cup when defeating Tullamore in a brilliant final last April. Saturday's opponents Monkstown and Skerries both want to regain their Senior status and have recruited heavily during the off season. The other three teams Cill Dara, Dundalk and Portlaoise are preparing quietly for battle and will be as tough as usual. Tullamore are determined to win this league and have retained all of the starting line-up that won the All-Ireland Junior Cup with Gearoid O'Grady continuing as Club Captain. Ivor Deverell and Dave Hanlon have recovered from injury and will form a formidable 2nd row. Rob Connor, who was player of the year 2008/09, also missed out on the win due to injury and he is back in his No 7 shirt. Former Captain of Buccaneers Adrian Hanley has impressed in a couple of friendlies and both Sean Brady and Eddie Brady join him in the journey from the Athlone Club. Sean is originally from the North Kildare club and Eddie played all his Youths rugby in Tullamore. Former Irish Schools player and Towns Cup Final Man of the Match in 2006, David Clavin rejoins from Old Belvedere and versatile forward David Milne is back from Lansdowne. Fixtures Fri 18th Sept: Tullamore U21s V Clontarf U21s at 8pm friendly. Sat 19th Sept: Tullamore v Monkstown K.O. at 5.30pm; Tullamore 2nds v Monkstown 2nds, 4pm. YOUTHS TRAINING U-8s starts this Saturday at 11am and continues every Saturday. U-10 and U-12s start this Saturday at 11am and continues on Weds at 7pm and Sat. U-19s starts on Friday at 7pm and continues on Fridays.