First of all I would like to offer a warm welcome to all players, supporters and officials to Parsonstown. It was both a privilege and an honour to captain the club in the inaugural year of NUIM-Barnhall RFC and I am very proud to do it again this season. Our final game of last years Ulster Bank League at the NUI Maynooth North Campus was a huge success -on and off the field-and we all look forward to the experience there again this season. With the official affiliation with NUI Maynooth cemented, it is now envisaged that the club will not only maintain its senior status but in time, rise further through the ranks of the All Ireland League.
I would like to extend a big thanks to all our sponsors who continue to support us and who have stuck by us in these difficult times. Without your support we would be unable to continue to thrive as a club. We know that the only reward you hope for is to see us successful on the field of play and well regarded within our community.
This season we have strengthened in key areas thanks to a number of quality signings through the scholarship scheme at the University. The senior squad has also benefitted from the retention of all the management team from last year and the hard working influence of our head coach, Dennis Bowes, as Rugby Development Officer at the University. This continuity has allowed all the new players to slip easily into an established set up and bodes well for the coming season.
A special word of praise to our J1 squad who were last season’s Team of the Year in the Club. The fact that we have such an excellent J1 team adds to the competitiveness and quality of our training and well done to coach Sam Cawley, manager Kevin Loftus and captain Eoin McCreary.
To all teams and management in the club at minis, youths and senior levels, I wish you the best of luck for the coming season. Congratulations to our incoming President Noel Dillon, it will be difficult to fill Kevin Loftus’ shoes, but I’m sure you are up to the task.
Finally, I hope we’ll see all the familiar faces and some new ones down at the games during the season.
Yours in Rugby,
Eoin Hogan
NUIM Barnhall
Captain 2010-12
