It’s a big week ahead for Balbriggan RFC. Balbriggans 1st XV play Clane this Friday 20th March in Coolmine Rugby Club. KO is at 8pm. This game is the Div 2b/Div 3 promotion/relegation play-off.
Then, on Saturday March 21st, Balbriggans Womens team is in the League final against Greystones. This game is being played in Donnybrook, and KO is 11am. Please come along and support the Men and Womens teams in these very important games.

Balbriggan take on Clondalkin on Wednesday 11th March in the 1st Round of the 2nds Town Cup. It’s a home game, and kick-off is 8pm. Please come along and support the team.

Leinster Rugbys Summer Camp is coming to Balbriggan Rugby Club! The Summer Camp takes place from Jul 13th to Jul 17 in Balbriggan. It’s open to boys and girls from ages 6-12. There is an early booking price of 75 euro (valid until 5th Jun). Book early to avoid disappointment. You can book online via
Players will get:
· 5 days of coaching from 9.30am-1.30pm Monday to Friday trained by Leinster Rugby fully accredited IRFU coaches
· Meet Leinster players
· One free junior ticket to a selected Leinster game
· A Canterbury of New Zealand pack including a training t-shirt, a ball, and a draw string bag.
· Learn new skills; make new friend and most importantly-HAVE FUN!

Balbriggans 1st XV play Clondalkin away this Sunday 15th Feb in the first round of the 2nd Towns Cup. KO 3pm at Gordon Park, Kingswood, Clondalkin. All support welcome.

Balbriggan 7 v Wexford 8

Photos kindly provided by Joe Curtis

Balbriggan just fell short in their quest for league honours in Balrothery on Sunday. While over the course of three games they scored 3 points more than Wexford; in the games that mattered fell short by a point.

Balbriggan kicked off and from the ensuing ruck won a penalty which Kyle Healy kicked to the corner, however Balbriggan were penalised at the maul and Wexford cleared their lines. For the first ten minutes Balbriggan were in the ascendency but the last pass was not going to hand and despite good breaks by J Mullen and Ciaran Verdon in the centre, they were met by a stout Wexford defence. Wexford did not get into the Balbriggan 22 until a mix up between the Balbriggan back three all trying to claim a high ball led to a knock on. Wexford capitalised on the error and pushed for the Balbriggan line. Balbriggan conceded a penalty on the 22 and this allowed Wexford to put the first points on the board. Balbriggan were unfortunate to lose skipper Malone to an injury and his leadership on the field was missed. Tom Hagan replaced the skipper but it led to a slightly unbalanced back row. Wexford had also done their homework and wheeled the Balbriggan scrum at every opportunity negating the Balbriggan advantage in this area. The referee was happy with the scrummaging even if it looked as if the wheel was being put on early.

Half time the three points was the only score. Balbriggan did their best to get back into the game but Wexford gave them very little opportunity to gain ground. Out half Ian Murphy eventually had to succumb to a wrist injury, sustained in his great defensive work. Coach Con Casey came on in his place and his experience gave a bit of order to the backs. However, it was Wexford who struck again when off a line out they exposed a gap in the 10/12 channel and scored under their posts. However their kicker had gone off and they missed the conversion. Still it was giving Balbriggan a high mountain to climb.

Skipper Malone returned to the field to give his men a boost. However a few minutes later J Mullen had to go off injured and Murphy returned to the fray. Balbriggan were starting to put some good moves together. Eventually a break up the wing by full back Stu Mullen and his interaction with Healy saw Balbriggan get close to the line. As Healy was taclked, Murphy following up got the ball over the line for a try. Kyle Healy made the conversion to leave a point between the teams. The clock however was Balbriggan’s greatest enemy and despite a couple more attacks Wexford held firm for a victory which should see the league title go to them though they have one match left in a month’s time.

A game played in great spirit and a pity that there had to be a loser. Wexford however seemed to have that bit better big day experience. A real learning curve for Balbriggan but they will be the better for it. Little consolation to the team but it adds to their experience. Next week sees cup rugby against Clondalkin.

Given where the Club were 3 1/2 years ago when they had to pull out of the Leinster League they should be very proud of what has been achieved. Then skipper now team manager, Ivan McFadden, started the rebuilding process assisted by coaches David O’Sullivan, Billy Phelan and Con Casey and this season Leigh O’Toole. However it is the players who have put in the effort this season to give the Club a successful return to the Leinster League.

S Mullen, T O’Toole, J Mullen, C Verdon, D Healy, I Murphy (C Casey) K Healy, P Joyce (A Kiernan) J Davis, C Mc Donald, M Geraghty (A Whelan) S Malone, D Bryan, M Fay, K Malone (T Hagan)

Balbriggans 1st XV play Wexford Wanderers at home this Sun 8th Feb. KO is at 3pm. This is a winner-takes-all match. All support greatly appreciated for this crucial game.

Balbriggans 1st XV put in a strong performance in their last away fixture in the Leinster League this season, defeating Ratoath 0 v 62. They scored 10 tries in total, with 6 conversions by Kyle Healy. Much credit must go to Ratoath who suffered a number of injuries during the game, but they played on to the end in a clean but tough encounter. Balbriggan welcomed back Sean Malone from injury, and greatly appreciate the travelling support. Next week is the final match, at home against Wexford, which will determine the League.

Clontarf 0 v Balbriggan 5

Balbriggan RFCs Women’s team put in a brilliant performance on Sunday afternoon when they beat Clontarf in Castle Avenue in their Leinster League clash. This win keeps Balbriggan clear at the top of Leinster League Division 4, six points ahead of nearest rivals Greystones and with only two matches left to play in the league. Balbriggan lead at half time through two tries by No. 8 Marie Claire Bellew. Clontarf were forced to defend hard for much of that half and rarely threatened Balbriggan’s line. The second half saw Balbriggan run in three further tries through Val Van Veen and sisters Ciara and Dearbhla Sheridan. Final score was 0 v 25. The performance was all the more remarkable given that their captain Sandra McAleer, prop Danielle Doran and experienced centre Siobhan O’Connor were all missing through injury. The ladies remaining fixtures are against Royal College of Surgeons and UCD.

Result : 8 v 7 to Balbriggan

Photos kindly provided by Joe Curtis

Balbriggan completed the hat trick of league victories over Midland Warriors, but only just. This was the toughest league match to date. Having been run close in Moate before Christmas, Balbriggan were looking forward to the wide expanses of the home pitch and were hoping to put a few tries on the board. The match started off as if in fact they might. From the kick off the ball was gathered in by Anto Whealan and then fed back to Scrum half Casey who flashed the ball out the line. After a couple of recycles Balbriggan found themselves inside the opposition 22. A penalty was awarded when the maul was pulled down. A quick tap by Casey saw him feed skipper Malone who set up another another maul and again a quick feed saw the ball flashed across the back line and winger Staunton scored in the corner. From the restart Balbriggan attacked again and looked as if they may add to the score but the Warriors defended well. A penalty was given away, Balbriggan decided to go for the corner and not take the three points. A decision that may have come back to haunt them. They were held up on the line and the chance was gone.

As the half went on the Warriors got back into the game. With their main line out jumpers side lined with injury, Balbriggan were not having their way with the line outs and the Warriors front jumper was winning more than his own share of the ball. The Warriors had one game plan and it only involved numbers 1-9. The rest of the team being superfluous to their attacking moves. The Balbriggan defence remained firm and just when it looked as it was breached Con Casey came up with the ball and cleared the danger as the ref ended the half.

The second half started as the first ended with pressure from the Warriors. Eventually the Balbriggan defence capitulated and from five metres out a gap appeared that allowed for the Warriors to get onto the score board and they converted to take a two point lead. As much as Balbriggan tried it is difficult to play without the ball. They lost Kieran Verdon to a knee strain but the experienced Jay Mullen took his place. Jay helped strengthen the defence and was like an extra forward in holding up the rampaging Warriors. When Balbriggan did get the ball they were able to run the ball wide and get some ground. Stu Mullen and Andrew Miller on the wing made some telling breaks. Tom Hagan replaced the hardworking Mark Fay and Paddy Joyce was replaced by Alan McKiernan. The fresh legs gave Balbriggan a bit more impetus but Warriors were happy to concede penalties rather than ground. Eventually a penalty was conceded in Healys range and Balbriggan regained a slim lead. Warriors, true to their name battled away and with the clock well in injury time Balbriggan conceded an unnecessary penalty for back-chat to the referee. It was just out of their kickers range and they kicked to the corner but knocked on at the ensuing line out and Balbriggan scraped home.

While still on track for a show down with Wexford, Balbriggan will have to improve on this display. Not having played since early December showed up in the play. With no game for a fortnight when they play Ratoath the team could do with a run out. The man of the match was Con Casey, having moved in to scrum half, his play certainly moved the back line and would look as if it could unlock the potential that is there.

A win is a win and great credit must be given to the defensive ability of the team.

Balbriggan IIXV 7 Ardee 7

With the IXV not in action until next week it was left to the IIXV to provide the weekend rugby fix. Balbriggan played league leaders Ardee in an enjoyable encounter at Balrothery on Sunday. Having come off worst in their derby match with Skerries the previous week the IIXV were somewhat apprehensive about this fixture with the leaders who had put a big score up against them at the start of the season.

It was Ardee who started the match better with some good runs across their back line but as both teams would rue by the end of the game handling left a lot to be desired. Balbriggan though absorbed the initial pressure and then started to put on some pressure of their own. With veterans O’Connor and McFadden lending experience to the pack Balbriggan were able to develop a good mauling game and with former skipper Tom Hagan, more used to the number 7 jersey, playing at 9 this kept the Ardee forwards on their toes with him making a number of darting breaks. In the centre J Mullen, recently returned from down under, struck up a good partnership with Paul Quinn and both hard runners caused a lot of problems for the Ardee defence. However it was Ardee who got on the score board first when an intercept on their own 22 saw them score under the posts.

Balbriggan attacked for the remainder of the half and at the scrums props Shane Bissett and Paul Cullen were in charge. Eventually their persistence paid off when O’Connor set Quinn for a score that Mullen converted. The second half saw both teams trying hard to break the deadlock and while there was good play from both sides neither could break the deadlock. Mid way during the half and O’Connor thieved a ball at a ball and made a break for the Ardee line, while 30 years ago he may have made it he got to the 22 before being caught. Another veteran Dec Quinn joined the fray for the remaining 15 minutes and his experience gave Balbriggan the upper hand in the tight play. With the clock running into injury time Balbriggan were awarded a penalty 5 metres out. They opted for the scrum and while they managed to recycle the ball a couple of times there eventually was a knock on and the game was over.

A highly entertaining game and good for the confidence of the IIXV. There could only be one man of the match, at 48 and counting veteran Des O’Connor really rolled back the years and gave a vintage display of back row play. He certainly has put it up to the youngsters to emulate that!

The IXV are back on the road next week with an away fixture to Arklow in the last section of the league.