Who Exactly Are They?

Who exactly are Coolime? Ah, a question I have been asked on numerous occasions in the past year. Well the answer is they are a young and blossoming club situated just outside Blanchardstown in Dublin

Ah, a question I have been asked on numerous occasions in the past year. Well the answer is they are a young and blossoming club situated just outside Blanchardstown in Dublin.

I began as a player there knowing little or nothing about the game of rugby but was helped on and learned the skills of the great sport from such eager coaches as Pat McDonald and Mick Carroll, not forgeting the mad Canadian, Neil Burke. The club has teams ranging from under 8’s to under 20’s and currently has three senior teams. The first team now compete in the third division in Leinster and proud to be able to say they have never taken a step backwards. With the arrival of the new kiwi coach, Matt, it looks even brighter for the future. The real reason I am writing this article is to tell people about the hindering factors of such small clubs. I myself took a year away from Coolmine to play for UCD where I was attending college. Although I first viewed this as an opportunity to better myself as a rugby player and create opportunities for trials I now see my mistake. This is why small clubs stay small as players are coaxed away by other club’s illustrious histories or promises of contracts. I found my time at UCD lonely and exclusive not having played any schools rugby. The “cliques” had been formed years previous and I was an alien from the North-side of Dublin. I went to watch the under 20’s play in August of this year and had a long talk with the manager Mick Philips which convinced me to return to the parochial atmosphere of Coolmine. I am now back playing for the under 20’s and happy to be. So here lies my point. Loyalty to your club is of paramount importance to its success. No matter what you are offered you will let your team mates and yourself down if you abadon the birthplace of your rugby. Happily returned to my own birthplace I am ready to surrender all for the cause again and step into the breach. I hope now that the question can be answered and everybody will soon know who the Coolmine are. Our first legue match is this Saturday (20/10/01) Best of luck lads!!