Super Skibbereen U16s complete terrific treble

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

SKIBBEREEN RFC’S all-conquering U16 team has completed a terrific treble.

This team of young heroes has finished their season in style by adding the South Munster A league and the South Munster A Cup to the Bank of Ireland Munster U16 Cup they famously won in Thomond Park last month.

‘That’s a clean sweep of cups, they were the three competitions we were in and they were the three top competitions as well,’ explained coach Paul O’Farrell.

‘As far as we know, it’s an historic achievement because no one else has won the three together.’

It’s been a very busy period for this talented young Skibb side that was straight back into the South Munster U16 Cup the week after they won the Munster cup final against Kinsale – and the draw pitted them against Kinsale again, with Skibb winning 17-10. Wins followed against Ballincollig (24-14), Cobh Pirates (18-17) and then against Old Christians (19-15) in the final last Sunday.

In the final of the South Munster League recently, Skibb beat Cobh (22-12) to complete the second leg of the treble.

‘We had about seven games in about 24 days so it was intensive and hard going because there were no easy games, so it’s great that they kept going and got their rewards,’ O’Farrell said.

‘In the very first training session we told them if they worked hard they would be in with a shout of winning some silverware at the end of the season. Little did we know that we’d be after bringing home the top three competitions; it’s been an exceptional year.’

Most of this group will move up to U18 level for next season, as the conveyor belt of talent in Skibbereen RFC continues to produce.