Senior 2 XV Squad
Malahide 2nds entered a new era for the club in the 2013/14 season. Following two successive
Leinster League titles it was decided to enter the newly restructured Metro Leagues to increase the
level of competition. The side struggled initially taking big losses away to Lansdowne and Belvedere
in particular in the early stages of the season. By mid-November the team was firmly rooted to the
bottom of the table with no points from their opening 6 games. Great credit goes to the stalwarts of
the team over recent seasons like Pat McDonald, Shane Carolan, James Gallagher and Karl Morris
who kept putting the time and commitment in through those early months. Even through those early
losses there was a noticeable improvement in the standard of play with new players filtering into the
side and the scheduling of first team fixtures allowing greater availability of the first team
replacements. Eventually the team got their first win of the season where a last gasp Shane Breen
penalty secured a victory away to Blackrock. With a solid front row in Reece O’Connell, Daragh
Reilly and Aaron O’Toole now established and with new players in Joe McGinley, Oisin Kilgallen
and Shane O’Kelly integrating their way into the team, performances lifted to a different level and in
their next game they snatched victory against a Lansdowne side who had earlier in the season beaten
them 52-12. With some points on the board the team now looked to try and secure their survival in
Division 4 of the Metro League. Two further wins against Terenure and Blackrock and a bonus point
defeat to league leaders Old Wesley left them facing into the last league game, against second placed
Old Belvedere needing a win to avoid the relegation play off game. Sadly it was not to be as a huge
Malahide effort fell just short and ‘Belvo came away with a 22-11 victory. With Lansdowne’s last
day bonus point victory against Blackrock that left the team with an away trip to Rathdrum, whom
they had lost to twice, for the relegation play off game. The team saved their performance of the
season for the final game and put in a near faultless display to win 34-5 and ensure they would be
playing Division 4 rugby again next year. In addition to the players above Mark Bolger and Eugene
Mullen formed a solid second row partnership while Richy Downey was unlucky to have his input
curtailed somewhat by injury. Paddy McGee, Jack Lawless, Mark Connellan and Rory O’Farrell
were solid at the back while showing exciting pace going forward. Ronan Lally and Oisin
Klinkenbergh shared the scrum half duties in the early part of the season and slid seamlessly into the
role of utility backs as the season progressed. While the input of Ger Mullarkey, Eoin Cannon,
Anthony Colbert, Killian Sweeney and Sean Power always added a lift to the side when they were
free from first team replacement duties.