See photos as Wicklow Rovers AFC celebrate 50th anniversary with founding members
The event began with a heartfelt introduction by Ross Byrne, who traced the club's journey from humble beginnings, detailing how, through members' unwavering support and tireless efforts, Wicklow Rovers blossomed into the pride of Wicklow, culminating in the senior men's first team's historic quadruple win.
There was a presentation for the club's honorary members, whose names are etched into the very fabric of Wicklow Rovers, with a deeply touching moment seeing the presentation of awards to the club's founding members, acknowledging those who 'bravely started this incredible journey'.
Edward Dunne, Teddy Dunne's son, graciously accepted on behalf of his late father, with Michael Loughlin, John 'Spud' Murphy, Noel McVeigh, Jimmy Culbert, Anthony Earls, Jim Crofton, and Billy Dunne, also honoured.
The spotlight was shone on the club's youth, with the Under 14's team of 2024 receiving a well-deserved presentation, celebrating their historic SFAI South Leinster title in 2024 – the first Wicklow schoolboy team ever to win a Leinster title.
The evening also paid tribute to the growing strength of the Wicklow Rovers Ladies Senior Team, with Louise Johnson presented with the prestigious Sheila Loughlin Player of the Year award, and Molly Sweeney receiving the Top Scorer award.
The achievements of the senior men's teams were also celebrated, with awards presented to top scorers and players of the year across the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams.
As attendees reflected on the club's glorious past and thriving present, eyes were cast towards the future, with chairman Garry Collins discussing exciting plans for Whitegates and the committee's vision to implement the required infrastructure to ensure the club's continued success, with a key focus being the development of an all-weather pitch at Whitegates.
The night culminated with the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year 2025 award to Johnny Dunne, aka 'Mr. Wicklow Rovers', while Wicklow League committee member Liam Kilbride presented Garry Collins with a special memento, with outgoing committee members Stephen Clarke, Jimmy Nolan, Paul Delaney, and Corrinna Collins honoured.
'It was a heartwarming occasion where generations of the club came together, weaving a tapestry of shared memories, current triumphs, and boundless hope for the future,' a club spokesperson
'Founding members, their families, past players, dedicated past and present committee members, the history-making U14s team of 2024, our incredible quadruple-winning Senior Men's team of 2024-25, and so many other players and supporters gathered to mark this milestone.
'It was an evening that captured the heart and soul of Wicklow Rovers AFC. As we reflect on 50 years of passion, community, and football excellence, we are filled with immense pride in our past, joy in our present achievements, and incredible hope for an even brighter future.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Munster beat holders Leinster to take control of interpros, Connacht turn it around against Ulster
Leinster 22-33 Munster MUNSTER PUT THEMSELVES in pole position for a shot at regaining the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title following a business-like 33-22 win over Leinster at Energia Park. Playing with a maturity beyond her years, 19-year-old out-half Caitríona Finn turned in her second Player of the Match performance in the space of a week as Munster handed the defending champions a rare home defeat. Chisom Ugwueru's try just before half-time, adding to a quick-fire Chloe Pearse brace either side of the 20-minute mark, had Munster leading 19-10 as they proved clinical with ball in hand. Leinster debutant Vicky Elmes Kinlan's dazzling opener had certainly raised the decibel level. Yellow cards for forwards Lisa Callan and Jane Neill hampered them, albeit that Kathy Baker was able to cross in the 28th minute. However, Matt Brown's charges effectively sealed the result when Kate Flannery and Aoife Corey both touched down inside 12 minutes of the restart. Molly Boyne and Katie Whelan replied late on for Leinster, giving them their own bonus point. Caitriona Finn starred for Munster. Andrew Conan / INPHO Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO With back-to-back bonus point victories, and next Saturday's trip to Ulster still to come, Munster look red-hot favourites for the final in Donnybrook in two weeks' time. To set up a rematch with their arch rivals, Leinster will need to beat Connacht in Galway next week. Leinster scorers Tries: Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kathy Baker, Molly Boyne, Katie Whelan Con: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton Munster scorers Tries: Chloe Pearse 2, Chisom Ugwueru, Kate Flannery, Aoife Corey Cons: Caitríona Finn 4. LEINSTER: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC); Emma Brogan (MU Barnhall RFC), Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC), Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC), Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC); Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC), Lisa Callan (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Layde (Old Belvedere RFC), Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair (Blackrock College RFC), Kate Jordan (Blackrock College RFC), Ciara Short (Wicklow RFC), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC) (capt), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC). Replacements: Kelly Burke (MU Barnhall RFC), Hannah Wilson (Old Belvedere RFC), Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere RFC), Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC), Rosie Searle (Navan RFC), Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC), Heidi Lyons (Naas RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC). MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Órna Moynihan (Ennis RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC); Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC); Gráinne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoife Fleming (Ballincollig RFC), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O'Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Clodagh O'Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC), Maeve Óg O'Leary (Blackrock College RFC) (capt), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC). Replacements: Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Lily Morris (Ballincollig RFC), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC), Eve Prendergast (Ballincollig RFC), Lucia Linn (UL Bohemian RFC), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC). Referee: Siobhán Daly (IRFU). Munster's Maeve Óg O'Leary and Leinster's Kelly Burke after the match. Andrew Conan / INPHO Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO ********** Advertisement Connacht 12-7 Ulster Second-half tries from replacement Faith Oviawe and Roisin Maher steered a young Connacht team to a gutsy 12-7 win over Ulster at Dexcom Stadium. With 21-year-old captain and Player of the Match Éabha Nic Dhonnacha leading by example, Emer O'Dowd's charges recovered from an early deficit to open their win account in this year's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Ulster's new centre Siobhán Sheerin thundered over in the ninth minute, raising her side's hopes of a first victory at this level in two years. They still led 7-0 after half-time, emerging unscathed from Brenda Barr's sin-binning. Nonetheless, with Connacht's bench having the desired impact, forwards Oviawe and Maher scored within seven minutes of each other. In addition, Nic Dhonnacha clipped over the first conversion. Connacht's Hannah Clarke and Kate Farrell-McCabe of Ulster. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO The hosts, who wore their club socks on their State of Origin day, remained on the front foot and saw out a rousing triumph, putting last week's disappointing display against Munster to bed. Unfortunately the hard-earned four points came at a cost for Connacht as the luckless Kayla Waldron was stretchered off in her first game since a horrific leg break in April 2024. There was a lot of concern too for Emily Foley who was taken off with an injury late on. Ulster picked up a losing bonus point for their efforts, and will have home advantage against table toppers Munster at Affidea Stadium next Saturday. Connacht remain in Galway, with a place in the final to play for against Leinster, who are two points better off. Connacht scorers Tries: Faith Oviawe, Roisin Maher Con: Éabha Nic Dhonnacha Ulster scorers Try: Siobhán Sheerin Con: Siobhán Sheerin CONNACHT: Clara Barrett (UL Bohemian RFC); Emily Foley (Galwegians RFC), Orla Dixon (Galwegians RFC), Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt), Hannah Clarke (Old Belvedere RFC); Kayla Waldron (Railway Union RFC), Gráinne Moran (Galwegians RFC); Hannah Coen (Creggs RFC), Lily Brady (Westport RFC/UL Bohemian RFC), Roisin Maher (Galwegians RFC), Poppy Garvey (Railway Union RFC), Grace Browne Moran (Galwegians RFC), Beibhinn Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC). Replacements: Stacy Hanley (Galwegians RFC), Ellen Connolly (Galwegians RFC), Hope Lowney (MU Barnhall RFC), Faith Oviawe (Railway Union RFC), Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey (Ennis RFC), Lesley Ring (Old Belvedere RFC), Ava Ryder (Blackrock College RFC), Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin (Tuam/Oughterard RFC). A view of a scrum. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO ULSTER: Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC); Lucy Thompson (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC), Siobhán Sheerin (Clogher Valley RFC), Tara O'Neill (Cooke RFC), Niamh Marley (Cooke RFC); Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC), Georgia Boyce (Cooke RFC); Sarah Roberts (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Ava Fannin (Blackrock College RFC), Lauren Darley (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Brenda Barr (Suttonians RFC), Moya Hill (Enniskillen RFC), Ruby Starrett (Queen's University Belfast RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC/Blackrock College RFC) (capt). Replacements: Cara McLean (Larne RFC), Megan Simpson (Cooke RFC), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC), Rebecca Beacom (Enniskillen RFC), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC), Sophie Meeke (Enniskillen RFC), Kelly McCormill (Cooke RFC), Stacey Sloan (Cooke RFC). Referee: John Purcell (IRFU).
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
'We were just really dog s**t'; Rassie brutally honest after Springboks shocking defeat to Australia
There was a huge shock in Ellis Park as Australia came from 22-0 down to win 38-22 against the Springboks. It was the Wallabies first win in Johannesburg since 1963 but it didn't look like it would go that way at the start at Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the games first try after just 93 seconds. With further tries from André Esterhuizen and captain Siya Kolisi on top of a Mannie Libbok penalty it looked like South Africa had the match won as they were 22-0 up after 17 minutes. However as they showed in the second and third test of the Lions series The Wallabies have a new edge to them and they fought hard at the breakdown to get back to the game. Dylan Pietsch got a try to get Australia on the scoresheet before halftime but it was in the second half when things went up a notch for Australia. South Africa's captain and number eight Siya Kolisi celebrates after scoring a try. Pic: WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images Harry Wilson walked in for a try after a sumptuous pop from the Ulster-bound Angus Bell. That made it 22-12 and the game but it was the final 25 minutes when the game flipped on its head. The catalyst for it all was a stray Mannie Libbok pass which was picked up by Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i with the league convert cantering under the posts unopposed. Then Wilson scored again after an amazing run from Tom Wright to give Australia the lead before Max Jorgensen scored just moments later after a beautiful step past Libbok as Australia now had a two score lead heading into the final stages. Harry Wilson runs with the ball to score a try as South Africa's fly-half Manie Libbok misses a tackle. Pic: WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images Wright put the cherry on top of the cake after picking up a loose pass to give Australia a monumental win in their Rugby Championship campaign. It was as bad a title defence as it could've been for South Africa in the Rugby Championship and as ever Rassie Erasmus didn't hold back when speaking to the media afterwards. 'This is probably one of the most embarrassing press conferences I've done in a while,' the ex-Munster coach said. 'Not because we were awful, but they were really good. And I don't want to put the old cliché out there, credit to them. They were good, but we made them better with our performance. To be 22-0 up, we did the same against Italy, when 28-3 up, and then we let teams back in. Australia's centre Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii dives across the line to score. Pic: WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images 'We gave them one or two soft tries – an intercept here [Sua'ali'i's try], a pass from Andre [Esterhuizen] that went to them [Wright's try].' He heaped plenty of praise onto Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, wholly admitting that the ex-Leinster and Ireland coach had outdone him and his coaching team this time. 'They were just better than us on the day in most departments. We didn't scrum them. They beat us in the lineouts. For the first 25 minutes we were good at the breakdown, but after Siya [Kolisi] got injured and Marco [van Staden] had to go for an HIA, they bullied us there too. We as coaches got it terribly wrong. Rassie Erasmus. Pic: WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images 'It wasn't just tactical – they also physically dominated us. The longer the game went on, the stronger they got. At altitude, that's supposed to be us. It shows what Joe [Schmidt] is building there. He then stopped sugarcoating it all, if he hadn't already by summing up his thoughts. 'I can butter this up to sound cool and respectful, but we were just really dog s**t on the day.' South Africa will have a chance to get revenge next week as this time they go down to see level at Cape Town to face Australia once again at the DHL Stadium. The game is on next Saturday with Kick-off at 4:30pm Irish time and live on Sky Sports.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Caitríona Finn stars as Munster overcome Leinster in Interpros
Women's Interprovincial Championships: Leinster 22 Munster 33 Munster put themselves in pole position for a shot at regaining the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title following a business-like 33-22 win over Leinster at Energia Park. Playing with a maturity beyond her years, 19-year-old outhalf Caitríona Finn turned in her second player-of-the-match performance in the space of a week as Munster handed the defending champions a rare home defeat. Chisom Ugwueru's try just before half-time, adding to a quick-fire Chloe Pearse brace either side of the 20-minute mark, had Munster leading 19-10 as they proved clinical with ball in hand. READ MORE Leinster debutant Vicky Elmes Kinlan's dazzling opener had certainly raised the decibel level. Yellow cards for forwards Lisa Callan and Jane Neill hampered them, albeit that Kathy Baker was able to cross in the 28th minute. However, Matt Brown's charges effectively sealed the result when Kate Flannery and Aoife Corey both touched down inside 12 minutes of the restart. Molly Boyne and Katie Whelan replied late on for Leinster, giving them their own bonus point. With back-to-back bonus point victories, and next Saturday's trip to Ulster still to come, Munster look red-hot favourites for the final in Donnybrook in two weeks' time. To set up a rematch with their arch rivals, Leinster will need to beat Connacht in Galway next week. Scorers: Leinster: Tries: Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kathy Baker, Molly Boyne, Katie Whelan; Con: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton Munster: Tries: Chloe Pearse 2, Chisom Ugwueru, Kate Flannery, Aoife Corey; Cons: Caitríona Finn 4 LEINSTER: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC); Emma Brogan (MU Barnhall RFC), Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC), Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC), Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC); Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC), Lisa Callan (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Layde (Old Belvedere RFC), Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair (Blackrock College RFC), Kate Jordan (Blackrock College RFC), Ciara Short (Wicklow RFC), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC) (capt), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC). Replacements: Kelly Burke (MU Barnhall RFC), Hannah Wilson (Old Belvedere RFC), Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere RFC), Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC), Rosie Searle (Navan RFC), Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC), Heidi Lyons (Naas RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC). MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Órna Moynihan (Ennis RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC); Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC); Gráinne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoife Fleming (Ballincollig RFC), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O'Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Clodagh O'Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC), Maeve Óg O'Leary (Blackrock College RFC) (capt), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC). Replacements: Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Lily Morris (Ballincollig RFC), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC), Eve Prendergast (Ballincollig RFC), Lucia Linn (UL Bohemian RFC), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC). Referee: Siobhán Daly (IRFU)
