President Young Munster RFC 2019/20

 

On behalf of Young Munster Rugby Football Club and all its members and staff, I am absolutely delighted to extend a hearty welcome to all players, officials and supporters visiting Tom Clifford Park throughout this season.

In our 124 years, we have always prided ourselves on our hospitality and I’m sure this year will be no different. Now that the professional game has brought so many changes, it is all the more important that the rugby traditions of friendliness and hospitality are not diminished. I assure you that Young Munster RFC will not be distracted from our endeavors to make your visit a pleasant one. Young Munster RFC is representative of so many of the best virtues of rugby football in Ireland, not least; it’s enduring and invaluable contribution to the community in the area.

Founded in 1895 in the heart of Limerick city, we set out to establish a community based Rugby football Team open to any member of the community who wished to play Rugby. The club has continued to strive on that community spirit and now embraces all comers to enjoy the facilities and play at the many levels, both adult and underage and strive to emulate the many successes achieved over the years.

On the playing front, the club is thriving at all levels and is already benefiting from the new structures put in place last season. During the summer months we carried out refurbishment works to our main pitch, to ensure the best possible playing surface for the coming season and we look forward to watching many games of quality Rugby that can be enjoyed by both players and supporters alike.

I would like to wish our club captain Alan Kennedy  and his squad, our head coach Gearoid Prendergast, Ger Slattery, and all other coaches, managers, background personnel, ground and facilities personnel, the very best of luck for the coming season and success in their respective competitions. I would also very much like to wish our 1st, 2nd, u20, and underage squads a successful year. You all have our total support.

I would like to thank those behind the scenes for their hard work and voluntary support for Young Munster. I look forward to working with you all in the coming season, in generating a new found optimism for Young Munster as a club with real potential.

Here at Young Munster we believe that properly and competitively structured club rugby, is imperative for the development of players and the success of Munster and Irish Rugby. It is our policy to encourage and develop players of all skills levels at Tom Clifford Park and we are happy to do so into the future.

To run a leading first division club these days takes huge effort and a lot of money. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors who contribute so much to the running and success of our club. I thank                 our main sponsor Pat Burke P.B.C.Ltd., for his continued much valued support of Young Munster. I also thank all our other sponsors. In these challenging financial times for most clubs, we are indeed very grateful.  Just as these contributions are important to our club, it is equally important that members and friends of Young Munster in turn, support them and all our other advertisers and sponsors, when and wherever possible. The club would not survive, let alone achieve success, without the on-going support of our sponsors.

Following in the footsteps of my Father, Jimmy Cantillon, who held the office of President on two occasions 1944-45 and 1949-50 and my previous Presidencies of 2011-12, 2018/19, and now 2019/20, I  feel immensely proud and privileged to have been granted the highest of honours for myself and my family and feel humbled by the challenge that is presented to me. My focus for this year will be to play my part in enhancing the proud tradition of Young Munster RfC. This in my view is to excel on the playing field, to run the club with focus and vision and to enjoy the company of our members, dedicated supporters and guests.

Have a wonderful season everyone.