Temple Raise The Bar

As might be expected, there was a little mayhem and confusion, and a lot of joy, as the Temple Carrig School’s Junior Rugby team returned from their Godfrey Cup victory this afternoon.

This young team, entering into their very first championship tournament wouldn’t exactly have started out as favourites to win the title, but, then again, from the start, Temple Carrig kept exceeding expectations.

To the point that they had managed to build 136 points from their three previous rounds before today’s final

Young Crean. Hurley’s behind the wall.

Whatever that means. We don’t really know our rugby here at GG HQ. But we do know that when one team scores more points than the other, hey, they’ve won!

Which is exactly what Temple Carrig managed this afternoon in the 2017 Bank Of Ireland Fr Godfrey Cup final against Wesley College, coming out victorious with 12 points to 10.

We spoke with Captain Patrick Kieran and Vice Captain Jack Ryan back on January 31st, and, would you believe it, they were confident then that the team were going to win this cup. That said, a subsequent 31-o loss against Belvedere must have been somewhat character-building, to say the least.

And perhaps necessary, putting into focus the need for teamwork, hard work, and that never-say-die spirit.

Add to that five days training a week, and sure and begorrah, of course you’re going to end up with a winning team.

Big shout-out to their coaches, Mark Crean (who we managed to corner here) and Henry Hurley (who ran as soon as he saw the camera). Great, great victory, and the lads will no doubt be enjoying their slap-up victory meal up at The Glenview Hotel as we post this.

Get used to such high-living, kids. You’ve got years of glory, fame, adoration and free sausage & chips ahead…