Dear Members and Friends
We hope you have summered well and are looking forward to the new season. We have some news for you in relation to captaincy appointments, early season fixture details and more, so please read on!đź“·
We are delighted to advise that Kevin O'Neill has been appointed Club Captain for season 2022/3.
Kevin has been playing his rugby with Salmo since 2009 and has been at the coal face of the 1st XV front row for 6 seasons now. A past pupil of De La Salle Churchtown, Kevin hails from Rathfarnham and is the perfect example of the "grow-your-own" philosophy that has served the club so well in recent years.
Outside of rugby, along with partner Megan, Kevin is proud father to twins FĂadh and Mila and is the brother of newly-appointed Ladies Captain, Leah (more details below).
He is a keen Manchester United supporter and enjoys coaching our younger players in his spare time. His favourite sports person is Katie Taylor with Asafo Aumua being his favourite rugby player.
Commenting on his appointment to the captaincy, Kevin said: "For me, it's been a long-time goal to be club captain. Since I joined in 2009 I've always captained the team I've played on, in both school and club. From when I first started playing senior rugby in 2016/17, I've always wanted my name up on the board as captain.
"I'm looking forward to the season ahead: we've added some good experienced heads to our young squad from last season so I'm hopeful we can take the extra step this season and start climbing the ladder back to where we belong as a club.
"I'm grateful to be leading the club into the 2022/3 season with another great club man in Barry Murphy as President. I have no doubt he'll be 100% behind our squad this season as he was last.
"I'd like to thank Ian Burke on behalf of myself and the whole squad for being a great captain and leader for us over the past two years. He set the standards high from day one of pre-season and he was a great role model for all our younger squad members."
Reflecting on his time at Salmo to date, Kevin said: "My favourite memory in the club would be winning the Spencer Cup at home against Ashbourne on a horrible, wet night. Both teams played as if we were playing in the middle of summer with the sun shining!
"My favourite thing about the club is the members; going into the bar after a game, regardless of any result or performance, you'll always be greeted with a smile and a 'well done'".đź“·
With Salmo being such a family club, we are similarly delighted to advise that Leah O’Neill has been appointed to captain our women’s side for season 2022/3.
DLSP fielded its first women’s team in 2014 and, with so many family connections to the club, there was no hesitation from Leah when it came to “giving it a try”. In fact, we had all the O’Neill women on the team that year: Leah’s sister, Kim, played along with her Mum, Lynda, who sadly had to retire after an injury picked up when making a try-saving tackle.
But it’s not all about rugby! Leah also enjoys traveling, brunch, all things beauty and Westlife.
When asked about her appointment as captain, Leah said: “I am delighted to be appointed as captain for this coming season. I’ve been involved in the club since 2014 when the women’s team began. It's so great to be back playing with the ladies and I am looking forward to leading the team this season.
"We have two fantastic new coaches and I believe this season our team will grow, and we will see fantastic results. This year we have Barry Murphy as our president who has given us his full support alongside Norman, the Director of Rugby, and the club as a whole.
“Salmo has given me some great memories. My best memory is playing for the women’s team in season 2015/16. We made it to the semi-final in our first rugby season. Most of us hadn’t played before and we played for fun so making it to the semi-final was a real achievement for us as a team.
“As you know my family have been involved in the club for a number of years. My favourite thing about the club is the family atmosphere! It’s a family club and you can walk into the clubhouse, and everyone is so welcoming and there is such a nice atmosphere”.Commenting on the appointments, Director of Rugby Norman Byrne said: "I’m delighted from both a rugby perspective, and also personally, for Kevin and Leah to be Club Captain and Captain of the Ladies team respectively, for the coming season.
"It must be a very unique situation and one about which we are very proud. The entire O’Neill family has a long history of involvement in the club and they have all contributed hugely, on and off the field, for a long number of years.
"Both Kevin and Leah will bring leadership, experience and personality to their roles and I know they will represent themselves, their family, their team-mates and the club superbly throughout the season.
"I look forward to working with them both and wish them every success throughout their tenures."
Fittingly, the last words go to proud parents Lynda and Declan O'Neill: "We were absolutely honoured to hear Kevin and Leah were announced captains of the 1st XV and the Ladies for the upcoming season.
"Being members of De La Salle Palmerston Rugby Club for the last 15 years and seeing how hard they have both worked we feel now is their time to show what they can do with their teams for the season ahead.
"As a family we are really proud they get to share this rugby season as fellow captains which is a rare and proud moment for us as parents and as family.
"We want to wish both teams all the success for the forth coming season.
"After the arrival of our twin granddaughters, FĂadh and Mila, it’s great to share their first rugby season cheering on their Dad and Aunt from the side lines."đź“·Director of Rugby, Norman Byrne, was delighted to receive a message this week from our friend and ex-first team player, Alejandro LaForga, to advise that he has been selected in the Spanish national 7s squad for this weekend's tournament in Los Angeles!
Congratulations Alej on such a well-deserved honour. Suerte Amigo!!
