The AIB League Division One season which began last December finally came to an end on Saturday when St Mary's College claimed the title by beating Lansdowne 25-22 at Lansdowne Road. During that time the Planet Rugby column has housed The Irish Times/AIB team of the week with a view to nominating a Division One team of the championship.
Today we unveil The Irish Times/AIB League Team of the Championship, which was picked by Gerry Thornley and John O'Sullivan. The criteria for selection centred on a player's form for his club. This was not an exercise in picking the best XV players in Ireland merely hoping to reflect the club season just past. The team named below will be honoured at an awards presentation next September.
Full backs: Shane Stephens played six matches at full back and five in the centre winning a host of nominations and could have been chosen in both positions. We have decided to select him at full back. He edged out Brian Walsh (Cork Constitution), an ever present Dominic Crotty, Mike Mullins, Gordon D'Arcy and Irish full back Girvan Dempsey who finished the season strongly.
Wings: In a comparatively non-vintage season for wingers, John McWeeney was a shoo-in with 10 tries, while in a season curtailed by injury James Topping, of semi-finalists Ballymena, with four tries and two nominations made a huge impact. Denis Hickie (St Mary's), Stanley McDowell (Ballymena, two nominations), Ray Niland (Lansdowne, he scored seven tries), Tyrone Howe (Dungannon) and Anthony Horgan (Cork Constitution, two nominations) made it a closely contested race for the second wing position.
Centres: There were many strong contenders for places in midfield but New Zealander Shane Stewart was one of the outstanding attacking players this season. Inside him is Shane Horgan who enjoyed an impressive season at club level, particularly in the high-pressure matches towards the latter end of the campaign. Killian Keane (Garryowen), Rhys Botha (Ballymena), Kevin Hartigan (Garryowen), Cian Mahony (Cork Constitution), Mel Deane (Buccaneers) and the ubiquitous Stephens all made strong claims.
Half backs: Certainly one of the most difficult choices was deciding on an outhalf. Jeremy Staunton's superlative finish to the season - he scored eight tries during the campaign which saw him play in the centre as well - just edged him ahead of Barry Everitt (Lansdowne, top points scorer with 196), David Humphreys (Dungannon) and Ballymena playmaker Simon Broughton. At scrumhalf Terenure's Derek Hegarty received four nominations, just ousting Ronan O'Reilly (Clontarf). David O'Mahony (Lansdowne) also enjoyed a fine season.
Props: Marcus Horan was probably Shannon's most consistent performer and received three nominations, scoring three tries and wins the loosehead berth. Stephen Barretto (Terenure), an ever present for the Lakelands club, and Reggie Corrigan (Lansdowne) pressed strongly for inclusion. At tighthead it proved another difficult choice but Buccaneers' Martin Cahill won four weekly nominations just slipping in ahead of the promising young Ulster recruit John Campbell (Terenure) and John O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution).
Hookers: St Mary's tyro Peter Smyth, with four weekly selections, was first past the post, shading the valid claims of Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution, three nominations) and James Blaney (Terenure, two nominations). Smyth and Blaney played every match in the league.
Second rows: Malcolm O'Kelly received a remarkable six nominations and few would quibble with his inclusion. He was the outstanding second row this season in every facet of play and as far as this column is concerned, he is the Player of the Year at club level. His partner is Terenure captain Rory Sheriff, who not only led his team to a semi-final place but produced a series of excellent displays. Young Graham Quinn (Lansdowne), Mick Galwey (Shannon, two nominations), Irish Under 21 player Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) and Mark Blair (Ballymena) were others in contention.
Flankers: Aidan McCullen, despite his least effective performance of the season in the final, just edges out Young Munster's Ian Dillon for the blindside role, ultimately for greater consistency over the season. Declan O'Brien (DLSP) was another contender, as was St Mary's College captain Trevor Brennan. Who would wear the number seven jersey was no less easy to decide and in this respect David Wallace (Garryowen) is desperately unlucky. But St Mary's tearaway Ross Doyle received more nominations at openside and on the club scene was felt to have the slightly better claim. Liam Toland (Lansdowne) was another contender.
Number eight: In any other year Dion O'Cuinneagain (Ballymena) would probably have walked into the team but in Victor Costello he faced a rival who enjoyed superb form at club level, winning five nominations. Tony McWhirter (Dungannon), Colin McEntee (Lansdowne), Tony Giles (DLSP) and Chris McCarey (Ballymena) received very favourable mention.
