Over the years we have had players join us from all the recognised rugby schools. Yesterday we were looking at the Ahernes and Crottys who joined Dolphin from CBC. John Waterman, Dave O’Callaghan & George McClay joined from Midleton College, Darren Sweetnam & Dave Jennings are ex Bandon Grammer, Jack Clarke was in Rockwell College.

Pictured above is the PBC 2009-10 joint captains Niall Scannell & Dave O’Mahony, well known Dolphin men.

Like Rob O’Herlihy & Eoin O’Shaughnessy they joined Dolphin shortly after leaving school. The following season (10-11), Niall started every Dolphin game in Division 1 of the AIL while Rob made 9 appearances, the same number as Cian Bohane who joined from school the previous season. Eoin O’Shaughnessy also making his senior debut.

Soon others decided that playing Senior rugby rather than U20 was the challenge they wanted. The following season Dolphin probably had their youngest ever side, they were not afraid to play 13 of their U20 squad in Division 1. Between Niall, Rob & Dave and Chris Bannon, Ryan Murphy & Eamonn Mills they made an average of 12 AIL appearances each that season. Rory (Scannell) joined the following year and later Brian Scott- we were so lucky to have such a talented group join us, a couple of Internationals, Club Internationals, Munster , Munster Academy and Munster U20 players, even an Ulster A player (Dave O’Mahony). The early exposure to Senior rugby giving them a boost.

Six former Dolphin underage players started for CBC & PBC in the recent Schools Senior Cup semi- finals, they would have been playing for the minis when the above players were just starting their adult careers, and others in the likes of  Bandon Grammer, we would be delighted to see them return and of course their team mates. Will the Dolphin team of 2020-21 be as young as a decade before ?