RUGBY: John O'Sullivan talks to Barnhall captain Myles O'Reilly aboutthe club's ambitions for promotion to Division One of the AIL
Last weekend Barnhall achieved a feat that no other club had managed this season and in some style to boot. Belfast Harlequins arrived at Pearsonstown having won all 12 matches in the AIB League Division One, already guaranteed promotion and intent on preserving their unbeaten run.
It is the manner in which the Belfast club has guaranteed promotion, scoring a bucket load of points in the process, that makes their achievement all the more laudable. They are an entertaining side to watch, plying the XV-man game.
Barnhall needed to win to preserve thoughts of joining the elite next season, nothing less would suffice. They achieved their aim in spectacular fashion with a 25-18 triumph - they led 20-5 at half-time turning to play against the gale in the second half - that sees them embrace Saturday's trip to Midleton still dreaming the dream.
Their main promotion rivals to join Harlequins in Division One next season, UL Bohemians and Old Crescent, meet in Limerick on the same afternoon. Barnhall would be hoping for a Crescent win as Bohs head their two rivals by a point (45) and a win on Saturday would make the latter favourites to go up. Barnhall want to host Crescent on the last weekend of the league, staring at a winner-take-all scenario.
Presiding over Barnhall's season are coach Ian Morgan and their 36-year-old centre and captain Myles O'Reilly. Five years at St Mary's College and a further eight at Old Belvedere allowed O'Reilly to experience rugby at the highest club level but about five seasons ago he wasn't enjoying the game anymore, felt that he'd got into something of a rut.
His former team-mate at Belvedere, Morgan, came down one afternoon to watch a match, had a chat and invited him to Barnhall. O'Reilly hasn't looked back. In that time the club has jumped five divisions in six years, a phenomenal rate of progress.
"At the start of the season we banished all talk of consolidation. As soon as a team starts thinking along those lines, they invariably find themselves in a relegation dogfight.
"As in the previous seasons we spoke only about promotion and that was our goal. We knew that we had to win the last three games and obviously the Harlequins match was a huge one. We were very focused on the day and guys like Trevor Brennan and Brendan Burke were outstanding in an excellent team performance.
"Saturday is another tough assignment in that Midleton have conceded fewer points than any other in the division: sure they have scored less but they'll be difficult to beat at home. We know we need to rely on other results - in an ideal world we'd like to see Crescent beat UL Bohs - because if Bohs were to win then they would be in pole position."
O'Reilly pays tribute to coach Morgan who has guided the club to within a whisker of Division One.
"Moggy is probably the ultimate man manager. Technically he mightn't be as polished as other coaches but I think 75 per cent of his job is about getting players to play well. I have never come across anyone better in my career."
So would O'Reilly - he owns his own painting and decorating business, appropriately enough, O'Reilly Decorators - like to be the oldest captain (37) in Division One next season?
"We've a long way to go to achieve that," he laughs. "I'm not making any promises. I'm enjoying my rugby but I'm well aware of the demands of playing in the higher division. The pace of the game is not comparable.
"The only thing I'm concerned with is trying to get that promotion."
After that he'll consider the pipe and slippers option.
