We catch up with one of Tuam/Oughterard Colts coaches, Owen Lydon, 'Dygo', ahead of this week's big All-Ireland Junior Cup Semi-final.
TUAM/OUGHTERAD: THE STORY SO FAR
In 2015, a girls rugby blitz was taking place at Garraun Park. Owen Lydon, better known to us all at Tuam RFC as 'Dygo' brought an under 13s team from Tuam, while his former teammate and good friend, Norman Tierney, brought a girls team from Oughterad to the same blitz.
Neither team had enough numbers to field a team so both managers got chatting and decided to join the two teams together and enter a team. The team was called Tuam/Oughterard girls rugby. No one knew it then but it would be the start of an incredible journey.
Logistically one would think this partnership would be impossible to work. But it did. And how!
On that day of the blitz, they had only 13 players between them. Yet the team began to steadily grow in numbers and after starting out with just an under 13 team, the club now boasts 4 teams. An under 14, 16, 18 and last season for the first time ever they entered a senior ladies team into the Connacht Ladies league.
To say Tuam/Oughterard have taken girls rugby by storm would be an understatement. They have tasted success at nearly every level with last season being a particularly successful one. Their under 16s, 18s and the senior team, all won their respective leagues. A remarkable achievement and great credit must go to both Dygo and Norman but as the former says, it's a journey he is thoroughly enjoying.
"Ya it's been a fantastic journey. To do it with Norman who I played for Tuam with in the 90s and early 2000s and won Ard na Cregg trophies with and league Two trophies has been great.
"Most of the original 13 girls will be lining out for us next Saturday. One or two have finished but the mainstay of the girls who played that day have stuck with it and are still enjoying it," adds Dygo.
Winning the senior league in their first year was a magnificent feat as 4 tries by Norman's daughter, Karly, helped them defeat Westport 34-14 in the league final in the Sportsgrounds in Galway. That was their ticket into this year's All Ireland Junior Cup competition and once again they have grasped their new opportunity with both hands.
A trip down south where they faced Skibereen in the quarter-final was met with a resounding 47-5 victory. That result meant history was made as it was the first time ever a Connacht club had advanced to the semi-final stage of the competition. They will face more Munster opposition, with UL Bohemians standing in their way of making the final which takes place early in the new year.
Dygo, who himself has daughters playing the sport with Nia, Ceoladh and Áebha all coached by their dad and all winning silverware. Nia and Aebha were part of the Tuam/Oughterard team which won the Invitational trophy last month. Another proud day for both Norman and Dygo and no matter what happens Saturday, Dygo says they are very proud of the girls and know for sure they will give it their all.
"Being a manager is harder than a player. It's great for both of us to have daughters playing and we are proud of them not only when they play but everyday. I'm really looking forward to this gam. The girls just have no fear. They are young so they just don't care about reputations. They'll give it their all. I have no doubt about that. If they do their best and get beat then we have know excuses but we know for certain they will give it their all. They are all looking forward to Saturday," concludes Dygo.
Everyone at Tuam Rugby Club wishes Dygo, Norman, the rest of the management team, Barry Ruane, Natalie Fox, Fergal Byrne, Ken O'Grady and Martin Irons and all the players, the very best of luck on Saturday.
🏉Tuam/Oughterard Colts v UL Bohemians 2nd XV
📅Saturday, November 25th.
🏟Garraun Park
⏰️2pm
