Lucia Wright, Emma Whittaker and Ellen Shortall get a selfie with Connacht star Darragh Murray at the Connacht open training session at Dubarry Park last Monday week. Photo: Paul Molloy.

Connacht training session a hit with young fans in Athlone

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There was a large attendance at Connacht’s Open Training Session held at Dubarry Park, Athlone, recently.

Blessed with ideal bright and dry weather and good ground conditions, hordes of young rugby enthusiasts descended on the home of Buccaneers RFC.

Quite a number of Connacht players who had worn Buccs colours were there, including Dave Heffernan, Paul Boyle and Denis Buckley but the main attraction for the young fans was local lad Darragh Murray. The towering lock and Brideswell native was recently capped for the Ireland ‘A’ team.

Nine local schools attended while a bus load also arrived from Portlaoise. All the youngsters got an opportunity to play tag rugby in which some of the Connacht players participated.

Overall, the event proved very successful and worthwhile with the young fans getting loads of autographs and selfies. On behalf of Buccaneers RFC, club president Lorna Stuart Trainor made presentations to Connacht coach Colm Tucker and to Darragh Murray.

The club thanks Connacht for their visit and also thanks the volunteers on the day which will go down in the memory for many of the young rugby fans who were able to get up close to their heroes.

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