League title is the target for Mulligan

‘In order to achieve any of your ambitions in life you have to set yourself goals and our main goal for the season is quite simply to win the league.'
The determined words of Swords Rugby Club captain, Shane Mulligan, as his side prepare for their first game of the season this week. Having come close in recent years and following the disappointment of last year's mixed campaign, there is a definite air of anticipation and confidence around ALSAA this term and a genuine belief that this can be the year the club take the Leinster League Division 3 title.

‘On the pitch, I can see no reason why we cannot win the league this season,' Mulligan continued. ‘Last year showed that the division is very competitive and that any of six or seven teams could be in with a shout of winning it.‘We got off to a slow start then, but steps have been taken to see that does not happen this year. We have always had the players and skills to win the league, but we may have been lacking in application in the past.‘With the new faces and the increased level of effort and concentration being shown, I can see no reason why we shouldn't be in the shake up come next March.'
Pre-season training has run smoothly so far with high attendance levels and increased work loads, coupled with an influx of new players. It all bodes well for the 2007-08 campaign, the Athlone-born number 8 added.

‘Numbers have been very encouraging and it has been great to see a marked increase in the number of new faces, all interested in playing their part this year. So with nearly all the older heads back again for another season, things are looking very promising.' Preparations take a step up this week as the team travel to Clonmel for a pre-season friendly and overnight stay. Mulligan explained the reasons behind the trip to Tipp'.

‘With the large increase in the number of new members over the past two seasons, we thought it would be a good idea this year to get everyone away for an overnight trip. ‘Everyone could get to know each other and have a bit of craic without having to worry about a serious game. We see this happening every year on tour, where everyone always ‘bonds' really well. ‘So we thought it would be a good idea to try and get some of that going from the start the season, instead of waiting for the tour next May.'

With the league set to kick-off in just over four weeks time, the hard work really starts now. For Mulligan and Swords RFC, the focus remains on sealing first place and nothing else. ‘I suppose the key to gauging if we have had a successful season or not is when we all sit down as a team after the last league game next March, and ask ourselves ‘did we give it our all for the season?'.‘As long as we say we did, then regardless of results, it'll be a successful season. But obviously we have set the league title as our goal. ‘I'm certainly confident we can do it, or I wouldn't have taken up the captaincy this year.'