Construction graduate turned rugby star
Joe McSwiney, a Construction Management & Engineering graduate at WIT gave a man of the match display as Lansdowne RFC came out on top in the Ulster League Final at the Aviva Stadium.
Silverware has been coming thick and fast at McSwiney as this is just one of his major acheivements in the last few years.
Last year, with Cork Constitution, he pocketed Munster and Bateman Cup (All-Ireland) medals. That was just to go with another double the previous year and an Ulster Bank League medal in his first year with the Temple Hill outfit.
Grass Roots
McSwiney, an Enniscorthy native, was signed from his days as an under 20 player with Waterpark by Constitution coaches Brian Hickey and Brian Walsh.
“I played my rugby in Cork Con for five years but I suppose as rugby goes I come from humble backgrounds. I started when I was 16 for Enniscorthy in Wexford, I went from there to Waterpark and it was actually Brian Hickey and Squeaks (Walsh) who spotted me up when I was playing under 20s in Waterpark.
He gives most of the credit for his latest success – after winning Man of the Match award on Saturday – to head coach Mike Ruddock.
“We have had a fairly spectacular season but to be perfectly honest it is all up to Mike. He gets a squad working and everyone works so hard for him.
“Victory brought an end to a tough season when 50 hours a week at work was only the start.
Commitment
McSwiney had barely time to settle into a new job in the engineering sector and into a new club than he was celebrating. On top of his busy sporting commitments, Joe is currently working as a Project Manager with Bruce Shaw.
“You have to remember we are 100% amateur and this year was more difficult than previously. There are guys like myself and Ron Boucher (captain), he’s a solicitor and I’m an engineer, we do our 50 hours a week and at least ten hours of training on top of that; it’s tough going.”
But at 26 he feels he is only starting. “There are a few years to go to be sure and hard work is fine by me. There are guys in the Ulster Bank League that put just as much work into the game as, say, the GAA players do, so the reward is what you put into it.”
More Information
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