Terenure claimed a historic first ever AIL Division 1 title for the club, with their 50-24 hammering of Clontarf at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.
On paper, the Clontarf side may have seemed like the stronger outfit to those who may have more familiarity with the provinces than the AIL.
Certain names stood out such as Alex Soroka - who recently togged out for Leinster in their tour to South Africa - Aitzol King - who is part of the Leinster academy and has been capped by his province - and Hugh Cooney - who will be joining the academy next season.
However, as Terenure centre Colm De Buitléar pointed out post-match, there are many fine AIL regulars for his side - none more so than Caolan Dooley who kicked 30 points - that may have missed out on academy places and who deserve to be looked at again by the provinces.
There are lads out there going up against academy and pro players. Young players like Craig Adams, like Caolan Dooley, Adam Lagrue.
And they haven't just been doing it here tonight, they've been doing it every single Saturday. There's so much talent still out there in the AIL..... if those provinces aren't looking at them they might want to start looking at them.
They're going out every single Saturday, and no offence to the academy or pro players, but they're smoking them.
So some boys deserve a second chance.
Terenure Secure First Ever AIL Title
Very strong from Colm de Buitléar after the AIL final today on the quality of the league. Says there's pro and academy players getting "smoked" by AIL players.... He was pretty good himself! pic.twitter.com/9aDhO1w0V2
— david murphy (@DavejMurph) May 7, 2023
7 May 2023; Irish rugby : Robbie Smyth of Terenure during the Energia All-Ireland League Men's Division 1A Final match between Clontarf and Terenure at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
READ HERE: Cork Con Player Lands One Of The Longest Penalties You'll Ever See In AIL
Terenure's captain Harrison Brewer also bigged up the league in his post match interview, describing the game as better than anything he has watched in the URC.
"It just means everything to us and our community. We’re going to party hard for a week now in Lakelands, I’m buzzing for it.
“I was looking at photos the other night of my debut against Shannon in 2014, I think we were in 2A, so it has taken a long road to get here. A lot of tough days out to get there.”
“The club game is growing and growing, you can see it. It’s absolutely unreal. I’ve said it to you a million times, the provincial lads’ playing is huge. That showcase today was huge. I’m sorry, but it’s probably better than any URC game I’ve watched.”
SEE ALSO: Mack Hansen Shows Off Horrifically Graphic Head Injury After Ulster Win
