Going into the match, Clontarf knew they were going to have to pull out something special to overcome St. Mary’s. ‘Tarf’s only hope of avoiding relegation to Division 1B was a bonus point victory, but it was not to be.

Relegation may seem like like a harsh blow for Bernard Jackman’s men who have battled fiercely against many of the big contenders all season, but with several narrow defeats, their final execution has been slightly lacking.

Once again, ‘Tarf lost concentration at some crucial points in the game and St. Mary’s duly took advantage by scoring three tries in ten second half minutes which ultimately determined ‘Tarf’s fate.

The first half was a slightly dull affair with most of the rugby being played in the middle third of the pitch.

However, just before half-time, St. Mary’s burst into life. Out-half Shaun McCarthy, dictating the back-line moves, helped bring play into ‘Tarf’s 22.

With the home side’s defence stretched, the ball came out to flanker Damian Hall who had enough space to muscle over the line at the corner.

St. Mary’s continued in the same fashion at the start of the second half, playing confidently with ball in hand and it took just four minutes to add another try.

Scrum half Conor McPhillips made a clever break off the back of a lineout, and this set St. Mary’s up in a nice position. Centre Stephen Grissing lost possession as he attacked on the right but managed to pick up the loose ball and touch down for the visitors’ second try.

Five minutes later, the Saints were in the same position and this time it was the in-form Mark Sexton who easily broke through a tiring ‘Tarf defence to touch down under the posts.

Clontarf seemed hungry to get back into the game but just when they put some good phases together, the alert McCarthy intercepted skilfully and popped the ball out to replacement Philip Brophy who darted for the line and beat two despairing tackles on the way.

By the fourth quarter, it was an open game with both sides playing freely which made for a lively finish.

The home side came back well after big lock Ben Reilly drove over the line from a close range ruck. The score came on the back of a long spell of possession in their opponents’ 22.

This gave ‘Tarf the inspiration for two more tries in the final ten minutes from replacement Henry Bryce and number 8 Martin Garvey.

But they never really came within distance of a comeback, especially with the competent Dunne scoring a converted try and a penalty to close out the game.

This was St. Mary’s fourth win in-a-row and with home advantage against Old Belvedere in next Saturday’s semi-final, they are in good position to go all the way.

CLONTARF: Ben Woods; Michael Keating, Daragh O’Shea, Killian Lett, Sean Carey; Martin Dufficy; Hugo Nolan; Ciaran Kavanagh, Aaron Dundon, Niall Treston, Ben Reilly, Simon Crawford (capt), Eoin Cremin, Niall Carson, Martin Garvey.

Replacements used: Phil Howard for Carey (52 mins), Jason Harris-Wright for Treston (57), Peter Synott for Cremin, Henry Bryce for Woods (both 60).

What do you do when after finishing the job, after completing the herculean task , against the odds , and you are standing in front of your beauty , your fantasy , gleaming, rumbling and ready for the road and looking down you notice, lying at your feet, taunting you , are two large shiny , important looking , bolts. Bolts that should have been part of the structure but somehow have missed their calling and are here at your feet.

How do you drive your fantasy with that little niggle in the back of your mind that those bloody bolts are, somehow crucial; that you will be taking a corner looking magnificent, sexy even, and suddenly, for want of those two little shiny bastard bolts the car will take the bend and you, sitting smugly in your unbolted seat, will carry on straight through someone’s garden wall and on to their patio in a pile of mush.

Clontarf are a better team than last weekends result but they are playing in a state of tension that happens to teams in a relegation battle. For large parts of Saturdays game Clontarf had Cork Con by the throat but did not have the composure to put them away.

Invariably, if you play like a team expecting something bad to happen, it will. For the home side , a crucial error in the second half gave Con a scrum on the Clontarf line. Clontarf competed well but were unable to deal with the ball squirting out of the side of the scrum and the Con scrum half got the touchdown. That try plus the conversion put Con 20 8 ahead with 20  minutes to go.  The home side finished with a sterling effort from substitute Martin Dufficy who landed a penalty and converted his own try to drag home side to a two point deficit but unfortunately Clontarf ran out of time.

Clontarf put in a stirring display against a strong Blackrock side in Stradbrook on Saturday but were ultimately undone in the last quarter as the home side rode some outrageous luck to register a victory. This was a great game between two committed sides looking to put some daylight between them and the Division 1A relegation zone. Rock will be happy with the points and will have toasted the good fortune that saw them benefit from 3 positive rebounds from the woodwork that contributed 10 points. Add a superb defensive chase back that held Dufficy inches from a score under the posts plus a tight call on a forward pass as Keating was heading for the line after the ensuing scrum and you have a recipe for a charismatic conference. Maybe there are moving statues in Stradbrook!

To be fair to ‘Rock, once they got the bit between their teeth they were pretty strong. Any side with Des Dillon , Trevor Hogan and Alex Dunlop in the pack are going to hard to knock off the ball and with Ian Madigan at 10 in charmed kicking form the points racked up late in the second half as the visitors tired.

Clontarf can take great heart from a performance that, in terms of commitment, was easily their best of the season. The pack was ferociously competitive and with Hugo Nolan back from injury at nine firing some superb passes the Clontarf backline was a constant threat to the ‘Rock defence.
Tarf opened the scoring after 8 minutes with an interception from Keating in the Tarf 22, Dufficy converted. After 25 minutes of slugging Rock outhalf Madigan fielded a long kick and bounced a drop goal on the crossbar for 7 3. A Rock penalty at half time made it 7 6 to Tarf.

The second half continued as it left off and Dufficy added two penalties for 13 6 to ‘Tarf. Then the home side pressed the lucky button and Dufficy was held up on the line and Keating was pulled back after a forward pass.. ‘Rock clearly grew following their escape and after a period of pressure on the ‘Tarf line they got in after confusion was sown by the ball squirting out of a ruck to the centre Tonetti who took advantage of a static defence to score by the posts for 13 all. ‘Rock then upped a gear for the last 10 minutes and were good value for the final result as they tacked on two more penalties and a try to Conway in the corner.

We are currently third from the bottom in the League and have 5 games to go with three of those at home. There are no dominant teams in this League and it is clear to me that this young Clontarf side are improving in every game they play.
Commitment , aggression and intensity are all there. What we need now is a fraction more composure on and off the ball which will take the whistle and the flags out of the game and blow the opposition away.

Cork Con clung on in the end to record a narrow home victory despite a late Clontarf surge. Heavy overnight rain cast the fixture in some doubt but the teams enjoyed perfect playing conditions at a pristine Temple Hill. The final result, in a match where the teams were never more than a score apart, was a disappointing return for the Clontarf players and support alike.

A cagey start from both teams resulted in a scoreless and nervy first quarter. Con failed to convert a number of early penalties before Tarf’s Martin Dufficy broke the deadlock with the games opening try. Fullback Philip Howard counter attacked well from deep to provide an excellent attacking platform. A ferocious clear out of the resulting ruck by no.8 Martin Garvey provided the quick ball necessary for Dufficy to breach the Con defense. Con responded in kind as winger Richie Lane touched down in the corner before adding a penalty to lead 8-5 at the break.

On an whole the set piece spoils were shared equally between the teams. Clontarf for their part enjoyed a superior and dominant scrum for much of the afternoon. In contrast Cork Con exploited a malfunctioning Clontarf line-out and secured the majority of ball on their own throw. Con full back Daragh Lyons was in excellent form, varying his game well, while maintaining top class positioning all afternoon. Similarly Simon Crawford’s contribution was outstanding for Tarf. Highly effective in the loose his authority under the high ball from the restart was immense.

Inconsistent and poor marshalling of the breakdown area harshly penalized a Clontarf side willing to spread the ball. Tarf’s tight five in particular showed tremendous skill and determination to keep the ball alive. Second guessing the referees’ interpretation of the contact area however became a lottery for both sides. Frustration reached boiling point as Tarf’s Martin Garvey was sin-binned in the second half having competed aggressively on the ground for the ball.

At 11-5 down and a man light Clontarf rallied to produce arguably the game’s best passage of play. Intelligent support play and good offloading across the Clontarf backline forced Con onto the back foot. Simon Crawford forced his way over from close range to complete a sweeping move spanning 50 meters and the width of the pitch. Having traded penalties the tie was left finely balanced at 14-15.Tarf looked certain to seize the ascendancy until a break-away try against the run of play handed the momentum back in favor of the Leesiders. Dufficy kept the visitors within touching distance to set up a nail-biting finish as Clontarf went all out for the win. Henry Bryce, highly effective on the wing, saw his last gasp effort to cross the Con line dashed when bundled into touch at the final whistle. Ultimately Clontarf’s late efforts fell agonizingly short of victory.

With early frontrunners St Mary’s and Blackrock both suffering defeats a Clontarf win here could have put an altogether different complexion on their current league standing. Tarf’s remaining home fixtures are crucial if they are to keep pace with the chasing pack of play-off hopefuls. Next up for Clontarf is St Mary’s in the semi-final Leinster League this Saturday at Castle Avenue.

The ghost of players past returned to haunt Clontarf as they crashed out of the AIB Cup at the hands of Belvedere.
Former Tarf fullback Conal Keane secured victory for the home side with a penalty minutes from full time in a closely contested fixture at Anglesea Road. Enforced changes on both side detracted somewhat from the spectacle usually enjoyed when these clubs meet.

Despite starting strongly and creating turnovers from the restart, Clontarf quickly found themselves 8-0 down. Belvedere exploited an uncharacteristically porous Clontarf line-out defence, working the blind-side channel well. Ex Clontarf under 20’s wing David Mongan going over in the corner for the opening try of the game.

Clontarf entered the break 14-6 down having failed to assert themselves in the game. A poorly executed kicking game handed Belvedere consistent territorial gains. Clontarf arguably created the better scoring opportunities of the teams, showing a willingness to spread the ball wide and keep it alive where possible.

Peter O’Brien’s introduction after the break created some space in midfield for the Clontarf attack to build momentum. Carl de Shenu eventually crossing the line for a superbly worked team try. However a host of unforced errors undermined Tarfs’ attempts to stamp their authority on the game. Clontarf created enough to snatch a victory here but in the end a lack of urgency to push on from 14-14 invited the home side to defend a narrow lead having edged ahead.

Clontarf return to action in the AIL this Saturday with an away visit to Cork Con. Having taken two steps forward and one step back against Blackrock and Belvedere respectively this clash will provide a litmus test Clontarf’s progress. Cian Healy makes his long awaited test debut in an Irish jersey this Sunday against Australia. We wish him well and continued success!

Clontarfs’ sluggish start to the season continued in the opening exchanges which saw the visitors camped inside the Clontarf half. The home sides’ inability to secure the restart or effectively clear their lines allowed Blackrock take the lead through an early James Power penalty. Unphased Clontarf responded swiftly with a superbly struck Martin Dufficy drop goal.

Blackrock threatened much but converted little in an opening half in which Clontarfs’ scramble defence was severely tested. Clontarf however came closest to crossing the try line after Aaron Dundon put through Michael Keating having found space in the loose. Keating, showing his massive potential and raw pace, ran an excellent support line and was perhaps unlucky to be pinged for a double movement on the line.

In the second half Clontarf made the most of the Castle Avenue slope and noticeable wind advantage to enjoy the lions’ share of territory. Despite working deep into the Blackrock half through good, phased possession Clontarf left their opponents 22 on at least three occasions having failed to convert pressure into points. In the end Clontarf edged ahead through an opportunistic drop goal and solid penalty strike from Dufficy.

For much of the game Clontarf proved far more effective without the ball in hand, constantly disrupting their opponents’ set-piece, and creating good turnover ball in the loose. From one to fifteen the defensive effort was immense. Denying Blackrock kickable penalty opportunities in trying conditions was a credit to Clontarfs discipline and a major plus to take from the game. Henry Bryce delivering on early season form cut a physical presence in midfield and under the high ball. Similarly, fellow recruit Peter Synott was highly effective in support and on the ground.

In what was a must-win game so early in the season, Clontarf did just enough to continue their climb up the division 1A table. The level of intensity and commitment sustained by the players over the 80 minutes must be applauded. Clontarfs’ newly assembled squad look to be turning a corner and seem prepared to fight in the trenches for one another. The ability to grind out ugly W’s may not win hearts and minds but is exactly what is needed as playing conditions worsen in the coming months.

Clontarf resume old rivalries next Saturday against Belvedere in the AIB Cup looking to overturn an early season defeat and build upon their recent run of results.

3rd Round Draw – November 7th – Old Belvedere v Clontarf

Clontarf started brightly with out half Dufficy kicking beautifully to build a home lead so when the pack repelled multiple scrums on the ‘Tarf line and shortly after winger Sean Carey performed a superb block and gather followed by a lovely offload to put Keating under the posts Clontarf went 19 – 3 up and looked to be cruising.

Unfortunately for the home side Dolphin had enough pro experience in their side to ensure there would be no panic and with Munster no 8 Nick Williams blowing holes and James Coughlan conducting like a field marshal the penalties began to stack up and the lead was whittled away. ‘Tarf battled valiantly but were regularly undone by needless penalties, particularly when in late phase attack mode, which was heartbreaking. So we are bottom of the league, for the first time in a while. This will test the mettle of the whole club, not just the 1st team. This season is going to be a challenge we must all rise to.

The pity of it was that Clontarf had started relatively brightly and were strong in the tight phases of the game, however, basic errors have a habit of becoming infectious so when the concession of a silly penalty resulted in the kick coming back off a post it was not surprising that Marys reacted quickest for the score. From that point on Clontarf lost all defensive shape around a loose ball and Marys made hay on the scoreboard without having to create anything. They simply defended a ponderous Clontarf attack and countered aggressively into a defence that missed enough first up tackles to put the Clontarf under 13’s to shame.

It is, perhaps,  a little early for alarm bells.

The second half was considerably better and the introduction of Keating reminded the Clontarf support what can happen when class gets ball and space. The scrum and lineout held their own so there is a platform to rebuild on.

Next week we entertain Dolphin at Castle Ave. They will be confident given that they beat Cork Con in their first outing.

The SDS played Edinburgh University Freshers on Saturday, winning 48 points to nil. The team had a good blend of last season’s squad and new players. Playing together for the first time, they were on fire.  Tries by Joey Redmond, Karl Moran, Matt Darcy, Collie O’Shea, Eoin Crossan-Murphy, Mick Kearney and Ciaran Donohoe, were complimented by 4 conversions by Matt Darcy.

On Sunday SDS played Edinburgh Academicals, at Raeburn, home of the first ever International rugby match. Accies was the former team of SDS coach Paddy Haslett, who also played for Edinburgh and Scotland U/21s. Accies proved to be tougher opposition.  However, Clontarf, despite a squad depleted by injuries, proved worthy winners, winning 44 to 10.  Tries were scored by Joey Redmond, Matt Darcy (2), Ronan O’Driscoll, Mick Kearney, Yann Clement, Alex Denby and Karl Moran. Two conversions were kicked by Shane McGrath and Yann Clement. Clontarf tired somewhat towards the end and Accies scored two late consolation tries.

Clontarf SDS resume training in Castle Ave on Tuesday 29th September at 19.00.