AIL Final Match Report
Author: Peter Walsh
2003-05-10
Clontarf 18
Ballymena 28

In scenes of high drama and emotion Clontarf's hopes to bring the Holy Grail of Irish club rugby were dashed by a clinical and sometimes brilliant performance by a superb Ballymena side.

Amid all the media comments about contracted players and the fairness of the playoff system one thing needs to be clarified. All the players in black were Ballymena men and entitled to feature in this final if selected. Their impact on the result was more to do with the experience gleaned from playing in big provincial pressure games rather than superior skill or fitness. The fact is that on the day their ball retention was first class, their error count was negligible, and their discipline and concentration was superior at key times in the game.

Whether the playoff system is fair or not will be debated. It was never an issue for Clontarf; we knew what we were getting into at the start of the season and would be celebrating now if we had finished second in the league and had won the final.

What is more important in my view is that the final attracted a large and noisy Northside crowd, and generated an atmosphere in Lansdowne rd vastly superior to those at the recent Leinster games. The scenes as 'Tarf pounded the Ballymena line trying for that score to tie the game were remarkable and have confirmed Clontarf's unique status in Dublin rugby.

The game itself has been hailed as a classic, 'Tarf jumped out of the blocks with a penalty for offside which centre Darragh O'Shea converted, Ballymena responded with a three pointer for coming in at the side. Ten minutes later full back Paddy Wallace fumbled a superb Kick by Hewitt into touch and from the line out ‘Tarf went into rehearsed mode. Jackman threw and regathered from Wood, his flat pass sent Gissing storming for the line, Walls found Downey at pace and he took out two defenders and handed the ball to O'Shea who grounded under pressure. O'Shea added the conversion and 'Tarf were in the driving seat. Another penalty to Ballymena made it 10 - 6 at Half Time. Ominously for the Northsiders a period of pressure on the Ballymena line yielded nothing despite the blacks being a man down to the bin for interference.

As it transpired Ballymena tore out of the blocks in the second half. An error by ‘Tarf turned over possession at the half way line and Ballymena attacked at pace. An excellent inside pass by their Outhalf put Fullback Wallace through a gap and Out half Larkin was on hand to score. Two minutes later a missed touch kick was spun wide and after two surges on the line Larkin scored again. Clontarf then upped it and after some excellent work by O’Kelly, Jackman and Dave Moore Out half Andy Dunne attacked blind and quick hands from Downey and Hewitt put Winchester in at the left corner. Ballymena came again and a slashing run by winger Topping saw him cut the 'Tarf defence to pieces and score a classic in the corner. At this point the score was 25- 18 to Ballymena and set for the grandstand finish. Tarf pounded the line as the support roared them on. Dave Moore grounded under the posts only to be pinged for a double movement, and that was as close as we got . Ballymena finished it by sticking the ball as much down their shorts as up their jumper, rumbled and rumbled and Larkin got a drop goal at the death.

All players left the field dripping in honour after a fabulous game.

The press were thrilled, the IRFU were thrilled, the sponsors were thrilled, the crowd were thrilled, Ballymena were thrilled... and Clontarf will be back.

For me some memories will never leave..The team bus with its police escort screaming into Merrion square and catching the cheering Clontarf kids in the double decker .. the two mascots being introduced in the tunnel before the game, one the grandson of Ballymena and Irish rugby legend Syd Millar, one the grandson of Clontarf legend Billy Walsh, the graciousness of Gary Longwell in victory, the scenes in Castle Ave when the players returned and most of all the massive, chanting , screaming, passionate, partisan Northside support in Lansdowne Rd.

This is a drug....more please.

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