CLONTARF DENY TERENURE AT THE DEATH!
13/10/2008
Terenure 16 Clontarf 19


So it is two wins out of two matches and the best start to a season since 04/05 when we won the first three matches.
Saturday’s game was no classic but it certainly had its moments. The first was provided by Michael Keating who celebrated his AIB League debut by dotting down in the right corner for a try with his first touch of the ball; the second was in the 79th minute when Clontarf looked dead and buried after a towering drop goal by Terenure centre McAllister. ‘Nure followed up their game winning effort with a loss of composure and dropped a long kick into the arms of Pete O’Brien at full back. Pete had a little dab left and right in his 22 and then fed Breffni O’Donnell who threw a dummy and a sidestep and broke like a scalded cat towards the half way line. Another dummy pass to Heinrich Stride set up the two on one and a deft transfer to Keating put the 19 year old clear to the corner. It was a fabulous 70 yard score, beautifully executed and all the more pleasurable in that it was created almost from nothing by a guy who has struggled with bad luck injuries for the past two seasons.

That pretty much finished off the day for O’Donnell, for Keating and for ‘Nure. You have to have some sympathy for Terenure who were undone as much by their own limited game plan as by Clontarf brilliance. Up to the final thrust Terenure looked by far the more cohesive side and were bossing the breakdown all over the park. Clontarf were finding it difficult to impose themselves up front and with the referee allowing plenty of leeway to the rush defence out wide their backline was very jittery on the ball.

The game opened with Keating’s try and in return Terenure landed two penalties for 6 5 at half time.

The second half saw the Terenure pack gain a foothold in the Clontarf 22 and after a few scrums and a bit of pick and go they got in at the side for a try which was converted for 13 5. Clontarf’s out half, Dufficy, landed a penalty for 13 8 and another after Keating was block tackled in the centre. That incident could have been crucial because, while he was blocked aggressively he was still charging on happily for the posts when the referee blew and brought him back for the penalty.
It should have been 7 points but Dufficy took 3 for 13 11. With 5 to go Nure transgressed again and ‘Tarf took the lead only for McAllister to set up the dramatic finish with 2 minutes to go.
So we will take the win and look forward to table toppers St Mary’s in Castle Ave next Saturday.
Clontarf are notorious for slow starts in the League. Here are the stats for the past three seasons:

07/08 L,W,L,L
06/07 L,W,L,W
05/06 W,L,L,W

The difference this year is that we are winning despite the slow start. We seem to be missing the angry urgency in our performance that is fed by stress. On Saturday St Mary’s will come to Castle Ave looking for a result which could well define their year.
We need an urgent, narky performance to kick start ours.

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