CLONTARF GET BACK ON TRACK
25/03/2008
Dungannon 19 Clontarf 23


Clontarf banished some demons in Dungannon on Saturday and in doing so took another step towards a coveted top four place in the AIB League Div 1. Not surprisingly, given Clontarf’s last result and the precarious position Dungannon are in, there was plenty of tension both on and off the pitch. A good lash of basic errors in the first few minutes didn’t help the hearts either and with Dungannon making hay in killing ruck ball it looked like being a long afternoon for the Dublin side.

Clontarf opened the scoring with a penalty from Keatley which was replied to pretty sharply by the Dungannon no 10 McCarter. Clontarf added another before Dungannon scored the first try in strange circumstances. A surge to the ‘Tarf line looked to have been repelled when the referee blew for an infringement by a Dungannon player and in the confusion accepted advice from the local linesman to say that a try had been scored in the previous phase.

Most strange ……..!!

McCarter added the conversion for 10 6 and things were getting decidedly gloomy among the visiting support on the sideline. Clontarf, however, dug in and just before half time managed to put phases together at pace which created space for Keane out wide which he duly took advantage of. Keatley added the convert for 10 13 at half time and Tarf to play into the wind for the second half.

In the second half the visiting pack took over with some disciplined dominant play. The lineout was the major feature with hooker Carson having a 100% day with the throw and Simon Crawford challenging the boundaries of athleticism with some astonishing catches.
It looked like one ball was caught between his shoulder blades.
Not to be outdone, second row Dave O’Siochain dismantled the opposition throw and stole at least 4 balls against the head.
The scrum also continued its dominance and gave the home side a torrid time on every put in. Up against this set phase power the home side were hard pressed to make any use of the wind in the second half. They did manage to eke out penalties though and were successful with three to take the game to 19 13 as we approached the final quarter.
Despite the deficit, Clontarf were calmness personified and sensed the opposition were tiring. The performance in the last quarter bore this out as the visitors closed in on victory with a superb mauled score by Garvey converted expertly by Darragh O’Shea who added a final penalty from in front of the posts for 19 23 at the final whistle.

Clontarf now go to Stradbrook on Sat for the second of our outings against Blackrock College.

Needless to say Dolphins victory over Shannon means that there is plenty at stake.

Not that there wasn’t anyway ………………….

---