CLONTARF GRIND A VICTORY!
03/12/2007
Garryowen 8 Clontarf 19


The regimental band played the 7th Cavalry battle song ‘Garryowen’ as 750 men led by General George Armstrong Custer rode out from Fort Abraham Lincoln in North Dakota to move against the Sioux tribes who had left their reservations and congregated on the Montana plains. The reports from their scouts directed them towards what was described as an ‘unusually large’ Indian village on the West bank of the Bighorn River in southern Montana. Approaching from the south Custer split his forces into 4 groups and sent 1 of them under Capt Reno to attack the village from the south hoping to draw the defenders toward the south of the camp while he rode north to forge the river and attack from the other side. This was a tried and tested 'hammer and anvil' tactic used by the cavalry in the Indian wars and generally resulted in a massacre as the second attack in the rear usually was made against Indian women and children.

Unfortunately for Custer, this time, the Indians had a plan and, more importantly, the discipline to follow it through.

First they attacked Reno in force and routed his troops who fled in disarray back across the Bighorn where they were forced to dig in and wait to be rescued.
At the same time Crazy Horse set out from the camp heading North away from the fight, turned East and then south in a massive flanking manoeuvre against Custer’s forces

Then Chief Gall with 800 warriors attacked Custers column from behind and forced them away from the river towards high ground to the north east. Custers exhausted soldiers were hard pressed to hold off Chief Galls repeated attacks and they decided to make for a hill where they could use the high ground to create a fort which they could defend.

They were 20 yards short of their objective when Crazy Horse and 1500 mounted , heavily armed warriors crested the hill.

It must have been a serious bowel loosening moment for the 200 troops.

The rest of the battle lasted about 20 minutes. The cavalry men were buried where they fell and the hill is now a cemetery and is preserved as a battlefield monument………….. admission 10 bucks.

And what you may ask has this got to do with Clontarf rugby at the weekend?

Well, as said above, the regimental song of the 7th Cavalry was, and still is, ‘Garryowen’ and the battle was fought on the 25th June 1876, the year Clontarf F.C. was founded.

On Saturday, unfortunately for Garryowen, Clontarf had a plan and, more importantly, the discipline to follow it through.

The plan was based around solid aggressive defence around the fringes and a kicking game designed to pin the opposition back. 

It also helps to get a reasonable start and when Healy burrowed over after 5 minutes, Clontarf were on their way. 10 minutes later Keatley added a penalty for 8 nil which was cancelled by Kilroy after 20. Keatley added another penalty for 3 11 at half time.

 In the second half Garryowen were forced to chase the game and exposed themselves to risk in the process. From one turnover Paul O’Donohoe made a superb break found Max Rantz Mc Donald in support and John Duffy was on hand to accept the pop up for the score. Keatley added a further penalty for 3 19 and despite a super score from wing Keith Earls, after a delicate grubber from the excellent Kilroy at full back, Clontarf were well worth their victory.
Congrats to all. Particular mention must go to Niall McNamara who was towering in defence in the 12 channel. The pack was again superb and never allowed the home side to get forward momentum which forced their backline deeper and deeper to try and penetrate. Their options were reduced to either a cut back which was ably dealt with by McNamara or a screen which was well policed by O’Shea at 13.
The back three were very solid with Phil Howard and Max R on the wings scrapping and burrowing in rucks like mad ferrets after a rabbit and at full back Pete O’Brien was calmness personified under the high ball.

Thanks to all the travelling support who may have arrived more in hope than expectation. Your loyalty was rewarded ! 

P.S. The Forwards have introduced a new metric to measure their gametime performance. Its called 'Yards after Contact' or acronym YAC's and clearly measures yardage made while simultaneously driving the opposition back or breaking a tackle. 

They could use another one also ....Call it PRAT's .......... 'Penalty Reversals after Talk'........................... It measures yards conceded after conversing with the referee.

You know what I mean.....

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