CLONTARF WIN IN THOMOND!
07/01/2007
Shannon 16 Clontarf 17


Oh but this was thumper of a win!

Thanks firstly to the travelling support who made a crucial contribution in the final 10 minutes of the game. A game in Thomond Park generally offers little but hope to travelling support, so to see so many Clontarf people in Limerick was fantastic. The roars of encouragement in the final 10 minutes were critical. The team were delighted to deliver in the circumstances.

This was such a typical Shannon game in Limerick. Tarf dominated possession but couldn’t add the finishing touch to some immense work. Time after time we were pounding around the Shannon 22 to no avail with the home defence as organised and aggressive as usual.
The first half was all ‘Tarf attack with Shannon defence and counter attack on errors. It ended with the score 9 3 to the home side who seemed to earn a penalty with every breakout from their half.
The second half took up where the first half left off and after 60 minutes the game moved into what could be described as a season defining phase for Clontarf. The score was 9 3 to Shannon with Clontarf attacking right to left outside the home 22. McNamara moved the ball to the centre where Tarf were desperately unlucky to lose the ball forward into the hands of the Shannon no 14 who cantered in under the posts for 16 3.
15 minutes to go?............ Game over?............... Not a chance!

Clontarf were now staring a defeat in the face in a game where Shannon were leading by 13 points; all of which had been contributed by their opponents. Someone somewhere hit a switch ….. It was like mission control at Heuston 3… 2 … 1….. ‘We have ignition’ …………… LIFT OFF ! 

Clontarf proceeded to vent their frustration with some soaring rugby. The first try came almost immediately after the kick off. From the right side of the park O’Loughlin fed McNamara who hit O’Shea on a switch; he flipped it up for O’Brien curving in from the blind wing who fed Keegan who passed to Keane coming from full back .A moments delay to hold the defence and Nethery was put in at the corner.
Pride was restored by this classic score and when Nethery stitched the conversion we were back at 16 10 and looking at a bonus point.
Nope not today! …… Clontarf had moved their game on to a different plane and were in mad pursuit. With three minutes to go endless phase building saw the ball going right to left again , Nethery came close on the left and when the ball went hard right Healy tied in the frantic defence under the posts which allowed Alan Trenier a fraction of time to bounce a defender and apply a telescopic arm for the try near the right corner.
Matt Nethery then stood over the pressure kick and, with all of the home support silently praying for a miss, and the Clontarf support hiding their eyes, coolly slotted for 16 17 ‘Tarf and 2 minutes to go.
That was that… Shannon piled it on but ran out of time.
This was a huge win ….. It was a towering performance from the Clontarf side who simply refused to let the game go when all seemed lost. I hate to pick players out because the team performance was so satisfying but the backrow were outstanding. Alan Trenier worked his heart out, Conal Keane was calmness personified and made a crucial tackle on the Shannon captain to go with his towering drop outs. All over the pitch Clontarf players refused to lie down or admit defeat.
There have been criticisms in the past about the teams 80 minute application. Those criticisms were answered on Saturday in an arena where the soft hearted get eaten up and spat out. Clontarf‘s performance in Thomond will resonate around the league.

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