GARRYOWEN FALL AT DOORADOYLE !
Author: Peter Walsh
2006-01-30
Garryowen 10 Clontarf 18

Earlier in the year when reviewing the coming season the Clontarf ‘Pundits ‘ correctly identified the month of January as being crucial to our ambitions for the League. Having constructed a new side following the end of season exodus from Castle Ave, and having endured a few messy defeats as the team bedded in, we were facing January having played six and won three. Not bad …and if you throw in the six bonus points earned it was encouraging. Our win against Con in Castle Ave was an indication of what could be achieved but even at that most would have been more than happy with a return of 14/15 points from the games in January……….

Except the players.

Mash Lansdowne, Crush Rock, Overwhelm Shannon …15 points out of 15 and head for unbeaten Garryowen all bristling with intent followed by an increasing army of amazed supporters. Clontarf had never won at Dooradoyle and with the long injury list upsetting the pack we were nervy that this was a ‘bridge too far’ and that perhaps the Garryowen ‘Panzers’ might wallop us up front.

At half time Clontarf were leading 6 3 after O’Shea converted two penalties to one from Kilroy. This was scant reward for the possession and territory we had enjoyed in the first half but if we were feeling hard done by Garryowen were feeling pressure.

The defining moment of the match came early in the second half. Garryowen were attacking deep in the ‘Tarf 22 against 14 men after Ellison had been harshly binned on 38 minutes. A ruck broke up and Trenier was shown yellow for over enthusiasm at the breakdown. Garryowen went for the touch to use their two man advantage at the lineout and as the teams lined up Andy Wood galvanised the defenders with a cri de Coeur worthy of General Patton. The ensuing maul was blitzed by the 6 defenders who stole the ball and recycled it for the relieving kick.

Clontarf’s first try came on 53 minutes when Fiach O’Loughlin broke blind from a ruck: he fed Carson who released winger O’Brien with a superb pass off his left hand. O’Brien was hauled down in the 22 and Garryowen did well to slow the release. This forced Andy Wood to take it up and then fast ball went left ,first to Sweeney who tied up 2 defenders under the posts, and then to Keane who scored in the corner.
With 10 minutes to go Garryowen set up a nail biting finish by wrecking a ‘Tarf scrum under our posts and scoring in the confusion. It was left to Keane to apply the coup de gras for ‘Tarf 2 minutes from time after a remarkably similar move saw him plunge over at the same spot. O’Shea added the conversion from the sideline to deny the home side a bonus point.

This was a superb win which owes a lot to excellent defensive planning. Garryowen’s scrum half Hurley has been a tricky handful for many sides this season and has sparked his backrow with some quicksilver breaks. On Saturday he was well reined in by an alert ‘Tarf backrow and by the loving attention of his opposite scrum half who grabbed him by the leg like an amorous jack russell every time he touched the ball.

So 2/3rds of the season gone and we are in third place, 2 points off the leaders. Should we start dreaming again?...................

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