GARRYOWEN SLUG CLONTARF
10/04/2007
Clontarf 10 Garryowen 12


There was plenty of pain flying around on Saturday in Castle Ave as two of the more prominent AIB League teams went head to head on a pitch that had dried to a concrete like consistency due to the recent mild weather. Ultimately, the visitors, Garryowen took the day and were worthy winners for the commitment they showed in defending a narrow lead to the bitter end. For the Limerick men, a loss here meant curtains for their AIL ambitions. Clontarf required a win to stay on course for a home semi. Now both teams’ ambitions are in the hand of other results: ‘Tarf need to beat Dungannon in the last game to secure a semi final spot with the venue hinging on the ‘Rock v UL Bohs fixture in Stradbrook on the same day; UL win and we are in Limerick, Rock win and we’re in Clontarf. 

We LOSE and we're in the poop! 

Garryowen have a tougher test: they are neck and neck with Shannon for fourth spot and a trip to Con in the semi. 

The game was a typical Munster Cup match with masses of committed brutality sprinkled with some hairy errors from both sides. Clontarf will rue being unable to lock down the static phases of their game early which meant they struggled to get their patterns going in the first quarter. Garryowen took full advantage and jumped to a 6 0 lead with two penalties from their full back. He had a good day with the boot which was important for him because his injudicious slap down of a Conal Keane penalty kick straight into the hands of Darragh O’Shea for a score by the posts could easily end up being repeated over and over again on TV. It would have been a nightmare for him had they lost. As it was he turned a 7 6 ‘Tarf lead into a 7 9 Garryowen advantage just on half time with his third penalty. That was a crucial score as it allowed the visitors to galvanise themselves in defence for the second half. With 20 to go the Garryowen full back landed another which was quickly cancelled out by Keane for 10 12. Clontarf at this stage were coming hard with Crawford and Garvey leading the way and Snell taking up the baton with some ferocious bursts. Garryowen refused to buckle and their commitment was rewarded with a rub of the green with about 10 to go. Tarf went hard right to left and O’Shea made a great slashing run on an inward angle from 13 , he straightened and was grabbed as he went to put Keegan in by the posts, the ball squirted back where Crawford charged, set it up, and O’Loughlin moved it right to Nethery who had O’Shea outside him in acres of space. Unfortunately the gods conspired and the pass failed to stick first time. This allowed the defender a chance and his tackle slowed the effort enough to not only deny a try by the width of a hair but resulted in a penalty to the defenders for holding. Garryowen held out and will live to play another day. Clontarf now look forward to Dungannon in Castle avenue in two weeks for a game that the home side must win to stay in the competition.

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