TARF KNOCK MARY'S !
20/10/2008
Clontarf 30 St Mary’s 19


Clontarf entertained table toppers St Mary’s in Castle Avenue on Saturday and generously allowed them a 5 point start before getting down to business. Mary’s elected to go to the backline with the kick off and despite O’Shea fielding the ball and setting up the ruck the away side were awarded the scrum. From there they went left and managed to get away with knocking on in the backline before winger and captain Brophy was put in for the score. It was a remarkable start for Mary’s (and the referee). Little did they know that the next time they saw the Clontarf line the game would be over as a contest.
From 20 minutes onwards in the game Clontarf were well nigh unstoppable. Their defence was titanic with some huge hits going in right on the gain line and when they moved into attack were finding holes all over the Mary’s defence. It is hard to single out individual players because everyone made major contributions both in attack and in holding the line; it was a perfect team performance for the two 20 minute periods around half time.
‘Tarf equalised on 20 minutes with a try down the right from Keating . 10 minutes later a counterattack from Max R McDonald was taken left by out half Dufficy who found loose forwards rampaging down the wing. The ball was transferred to Crawford who found Wickham in support for the score. Dufficy added a penalty for 13 5 at half time.
The second half continued where the first left off with Clontarf powering through Mary’s when they had the ball and belting the lard out of them when they didn’t.
Keating scored again on the right after some lovely work by the forwards and when Sean O’Brien messed up a Mary’s line out, stole the ball, broke free, put the young winger away, AND was up on the inside to support, Keating really had no option but to pass the ball back inside (OR DIE) and O’Brien capped a peerless debut with a try under the posts.
That was the fourth try and left the scoreboard 30 5 . At that point the home bench was emptied and, to their credit, St Mary’s took advantage with two scores in the last 5 minutes. It was never going to be enough though and the game ended 30 19 to the home side.
Next we travel to Young Munster for a visit to one of the most atmospheric rugby grounds in Ireland. Munster’s have had a mixed start to their return to the top flight but will be coming off a superb win at Cork Con. We can expect a warm welcome next week in Limerick!

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