It was the best of times
it was the worst of times
It was the age of wisdom
It was the age of foolishness
It was the epoch of belief
It was the epoch of incredulity …
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
This was the fourth final between Con and Tarf and brings the honour’s board to two victories each.
For many the League followed by a playoff structure is a clumsy and illogical way to finish a long season. The jeopardy lies mostly with the team that comes top in the league section, as they have most to lose. Having won the league, they now must defend it in a cup competition. It is a logical argument which is hard to counter. However, it’s hard to beat it for tension or excitement and Sunday’s game had buckets of that!
It also had buckets of Hugh Cooney, who now must accept responsibility for re naming a game after himself. If a few years ago, we had the Joey Carbery, final then surely Sunday was the Hugh Cooney final. It’s been a long time since we witnessed one person make so many telling contributions on both sides of the ball.
Turnovers, heart bursting track backs, try assists and a try were all part of Hugh’s game on the big stage. If you’re going to do it, why not do it when the Irish rugby world is watching. I suspect like a shooting star, Hugh may be gone from the red and blue jersey to greater pastures. However the Club should take some pride in their contribution, no matter how small, to the career of this modest man, but monstrous talent.
Clontarf made a strong start to the game with Peter Maher fielding Con Kelly’s kick-off like an American Football wide receiver. What followed was a period of Tarf dominance and Con defence. Energy sapping, but not a lot happening on the scoreboard. One titanic burst from John Vinson brought the crowd to its feet but Dylan Donnellan was held up over the line at the finish.
The opening score came from Hugh Cooney (Hugh who?), who burst between two defenders and stretched to place the ball on the line. Con replied after some fast recycling in the Tarf 22 for 5 7. Dylan got in by the posts after a burst by Hugh Cooney and a deft offload and, once again, Con replied for 12 14 at half-time.
The second half was tighter and, with Con Kelly adding a penalty for a 15 14 lead, it was up to Con to pull something out of the bag.
In the end it was Tarf who added a classic, with a sweeping left to right move started with a pullback by Cal Smith to Con Kelly, who attracted a defensive line jumper and released Cooney. Hugh brought it into space in the Con 22 and put centre partner Connor Fahy clear with the line at his mercy and a covering defender moving too quickly to be a problem. He was danced around, Fahy touched it down, and the Clontarf support went mental. It was a fabulously constructed score. Con Kelly landed the crucial conversion and so, with an 8 point lead with 4 to go the deal was done. Con managed to keep the pulses racing by getting in for a converted try to bring the deficit to 1 point but they couldn’t get out of their 22 after the kick-off and when super sub Oran (Hitman) Walsh stole the ball Tarf had three phases of pass and shunt before Con Kelly sealed it for the game.
Joy unrestrained in Castle Avenue !
I’ve never seen anything like the celebration and I’ve a good imagination ! Scenes from Game of Thrones and more.
Can someone check; but does the bar have an expander like a suitcase? There were so many people pouring in, I suspected there was a large hole in the floor that people were falling into.
The players had a plan to swing from the rafters in the bar. Unfortunately when they got up there, they were already well occupied by local women!!
The night was long and loud and busting with excitement. Victory was celebrated without any hint of triumphalism. Much like climbing the highest peak, the celebration is more for the effort, not the conquest. The mountain remains the mountain. And don’t you forget it ! The AIL is hard won over a lung bursting season. It all starts again in a few months.
Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the season’s success. To all the teams who have worn the jersey with pride and have upheld the honour of this Northside Club. To everyone I leave you with Kipling ….. set above the entrance to the Centre Court in Wimbledon …..
“If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same;…”
