Castle Avenue’s second instalment of “Friday Night Lights” welcomed Leinster rivals Blackrock over the East Link and into the darkest Northside.
Blackrock are struggling this season and are a shadow of their former selves. As their President mentioned in his after tea speech they are struggling with both emigration and a constant drain to the Leinster ranks. I suspect the voracious appetite of UCD for all things talented in schools rugby is having a detrimental effect also as it has sorely impacted the link between this great club and their Alma Mater, Blackrock College.
Clontarf are dealing with a different agenda however and were in little mood to be generous to this young Blackrock outfit. To their credit the visitors defended manfully for the first half and benefitted also from some profligate handling and lack of accuracy in the maul from the home side. However , once the Tarf scrum half and man of the match Dermot O’Meara stretched all of his 4 foot 11 inch frame to touch down late in the first half it was a cue for dam burst and a flood of scores in the second that had the bonus point in the bag with plenty to spare.
Next up is a visit to Greenfields and third placed Young Munster for a titanic clash. This season’s restructuring of the League into a home and away fixture list with no playoffs was greeted with some disappointment because it removed the chance of a final and a big day out.
As things have worked out it looks like it will be even more exciting as there are now three teams in with a chance of topping the League at the finish and all three have game against each other in the run in to the finish. As mentioned before this League is now effectively a Cup competition with little room to manoeuvre if you lose.
On Saturday the 24th March Clontarf will play Young Munster in Tom Clifford Park, Limerick in the most important game since the Semi Final last year. It is our last game outside Dublin this season and presents the mouth watering prospect of both, a critical game for two strong sides played in a great club ground renowned for its committed, noisy, partisan support.
If you were considering a supporter’s away trip this year, this is the one. Of all cities, of all grounds, of all opponents, of all games; this is definitely, absolutely, comprehensively, tooth grindingly, nostril flaringly the one!
Start saving for petrol now. Lubricate your vocal chords. Come to Limerick on the 24th of March and roar like Northsiders.
Your team need you ………………………
Photo courtesy of Laurent