Clontarf eventually put history, and Ballynahinch, firmly in their place at Castle Avenue, powering through a stubborn challenge to secure a convincing 39-21 victory. After a fiercely contested opening, Tarf’s forward dominance and superior fitness proved decisive as they pulled clear in the final quarter.
Nothing in sport makes me more nervous than a general presumption of victory. Ballynahinch have never won an AIL game in Castle Avenue. So if history had anything to do with this game, they were odds on to be defeated. But what has history got to do with anything ?
Clontarf fed off these presumptions for years. Back in the day, we grew, and tended lovingly, a shiny chip on our shoulder, based on the opposition’s expectation that we would turn up, make a sterling effort, then, true to form, would succumb to the inevitable heavy defeat, to be followed by the after match agony of patronising comments, half-baked compliments and beer-soaked advice from the members of the opposition Club.
One of my starkest memories is of my father, Billy, fuming at home after a heavy defeat to a Southside Club, because one of their senior players was holding forth in the Clontarf Bar about how some of the Clontarf players would be better off moving to another Club.
I was young at the time but I never forgot how hurt he was at the lack of respect. I think I started growing a chip that day!
I attended the lunch on Saturday as a guest of the President and had the pleasure of the company of the Ballynahinch representatives for the pre-match and after game refreshments. I laughed so hard in their company that I think I may have lost weight. If there is better crew for a rugby afternoon, I haven’t found them. Not an ounce of wary underdog, just masses of good humour.
The game was a bit of a curates egg; good in parts. Ultimately it came down to how well Hinch could defend the home side. Pretty well on the wide ball, but when the forwards shifted into gear. Clontarf superiority in ball control and power was the telling factor.
After both sides managed maul scores dovetailed with some pretty abject faffing around the first half ended 7 7.
The second half started with a Hinch score, after Tarf failed to secure the kick-off. The ball was moved right and after some strong carries, the Hinch 10 got his hands free and their winger finished beside the posts. Clontarf responded immediately, won the kick-off, tapped a short penalty following a high tackle and scored under the posts for 14 14.
Hinch came again and Tarf managed to hold out on their own line with a maul turnover and a penalty at the scrum. Another penalty followed from the lineout and that brought Tarf to the Hinch 22. The maul was driven to the Hinch line, the ball went left and Tarf were pinged for blocking. The Hinch winger spotted a gap, took a fast tap and went the length for an opportunistic score and 14 21.
Again Tarf prevailed with a penalty at the kick off and, once again, levelled the tries with a maul score to Dylan Donnellan (one of three!).
That brought the score to 19 21 and as the benches emptied, the home power superiority became marked.
Hinch, becoming fatigued, conceded two penalties in a row from the kick off, which brought Tarf back into their 22. Another defensive penalty from Hinch was tapped and Tarf scored again for 26 21.
That was it for the game as the home dominance on both sides of the ball became more marked as the final quarter progressed.
As we approached the final 15, Con Kelly added a penalty for a two score lead at 29 21 .
At this point the game was all Tarf and Oisin McCormack scored one for the back row with a thundering run from 30 yards, leaving defenders crushed in his wake and 36 21.
Full time approached with a litany of injuries, niggly breakdowns, and a final scrum penalty to Tarf for 39 21.
Shout out to Jackson Bevin for a man of the match performance at 8. It’s pretty clear that going backwards is not in his playbook.
Peter Walsh
