| 20/02/2010 | 3.00pm | League | Clontarf | 19 – 8 | St. Marys J2 XV | Away |
Clontarf J2 19 St Mary’s J2 8
The J2’s went out fighting against Clontarf on Saturday but could not stop them taking our league title. Clontarf have a massive team of ex-firsts players who keep it tight and grind away with their rolling maul until they pick off penalties and eventually break you down. In fairness they are very good at it and deserved to win the match. However, it was a great effort by us, with every man putting his body on the line in a brutal match of big hits, savage rucking and great intensity. We had our chances to score in the first half but little things went against us and they kicked their goals and scored their only try off a turnover. We kept battling away and Ollie McCormack went over for a great try towards the end. It was hard to begrudge Clontarf their first league title since 1972 and we look forward to defending our cup on the harder grounds in April.
Great credit to Manager Derek Gately, Assistant Manager Mick O’Connor, Captain Mikey Houlihan and Coaches Colm Barry and Alan Shirley for a great league campaign.
Next up is a trip to London to lick our wounds!
15. Neil Cowhey 14. G Crawford 13. A Shirley 12. G Crawford 11. J Dunne 10. J Connolly 9. E Mucker 1. P Collins 2. O Mucker 3. M Houlihan (capt) 4. G McInerney 5. E Keane 6. K Lannon 8. L Burke 7. R Ryan
Subs: J Ardagh, S Walsh, P Barrett, B Brophy, S Timmons – all used.