1st XV v Young Munster (H) by D. O’Brien – 07.12.2024
St Mary’s College RFC V Young Munster RFC
26 24
Energia AIL Division 1 A
Templeville Road
Saturday 7th December 2024.
Overall
To go from mid table 1B directly to top of the table 1A, is a most estimable achievement, an awe moment, so giant congratulations go to Skipper Ronan and his squad. Of course there is a long way to go yet but all worries about survival have well dissipated. The modest smile on head coach, Mark’s face was a joy to see. Mark, who never seeks limelight nor praise, is showing what an outstanding coach, person and Marys man he is.
Although neither the weather (tail end of Storm Darragh) nor the performance were perfect, it turned out to be a memorable day. There was a big turnout, as realisation that a rugby palingenesis was occurring at St Mary’s College RFC, has hit.
In the first half, the Marys lads defended excellently against a strong, cohesive and skilful Young Munster (YM) team, and a strong erratic wind. Early in the second half there were wobbles with errors, even with the usually reliable lineout. Good to relate, there was a reset, then there was a return to a quality performance with ultimately an impressive ability to control possession and see the game out safely. The fast recycling game with rapid delivery out wide in arpeggio, worked well once again. One observation! Enough use was probably not made of the very strong wind, to steer the ball down towards the Templeville Road end and particularly into Carvill Corner. That said, there was a lower concession of penalties than in recent games, and in an impressive defensive effort, there were some excellent tries scored, with an overall satisfactory performance and some excellent individual ones.
Dan Goggin, came to St Marys this season and has added a mature muscularity to the backline, but he is much more than that. Today he was sharp and potent, his defence was impervious, his distribution was intuitive and accurate, but most of all his work rate was titanic. He tirelessly took on ball, cleaved openings, destroyed defenders, gelled with marvel Myles, and scored a vital try. He has shown top leadership qualities and he made a major contribution to this important win. He received the Manverton MoM Award
Having a potent back three, not only delivers vital scores, but disconcerts opposition and forces uncomfortable alterations in defensive systems. With Hazer, Fogey and Silvo, as shown again today, we certainly have three terrifying torpedoes; and Silvo scored a scintillating try. A special mention of debutant U20 prop, Ciaran Scott, who came on and was highly impressive, especially at scrum time, winning a penalty at his first set. He has indeed a promising future. Fellow props, Panda and Tommer, slightly more mature, were also impressive, with the centenarian-capped Tommer once again giving an esurient performance for 80 minutes. The outstanding performer in the pack today was undoubtedly young Aaron O’Brien (also U20), who for the entire game was to the fore in all aspects of backrow play, as he showed he can play at open-side as well as blind-side, and at his favoured, number 8.
Scoring
Like in recent games, there was an early breakthrough. Marys playing against the wind towards the Cabbage Patch End, were recipients of a penalty on half way and another at the ensuing lineout that gave another lineout near the five metre line. Lineout maestro Greg set up a maul, Tommer controlled the ball and scored. 5-0. It was six minutes and Greg won a YM lineout near halfway and Richie swept it out, Dan made good ground and on recycled ball Fab Fogey zipped up along the right touchline, on to Hazer and when near the line he deftly tapped the ball over the line and fast following Myles beat all to the ball and scored a real dinger. Hazer converted, 12-0. With the wind YM got into their stride, and from a maul, picks and drives and a short break, they got over close in, 12-7. When it was 23 minutes and after sustained YM attack and admirable and adamantine defence by Marys, Munsters got a penalty and after the ensuing maul they had several picks and drives and scored very close in. surprisingly, they missed the conversion, which ultimately proved decisive, 12-12.At 34 minutes a penalty lineout gave YM possession on halfway and their outhalf chipped, centre regathered and fed, they scored a fine try in the Gate Corner, 12-17. Exactly 40 minutes were on the clock, when after an Aaron carry, the ball went out the line and Silvo set off, he flailed the defence, accelerated outside three, then hurtled up along the touchline, jinked inside two, and whizzed in behind the posts, 19-17. Half Time
The second half was four minutes old when YM worked their way up against the wind and after a battering the line squeezed over and the score was 19-24. On the hour Marys got into position and assailed the line, before the ball was swung out, Deano put one of his long ping passes wide to Dan, who taking a fine vector and like a rampant rhino rampaged over the line. A difficult winning conversion from Hazer made the tally 26-24, and although there was high paced interactive and entertaining, 20 minutes left and a last few minutes when Marys calmly and competently, held possession, it ended 26-24.
There was great joy after this hard won victory and its significance. President Paudge was aglow with pride in his team, he has known many victories as player and manager, with few if any sweeter.
What is next? Next Friday, 13th, we have a match V Lansdowne on the artificial surface of the Lansdowne back pitch. The heat is rising, so no need to ask, you will all be there to Roar on Ronan.
Team (12 changes during the game)
15 C Hayes, 14 M Fogarty, 13 M Carey, 12 D Goggin, 11 M Silvester, 10 C Dean 9 R Fahy, 8 R Watters (Capt.), 7 A O’Brien, 6 G Jones, 5 P Deeny, 4 L Culliton, 3 A Keating, 2 R Bergin, 1 T O’Reilly. 16 H Noonan, 17 C Scott, 18 D Leane, 19 E Baxter, 20 A McEvoy, 21 L Ramirez.
D O’Brien