1st XV v Young Munster (A) by D. O’Brien – 18.01.25
Young Munster RFC V St Mary’s College RFC
20 35
Energia AIL Division 1A
Tom Clifford Park
Saturday 18th January 2025.
Overall
If you had a soupçon of doubt about your team, go and do 100 lines. This match was proof of integrity. It was a big test and it was passed with alacrity. After a tough first half, Ronan’s Rampagers roared into astral action with a lightning performance of skill at speed that left the big strong Young Munster team gasping.
The last time we visited Tom Clifford Park was 4th November 2017, when we were well beaten. Our Skipper remembers it well as it was very early in his superb career.
Today a perfect day for rugby, dry and cool. There was a good travelling support for President Paudge McGill and his group. Seldom has he been more elated by a win and deservedly so. There were many of the usual faithful there, erudite Aoife O’Donnell, who seldom misses a game, Kevin Conboy without his new Schnauzer puppy, Dec Fanning enjoying himself chatting to VP Logie, Barney keeping a wary eye out for the odd returning barb; “the last of the summer wine” gang, Mick the Medium O’Connor, Paul Brady, Louis McMullan and Tony (TBM) Burke-Moran. Fab Frank Kennedy, iconic Spike, The Shirleys and Ronnie Douglas in case he was asked to play ♫, were all in attendance. There were of course many of the players’ families there, the Watters, the McCormacks (G-Mack), the Careys, the Hopkins, the Scotts, the limerick Hayes’s and Goggins, also the O’Reillys, the Deans and others. The drive home was comfortable and satisfying.
The Young Munster President, John Brown, and some great Munster men like Packo Fitzgerald et al, were most welcoming. Although it was a big, almost defining game it was never rancorous and it was once again, a fine example of AIL rugby.
To say that every man was infused with epistemic and unquenchable zest would be an understatement, and so it is almost invidious to mention individuals, however a true report demands it. Without question, the presence, leadership and performance of Skipper Ronan, is always key to this group’s overall performance, and so it was again today. It was an uplift to see Michael McCormack start today and he will be very happy with his performance, if somewhat exhausted after such a test.
The pack was challenged, and strongly so in the first half, with YM setting a fast strong pace from the start, St Marys had some defensive blips but as they adjusted and accelerated their game, they asserted dominance so that in the second half they were supreme. They played with élan, fast rucking, effecting turnovers and putting up a defensive groyne. Daniel Leane, who has been injured and playing his way back on the J1s, and on senior bench, started today. He was phenomenal. He soared, he drove and strove in the tight and made stag like open field sallies, the final one ultimately led to the bonus point try. His pace and athleticism is notable and gives him flexibility within the back five.
Behind the pack, Conor Dean is ever in control, this became most apparent in the second half when high octane pace was needed, but tempered by judicious positional play. He adjusted perfectly with well placed kicking and quick release plays. The two YM old boys showed that their conversion is complete they were outstanding, with Dan Goggin breaking tackles and YM hearts. Conor Hayes at 15, never put a foot wrong, he devoured every ball kicked in his direction. He sortied down field, swept behind and covered breaks. His kicking today was exceptional in all respects, including three conversions and three penalties. He received the Manverton MoM Award.
The Game
The game kicked off and YM cleared to touch, from the lineout and drive, the ball went out to Deano and he skipped to Conor Hayes who fed Mark Fogarty coming round from his wing on a superb vector, he cut open the defence on the ten metre mark and gave to Zach Hopkins, who zoomed outside two and using his sizzling speed to leave all behind to the corner; 0-5, super try.
Almost immediately, YM hit back with a try from Steve Lyons their fullback, 7-5. YM scored again on 14 minutes, 12-5 and coming towards half time they scored another and we got a yellow card, 17-5. That was how the half ended. During the first half Marys fought hard and attacked well, however, there were a number of missed tackles.
The second half fixed the problems, and from the start the visitors were on Mk1, as they put pressure on. The Marys’ scrum was dominant and the lineouts secure as the defence locked in adamantine chains. Seven minutes passed when from loose play the ball came out to Deano, a delightful comma, to Dan who went through two and gave to Richie Fahy following round, and he zipped in, Conor Hayes converted and the score was then, 17-12. Hazer converted a penalty on 50 minutes, 17-15. YM went further ahead with a penalty on 54 minutes, 20-15. A penalty from Hazer got us to 20-18. It was 63 minutes a dominant scrum in the YM 22, saw Ronan break hard from the back and draw in the defence, he gave to Deano who put a special out to Fogey, he needed no prompting he burned earth as he left defence dead and scored. The conversion meant 20-25 and Hazer added three points, four minutes later, 20-28. On full time, from broken play midway, Leaner broke free and left the defence grasping he made it almost to the line, the ball came back and Adam McEvoy scampered over for a beauty and a bonus point. It ended 20-35 and put us firmly at the top of the tree. An exhilarating win and a great credit to Ronan, his squad, Mark McHugh and his squad and Paul Pender and his squad. You who go to all the games probably deserve a tiny bit of credit too.
It was interesting to note that Leinster, Ulster, St Mary’s 1sts and J1s all shared inauspicious beginnings and top class performances overall, with notable victories.
After the match at Tom Clifford Park, there was a respectful, healthy, warm glow of pleasure amongst the blues. It was probably a recognition of significance and optimism. We have of course to entertain champions, Cork Constitution next Saturday and that is another test, but certainly there is no team that Ronan and Mark will fear to face. They, are too wise also not to respect them and for them prepare diligently. We must also be there and ready to Roar on Ronan.
Team (12 changes during the game)
15 C Hayes, 14 M Fogarty, 13 M Carey, 12 D Goggin, 11 Z Hopkins, 10 C Dean 9 R Fahy, 8 R Watters (Capt.), 7 E Baxter, 6 G Jones, 5 L Culliton, 4 D Leane, 3 M McCormack, 2 R Bergin, 1 T O’Reilly. 16 J Nelson-Murray, 17 A Keating, 18 P Deeny, 19 C Pierce, 20 A McEvoy, 21 L Ramirez.
D O’Brien