1st XV v DLSP by D. O’Brien – 20.10.2007
Leddin Leinster Senior Cup Semi Final
Templeville Road
20th October 2007
St Mary’s College RFC V DLSP
12 10
Many of the recipients of the club Email service will not fully appreciate the importance of this competition to St Marys and most will not remember when winning the LSC was the most sought after achievement in Irish rugby. In fact it should be recalled, as it will be by the superannuated members, that for many years it was the only competition for senior teams in Leinster. This season it has a particular significance, since it is the 50th anniversary of our first ever such cup win, by of course the wonderful team, led by the great and most popular “Banana Joe” Fanagan. So, obviously to win the cup would be marvellous and today we took a step, if a somewhat tentative one, towards that end by over coming DLSP in the semi-final.
It has to be admitted honestly, we could easily have been beaten by a well-drilled DLSP team, but that said we took our chances and stuck to the task showing courage and organisation in defence. However our scrum was under pressure most of the game and our lineout not always secure. Generally we rucked well and the back-row did well under pressure, with Mark Aboud and Hugh Hogan having particularly good games. DLSP drew us in to close quarters on occasions when we might have been better with our quick ruck and wide game. We had their measure out wide with Ronan and Darragh looking dangerous, when they got the ball and our mid field worked well with Rob Smyth in dynamic form again, cutting holes with well timed runs, off loading well and his tackling was shattering, he was my man of the match. Matt Darcy too probed and worked hard all game, he never shirks.
After only three minutes, one of our star men, Phillip Brophy today at 10, (the lad can play anywhere) was carried off with a suspected fibula crack, having just made a good break. Barry Lynn, only back from injury came on and he ended up winning the game for us hitting four penalties without miss, not bad for a lad back after a long lay off. After 28 minutes we got our first penalty following a fine break out run by Ronan Doherty and support by Michael Skelton, ended illegally. On 35 minutes the unfortunate and hard working Willie Duggan had to withdraw after injuring his leg, he was replaced by Mark Donnellan, who added profitably to the line out options.
At 38 minute we got our second and at half time our third penalty, all from far out and well hit by Barry.
The second half was played at high tempo and was entertaining to watch, we had a nice try disallowed, called back for obstruction and soon afterwards on 12 minutes DLSP got one themselves, a well worked snap pass to the left winger coming across from the right at a fine angle to score. It was then 9 – 10 and looking uncomfortable for us. The Captain Gareth Logan replaced Victor Ryan and Matt Crockett made his return from injury replacing Colm Mc Mahon in the front-row; Ritchie Sweeney went to prop to accommodate Matt at hooker. With ten minute to go we were down to 13 men, with two forwards in the sin bin (careless use of the boot and accidental high tackle) and that is when we showed our courage and organisation, with tackle after tackle and repulsion of mauls and drives, sometimes on the line. We never dropped the heads and fought to the end, it was close but we got there. Now we face Clontarf on the 24th November in the final, coincidently and possibly fatefully, on the day after the big celebration dinner in commemoration of the 1957-58 win, in the club on 23rd. (Try to make it to that dinner it will be special). Not only was it good to win but also good preparation for our first AIL game next week against Galwegians in Galway. See you there!
D O’Brien
Team 15 M Skelton, 14 D Fanning, 13 R Gannon, 12 R Smyth, 11 R Doherty, 10 P Brophy (Capt)(B Lynn 3), 9 M Darcy, 8 H Hogan, 7 W Duggan (M Donnellan 35), 6 M Aboud, 5 V Ryan (G Logan 50) E Keane, 3 C Mc Mahon (M Crockett 40) R Sweeney, 1 M Duggan.