1st XV v Garryowen (A) by D. O’Brien – 03.02.2007
Garryowen F C V St Marys College RFC
16 13
(After Extra Time)
AIB Cup
Dooradoyle
3rd February 2007.
This was a lovely day, with warm sunshine, no wind and a cloudless sky. Dooradoyle’s well tended pitch looked resplendent in the sun, the only thing missing was a game, so we had one; and it matched the day in beauty; it was a vibrant throb from kick off to the end of extra time. This game was a strong advertisement for AIB rugby and the cup competition, it was full of pace, excitement and flair; and fortunes ebbed and flowed on both sides. There was no rancour or gamesmanship and overall was credit to both sides. These two sides are inextricably linked in so many ways and seldom do they fail to deliver a good contest. We fielded a number of changes from last week and welcomed Colm Mc Mahon at loose head and he had a very satisfactory senior starting debut and was prominent in the loose throughout the game (Congrats to the highly talented Richard Sweeney, who was away on Under 20 International duty as Hooker). Phillip Brophy, who we must congratulate for deservedly being selected in the Irish Amateur International panel, was at fullback, with this in mind, and he had a fine game, never dropping a ball and counterattacking whenever he got the opportunity. His kicking was also to the required standard.
It started with a vibrancy that tingled right through the game and both sides played a “ruck and run” game that was pleasure to watch. We have added a width to our defence, which makes it difficult for teams to score against, as Garryowen found out yesterday. After ten minutes Steve Bradshaw, who had a very fine game and was my man of the match, won a turn over, the ball went wide and Steven Grissing made a neat break, a ruck followed at which they were offside, Jonno said thank you and slotted it from a wide angle. 0 – 3. Bernard Donoghue, who was smoothly going through the gears went over on his ankle and had to retire after 24 minutes. Mark Aboud came on and tackled until he almost dropped for the rest of the game. The ebb and flow continued until after 26 minutes, following a lineout and ruck, the ball found their 6, M Melbourne, in mid field and he powered over under the posts. E Hickey converted. We attacked hard, switching from left to right and putting a lot of pressure on which, eventually after 29 minutes, led to a penalty for hands in the ruck. Jonno again obliged and it was 7 – 6. It remained at that until half time, without a sign of a drop in pace or excitement.
After only four minutes of the second half we had a scrum near their line and Hugh Hogan, who was a major contributor, broke from the back, took in their cover and after the tackle and ruck, the ball came out to Jonno who slipped the defence and took two over with him, as he scored under the posts. He converted to make it 7 – 13; you could feel the excitement growing even more so. Garryowen then attacked relentlessly for ten minutes. They came in surges, left then right, right, right, left, right again and we tackled and tackled and tackled and tackled and drove them back. Every man on the team put his heads and necks on line, it was exhilarating. The siege was lifted, we breathed a sigh and when Hickey kicked long to Ronan Doherty we thought it would be all over, he swept diagonally through a flailing defence and made it 60 metres to their line, to be stopped inches short, alas, we failed to get the score which would have sealed victory. I suppose this composure and confidence, which puts away the opposition, is something we have to yet realise, but it will come.
After ten minutes Eoin Keane replaced skipper, Gareth Logan, who retired with a shoulder injury. On 32 minutes we gave a penalty away out wide near the half way and Hickey made a fine kick to convert it and make it 10 – 13. Fortunes swayed and on 37 minutes, again form nearly halfway Hickey got another penalty to leave the final score 13 – 13. Being a cup competition it then went to extra time, ten minutes each half.
We brought on Darragh Fanning and Kevin (Chunky) Carroll, two promising young players and it was good to see Chunky’s spirit and dedication rewarded with a run. Both did very well. After only three minutes of the first period Hickey converted another penalty from far out to make it 16 – 13. We tried heroically for the remainder of the time and but for a dropped pass may well have brought it off, but it was not to be. Even Jonno, who was the man of the minute last week, could not convert from seven metres inside his own half. It ended 16 – 13. We were all sad, but proud. This was a game to remember and a team performance with which to be extremely pleased.
The team is improving in all areas every week thanks to the hard work of these lads and the dedicated work of their coaches and management. We can all be confident and expectant of the future.
Team 15 P Brophy, 14 R Gannon, 13 S Grissing, 12 H Gervais, 11 R Doherty, 10 J Sexton, 9 M Darcy, 8 H Hogan, 7 B Donoghue, 6 W Duggan, 5 S Bradshaw, 4 G Logan, 3 R Sweeney, 2 M Duggan, 1 C Mc Mahon.
D O’Brien.