St Mary's face Bandon in crucial league tie

(Pic courtesy TOM RUSSELL)

ST. Mary's made the journey to Mallow last Sunday to meet the Division Two leaders.

Saints had a big following for this game which was played on a very sticky pitch which really didn't suit Saints as they struggled to get into the game from the off.

It took all of 25 minutes for the first score to come which came from a penalty to Mallow. This was followed 10 minutes later by a try for Mallow after some sustained pressure which was converted to leave the score 10-0. Saints began to get back into the game and were rewarded on 39 minutes with a well-taken drop goal from scrum half Eoin O'Byrne.

Injury time in the first half and Saints had a scrum inside their own '22' which they decided to run instead of kicking to touch and they were penalised for holding on. Mallow converted the penalty to leave the half time score 13-3.

Second Half: Saints needed to get a good start to the second half to get back into this game quickly, although there was no lack of effort from Saints they struggled to get any foothold in the Mallow half and after 60 minutes it was Mallow who extended their lead following a penalty.

St. Mary's showed great character in the last few minutes. Not wanting to come away empty handed from this game they put in a huge effort at the end and were rewarded four minutes into injury time when John Barry went over the line to leave the score 16-8 with the convert to come. Cool as you like Sean Lyons stepped up and slotted the conversion from well out on the right hand side to leave the final score 16-10.

This was greeted from the St. Mary's supporters as if it was the winning score, but having looked likecoming away empty handed from the game this was a very important bonus point and could make all the difference at the end of the league with a lot of teams tightly bunched near the top of the table.

St. Mary's now have four games remaining and can't afford to have any slip ups starting next Sunday when they entertain Bandon who recorded a good win last week against promotion chasing Kinsale, so Saints will need to be back to their best form to secure the points from this game.

Fixtures for next weekend as follows.

Sunday 22nd January

U-13's Ballina/Killaloe v St. Mary's in Ballina @ 11.30pm

Munster Junior League Div. 2

St. Mary's v Bandon in Grove Island @ 2.30pm.