Week-end local Ulster Bank AIL match reports

Ulster Bank League

Shannon 14, Clontarf 22

I KNOW we're saying this quite a lot as of late, but in defeat, we can take a sufficient quota of positives from a game that was there for the taking. Clontarf are edging for honours for good reason, and at times today they looked superb, but even some of their most ardent supporters could offer little argument that their side were beneficiaries of good fortune, as well as Shannon errors.

At 22-0 down at half time, on the score board Shannon looked dead and buried, but we know this team; they aren't quitters, and they put in a superb second half display that could just as easily have been rewarded with a losing bonus as a minimum, and had the scores come a little earlier, a bit more besides.

There was one distinct and defining turning point in the game and that game as Shannon chased Clontarf's 8-0 lead. The early momentum had been with the home side, but yet, after 26 minutes Clontarf led slightly against the run of play. However to deny the visitors kudos for turning in the power when they had to would be folly. They played a first half littered with a clinical style .Barry O'Mahony powered over from close range after hooker Jon Larbey made the initial surge in the 14th minute and then Richie Lane made amends for his conversion miss with a 26th minute penalty.

But then the moment that changed the game. In the 33rd minute, Shannon had a three man over lap and soft hands would have got them to within 3 points at least, but the crucial pass didn't stick. Instead of setting the seed of doubt in Clontarf's mindset, Shannon blinked, and went into the break a further 14 points behind.

Tim McCoy dived into the far corner after Shannon had unsuccessfully lobed a deft chip into the grateful hands of Clontarf on the half way line and a few phases later they looked on as Richie Lane knocked over the conversion.

The slow burning Clontarf suddenly burst into life and right on, the stroke of half time O'Mahony again barged over after Conor Keegan was stopped short inches from the line.

It was hard to see how Shannon would come back from this half time deficit, but they were determined to atone for their first half errors. It's just a pity that they couldn't get in for a second half score; instead their gutsy display was only rewarded in the final 10 minutes of the game.

That said, it wasn't all one-way traffic and the menace of Clontarf's ability to switch tempo was present. Les Hogan was Shannon's and probably the games, most effective ball carrier but repeatedly Clontarf could clear their lines through the huge clearance ability of Sam Cronin.

The question of "what if " popped up in the 75th minute when Kevin Griffin used his considerable bulk to get his side on the board and then he contributed again in a supporting role this time as 5 minutes later the always indomitable David Quinlan launched another successful close range charge.

Bennett added two good conversions, but the clock had a short journey before its final participation in this game. It was probably reflective of the game in the overall context that Clontarf finished inches from the line, bundled into touch before Mr Phillips sounded the final whistle.

Shannon will have plenty to regret from this game. 10 minutes of, well not quite madness, but misadventure, cost them dearly in the first half, and then an inability to convert a fair chunk of possession in the second to points was the loss in a nutshell.

Results elsewhere mean its status quo in terms of league position, but Shannon know that they much better than their recent league results would suggest.

It's also worth mentioning that four All Ireland League debuts were given to some of Shannon's U/21 players. The present needs to be catered for, no doubt, but a beady eye on the future is no harm.

Shannon: L. O'Dea, W. O'Connor, R. Mullane, M. Lawler, S. McNamara, T. Bennett, A. Bennie, L. Hogan, J. Deegan. K. Griffin, F. Walsh, D. Heffernan, S. Keogh, J. Murphy, D.Quinlan.

Replacements all used. A. O'Brien, K.O'Neill, J.Sheerin, A. Spring, R.Guerin.

By Aidan Corr

Young Munster 25

Blackrock College 10

ONE win from their last three Ulster Bank AIL division one A fixtures may not be the form of champions but Saturday’s victory over Blackrock edges Young Munster into a challenging third position as the leading bunch moves into contention for the finishing straight.

It was, however, a result that pleased their player/coach Mike Prendergast: “It’s good to get back to winning ways again. It was a strange kind of a game, stop and start and a lot of injuries, but we’ll take the win. Hopefully when we get back on the training ground on Tuesday we can rectify some of the mistakes we made out there. In the first half we should have had a few more scores. In conditions like we had out there and the fact that Blackrock were so committed, the bonus point was always going to be difficult.”

Prendy’s confidence that they can still win the title will be well received by the black and amber fans: “Absolutely. I’m fully confident that we can. There are eight games to go, we have four away and four at home but the next three fixtures are going to be crucial for us and could mould our season with Constitution at home this coming week-end, then Shannon away and Garryowen at home.”

12-3 up after 20 minutes courtesy of three penalties and a drop goal from Willie Staunton gave ‘Munsters’ the perfect platform in this game but their failure to create try chances gave early indication that the bonus point could be out of their reach. Leading 6-0 ‘Rock had replied with a penalty on 13 minutes when a cheeky break by scrum-half Alan McGinty out-foxed Mike Prendergast and Liam Og Murphy to set up the penalty that reduced the home lead to three points, but that was as close as the visitors got to a surprise result.

The Young Munster pack, mauling the ball 25 metres during one assault, was superior at the set-piece but it was a slice of good fortune that gifted the black and ambers their first try of the game. Referee John Carvill must have been the only one not to spot a blatant knock-on as Mark Doyle finished off a midfield move four minutes from the break but the home side had to wait for their second touchdown until nine minutes from the finish: replacement back-row Shane Hassett getting over following a fine drive off a lineout by the pack. Staunton missed both conversions and while Blackrock never gave up the fight, their penalty, try and conversion all coming from out-half Darragh Fitzpatrick, the Dublin visitors were well beaten at the finish.

“Darragh Gallagher and Mark Doyle were outstanding today,” said the Young Munster coach, “and this win will give us renewed confidence.” He could also have added centre Mike Kelliher as well as the performance of hooker Ger Slattery, whose absence from representative rugby remains a mystery.

Young Munster: Aaron Carroll; Craig O’Hanlon, Andrew Burke, Mike Kelliher, Mark Doyle; Willie Staunton, Mike Prendergast; Ger Flaherty (Hugh McGrath 51, Flaherty 60), Ger Slattery (Cathal O’Connor 77), Alan Cotter; Darragh Gallagher, Sean Duggan (Shane O’Neill 55); Liam Og Murphy, James O’Neill (Shane Hassett 55), Neville Melbourne (James O’Neill 74).

Blackrock College: Andrew Latham; David Rowan (Brett Thompson 69), Jan Simon Byrne, Rob Keogh, Mark Scott Lennon (Dylan Symonds 60); Darragh Fitzpatrick (David Boland 78), Alan McGinty; Sean Byrne, Ryan Fisher (Colin Coyle 69), Arthur Lyons; Peter McCague, Alex Dunlop; Tyrone Moran, Gavin Greene, Richard Marsh.

Scorers, Young Munster, tries Mark Doyle, Shane Hassett; four penalties, drop goal Willlie Staunton. Blackrock College, try, conversion, penalty Darragh Fitzpatrick.

Yellow card, Ger Flaherty, Young Munster.

Referee, John Carvill, IRFU.

(Aidan Corr)