Clonmel’s Graph Goes North!

Being one of the teams to represent Munster in the All-Ireland Junior Cup brings an added pride and the rather raucous rendition of “Slievenamon” by the victorious Clonmel dressing-room at the end of this game reflected that pride and provided one of those special moments which those involved in team sports enjoy from time to time if they are lucky. On the long drive to Drogheda we wondered if the team could bounce back from the (still baffling) cup defeat of the previous Sunday or would they suffer from that hangover. We need not have worried – they gave the travelling support who braved the artic conditions plenty to cheer about.

Clonmel faced into an icy wind as Boyne kicked off and failure to handle the drop-off had the visitors in instant trouble. The knock-on led to a Boyne scrum from which they drove over in the left corner. The conversion left Clonmel 7-0 adrift with only 2 minutes on the clock. Some start. Clonmel now got switched on and worked their way back into this game and despite the wind they progressed to the Boyne “22” on a couple of occasions. It was already apparent that the Clonmel pack was back on song and was more than a match for the home side. On 17 minutes Clonmel kicked a penalty into Boyne’s left corner and from the lineout drove them back to allow John Long to touch down under the posts. Morgan Lyons added the conversion to level the scores at 7-7. While Boyne were able to kick for position down the field, Clonmel, with their back-row of Crosse, Melbourne and Leahy in marauding form, were quite willing to take it back up. On 20 minutes Clonmel won possession in midfield and Tommy Barry burnt off the Boyne defence with a great run which brought him almost to the line. He was stopped just short but David Joyce was on hand to collect and go over on Boyne’s left side. The wind beat the conversion attempt to leave Clonmel 12-7 in front.

But only minutes later Clonmel’s great work was undone by indecision in midfield which lost the ball to Boyne – they immediately transferred it right and their fullback was allowed a 30-metre run into the corner. A gifted try now left Clonmel trailing 14-12 on 30 minutes. But Clonmel, with captain John Long and Phil Corby leading by example, got back to work and again drove Boyne deep into their own half. Another penalty on 37 minutes allowed Clonmel to apply the “Munster Recipe” – kick into corner, drive from the lineout which Boyne had no answer for and Brendan Mullan was on the bottom of the pile which crashed over to bring Clonmel into a 17-14 lead. Lyons’ boot extended it to 19-14 as half-time was whistled.

The re-start had Boyne immediately under pressure. Forwards John Stokes and Paul McCarthy were always involved while the midfield of Barry and Grogan kept the Boyne defence honest. But while Clonmel had played excellent rugby in the first half, scoring three tries into the wind, they now seemed to drop the tempo and assumed the wind would win the game for them. They were still on top but quicker phases and a more clinical attitude would have put this game quickly out of sight. Only some careless passing preserved Boyne’s line but it came right on 25 minutes – a good forwards / backs combination brought the play centrally on Boynes”22” and a great burst by Niall Grogan brought him all the way under the posts. Lyons’ kick now put Clonmel 26-14 ahead. Moments later a similar scenario beckoned for John Stokes but while he had the try scored in his head the veteran legs just wouldn’t get him there.

Boyne now found it almost impossible to get out of their half and on 35 minutes yet another penalty (Clonmel were awarded 15 penalties in this game and yet no card was produced!) allowed Lyons to increase the margin to 29-14. John Kelly, Mark Normile and Stephen Pyke had by now taken the field and had further increased pressure on Boyne. Another penalty on 38 minutes allowed Lyons to kick Clonmel into a 32-14 lead and a very satisfying result. It shook off the depression of the previous week and lined up a home fixture against Westport in the last eight of this national competition. Regardless of how it goes from here this campaign will bring new experiences to Clonmel which can only be of benefit. Before that of course there is the matter of a home tie against Mallow next Sunday as Clonmel opens its Munster Junior Cup campaign. Meanwhile, the league fixtures last weekend strengthen my conviction that the league will go down to the last day. It ain’t over yet – the Fat Lady hasn’t even warmed up.