Tullamore Get Their Due!

“Victory belongs to the most persevering” – Napoleon Bonaparte. Clonmel persevered for much of this titanc struggle last Sunday when they visited the Midlands club for the All-Ireland Junior Cup semi-final because they had to play second fiddle to a strong, well-organised Tullamore side for good periods of this match. The pre-match lunch and warm welcome given to the Clonmel officers did not extend beyond the clubhouse and when Tullamore kicked off with the wind, Clonmel immediately knew it would be a torrid afternoon. Early pressure from the big, well-drilled home pack had Clonmel deep in their own “22” and it took good clearing kicks from Brian Lonergan to get the game back to halfway. It took Clonmel 10 minutes to make their first visit to the Tullamore half and then a terrific kick from Neville Melbourne took Clonmel into the home “22” but they then conceded the third of many penalties which didn’t help the Clonmel cause over the afternoon.

The game was now back in the Clonmel half and they found it difficult to relieve the siege because of a stuttering lineout which only served to increase the pressure. The home side were well orchestrated by their 9 and 10 axis - a nice backs move down their left pushed Clonmel back and the pressure told on 20 minutes when another penalty gave Tullamore a 3-0 lead. Clonmel now retaliated by driving into Tullamore’s “22” but again their lineout let them down and a sweeping Tullamore attack down the left had Clonmel desperately defending their line. Tullamore eventually barged over but were deemed to be held up. But the home team had possession and a period of intense pressure on Clonmel ensued. Another Tullamore penalty was kicked into the corner and the drive from the lineout finally got them in for the score on 31 minutes. 8-0 to the home side.

The Clonmel pack had to work very hard to keep the home team at bay and our spirits were lifted on 36 minutes when a great breakout by Tommy Barry brought play right into the Tullamore half – the ball was brought on by David Joyce but the move then broke down. The play then moved to halfway where it remained until half-time was whistled. The first half had seen Clonmel absorb a lot of pressure which resulted in the concession of eight penalties and the disruption at times of their lineout. But the score told us that we were still in this match. We had persevered against the odds.

As the second half developed Tullamore realised that the visitors hadn’t gone away – in fact they were much more in the game. Clonmel now strung some backs moves together which had Tullamore on the defensive and on 10 minutes a good charge by Barry had Clonmel down in the home left corner. Good work by Melbourne, Crosse and Corby now brought Clonmel almost to the line – the ball was now whisked left and Barry, who had initiated the move, finished it by crossing on 16 minutes. 8-5 to Tullamore. It was a much more equal contest now and we felt that the fitter team would persevere here. Mike Sheehan replaced Brendan Mullan on 18 minutes. Now it seemed that Clonmel were getting the upper hand and were stringing some good backs moves together. But how quickly fortunes change. A Tullamore penalty brought them deep into Clonmel territory and a sliced clearance kick by Clonmel was collected by the opposing fullback in midfield. Tullamore reacted instantly – they swung the ball right where Clonmel were light in numbers and a good run by their right winger brought him all the way to the line. Disaster! Against the run of play, Tullamore had now eased 13-5 ahead on 26 minutes. Clonmel now needed a converted try and a penalty with only 14 minutes on the clock.

John Kelly now came on for Ronan Crosse and Clonmel in desperation put moves together but Tullamore defended stoutly. The clock ticked down. On 34 minutes a kick ahead by Tullamore resulted in a race for the touchdown but fortunately Clonmel got there first. Clonmel tried bravely to beat both the opposition and the clock but it was the home team who now persevered in holding their lead. They hung on for the few vital minutes and the final whistle drew a line under Clonmel’s latest adventure. They will be the first to admit that Tullamore were the marginally better team over the course of the game but this experience will surely stand to a young team who have done us proud over the season. Their immediate task is to pick themselves up for next Sunday when we again face Crosshaven in the Munster Junior Cup at Ardgeeha. We hope to see the usual solid support that the team has enjoyed all season.