Clonmel Keep Clean Sheet In Gleeson League

Clonmel 2nd XV travelled to Thurles on Sunday to keep their ambition of finishing strong in the Gleeson League alive. With the 1st XV playing at home in another important league fixture, we were minus a few key players but some old recruits were drafted in to strengthen this team. Thurles kicked off the first half but Clonmel gathered and drove up the field with a run by Paul Purcell who was then tackled and the resulting ball turned over. From this, Thurles came back down field and were awarded a penalty in a kickable position, but Clonmel were let off as the resulting penalty went wide of the posts. Clonmel stepped up a gear from this wake up call, and the forwards drove up to the half way line. From the resulting ruck, Clonmel’s backs constructed there first move of the day which saw Gerry Purcell send the ball out wide to inside centre Paul Purcell who in turn off loaded to John McCarthy to go over for the first try of the day. Paul Purcell added the conversion from the side line to go 7 – 0 up.

Clonmel were on top of Thurles now, and from the kick off, the forwards drove up field at every opportunity. Tom Fennessey and Conal Crosse were making hard yards in the middle of the field and centres Purcell and Curran were causing problems for the Thurles backs. Half an hour in and Clonmel were awarded a scum because of a Thurles knock on. From this, Gerry Purcell who saw the Thurles full back out of position, chipped over the top and Aaron Curran gathered the loose ball to off-load to Gus Slattery to go in for the second try of the day. The conversion was missed but Clonmel went in to half time 12 – 0.

Clonmel kicked off the second half down field, and this half resulted in a more free flowing game. Richie Gleeson’s lineouts were finding the target each time and the forwards built on this which Thurles couldn’t control. The backs were now able to create more chances and put Morgan Ryan and Paddy O Donnell down the line for some great runs only to be tackled in to touch. Thurles cleared their “22” and found touch at half way. From the line-out, Clonmel drove the Thurles forwards back down to their five metre line and the ball was spread wide by scum half John Dillon through the backs and Morgan Lyons was tackled just short of the line. Steveo Clearly and Gav O Dea kept the pressure on to keep the ball alive and a break down the blind side of a maul by Tom Fennessey resulted in Clonmel’s third try of the day. The conversion was missed by Purcell but he was redeemed when he landed a penalty in front of the posts just five minutes later. This put Clonmel in to a commanding lead 20 - nil and they never looked back. Thurles tried for a consolation score at the end with constant pressure but Clonmel’s defence held out with some great tackles and finished with a clean sheet away from home. The next fixture sees the 2nd XV away to Carrick in the Evans League.