El Dorado Just Eludes Clonmel

Disappointment can come in various degrees depending on one’s circumstances. Discovering that the Betty Ford Clinic had no bar would surely upset some while receiving (yet again) socks for Christmas from Aunt Sally would be very disappointing. But let’s get to real, gut-wrenching disappointment as Clonmel felt at the conclusion of the Heineken Munster Junior Challenge Cup Final at Fermoy last Sunday when Crosshaven, probably much to their own surprise, took the cup. Clonmel’s disappointment hung on losing in their first ever appearance in a Munster Cup final, their disappointment at being on the wrong end of such a ridiculous score, the pain of their part in a match where clearly the better team lost. This is not a partisan comment – had we had the benefit of Sky Sports technology it would clearly have shown that Clonmel had about 95% of the possession and territory in the first half while probably having 75% - 80% of same over the course of the game. Somehow, in spite of all that, we left the cup behind us.

Clonmel had kicked off on a perfect day for rugby and immediately got in among Crosshaven to give Morgan Lyons an early drop-goal attempt which drifted wide. But Clonmel had made a very lively start and we waited in anticipation of the opening score. We would wait. On 5 minutes a Crosshaven kick brought them momentarily into the Clonmel half but it was instantly cleared. They would not visit again until the 35th minute such was Clonmel’s domination. In the meantime a Niall Grogan burst almost undid the Crosshaven defence while Phil Corby and John Kelly were rampant around the field. On 20 minutes Morgan Lyons had the luxury of another drop-goal attempt which also sailed wide. We weren’t bothered, we were in command of this game. But when two penalty kicks by Daniel Lyons, on 21 and 28 minutes narrowly missed, a hint of concern entered our psyche. Clonmel were clearly on top, with their pack bullying the opposition, but the overly-coreographed lineout was having problems and not delivering the required quality ball.

We were somewhat nonplussed when the half-time whistle also recorded a 0-0 scoreline. A quick review of the half would tell us that Clonmel had enough ball to win several games but would also tell us that we had not used the ball to full effect and had asked the pack to work in every area of the field. The basic lessons tell us to “clear the lines” when in one’s own “22” and play rugby in the opposition “22” – we had lived in the opposition “22” for almost 40 minutes but obviously didn’t play enough rugby to breach their line. But we still felt confident that we would win this game. Clonmel again started the second half in sprightly fashion but a Crosshaven penalty on 5 minutes brought them into Clonmel’s half and gave them the chance to exert some serious pressure which had Clonmle frantically defending their line. Clonmel held out but conceded a decent penalty chance to Crosshaven which they squandered. Story of the day.

On 12 minutes Clonmel lifted the siege and Crosshaven would not threaten their line again. Ronan Crosse and Mike Sheehan now came on for Brendan Mullan and John Kelly and Clonmel continued to dominate. Still, with 57 minutes gone, the scoreboard remained stubbornly blank. Unbelievable. Then, on 58 minutes, Clonmel drove Crosshaven off their own ball and got the penalty – again it slid by the posts. Two minutes later Clonmel repeated the dose – another penalty chance – again it was just wide. On 25 minutes the play came into Clonmel’s half – Clonmel regained possession but were adjudged to be “crossing” by the referee and this time the Crosshaven No. 10 put an excellent kick between the posts. 3-0 to Crosshaven with 15 minutes remaining. Talk about “against the run of play”! – we’ll have to come up with a new phrase.

Clonmel now upped the tempo in desperation, bringing Tommy Barry more into affairs in the centre, but a couple of good backs moves were spoiled by fouling the ball at critical moments. The huge Clonmel support couldn’t believe what was unfolding. The clock was now against Clonmel but they kept up the pace – 3 points would bring extra time and perhaps salvation. A drop-goal attempt by Morgan Lyons on 40 minutes was just wide. But Clonmel regained possession and the backs made one last attack down the right but it broke down and the referee’s final whistle slammed the door on their hopes. It’s still difficult to explain how the team which played all the rugby came away empty-handed but sport is littered with such tales. But this team has done us proud and can hold it’s head high. They ain’t finished yet. Next Saturday they face Boyne in Drogheda in the All-Ireland Challenge Cup. Another first, another milestone.  New Year, new territory. Remember, Munster didn’t do it first time either. Now there’s a bunch who could describe disappointment and it wouldn’t be about socks.