Familiarity Breeds A Victory

One could so easily get depressed – oil prices going through the roof, the dollar going through the floor, inflation, interest rates and all the other “indicators” that govern our lives going in the wrong direction – but let’s look on the bright side – Clonmel are still in the Munster Junior Cup. When Crosshaven last visited Clonmel they stole the home side’s unbeaten record but if they envisaged another smash and grab last Sunday they were greatly mistaken. Having endured several disappointments in recent weeks Clonmel took the field with an obvious “to hell with this, enough is enough” attitude and, although without the ubiquitous John Stokes, delivered a spirited and imaginative performance that the visitors simply had no answer for.

When Clonmel kicked off with the wind it was the third meeting between the clubs in a matter of weeks but the familiarity didn’t extend to olive branches and the exchanges were immediately tough and uncompromising. No team likes playing with the wind in the first half – there’s too much pressure to put “money in the bank”, but Morgan Lyons made an early lodgement after just 2 minutes when his drop-kick sailed between the posts. 3-0 to Clonmel. Clonmel now used the elements and soon were again exerting pressure on the visitors “22”. It paid off on 6 minutes when Crosshaven conceded a penalty and an excellent kick by Conor Cooney put Clonmel 6-0 ahead. Crosshaven did respond with a few incursions into Clonmel’s half but found the home defence in very determined mood. The basics were being well worked by Paul McCarthy, Brendan Mullan and Mark Normile but the difference between the packs came from the understanding between Ronan Crosse and Neville Melbourne who put in a huge performance.

Scrumhalf John Long would also have a big influence on the game and his penetrating kick on 20 minutes had Crosshaven desperately defending. They lifted the siege but on 25 minutes Clonmel snaffled Crosshaven’s lineout, the ball was flung right along the line and Niall Grogan straightened with a strong burst to go in close to the posts. Lyons’ conversion put Clonmel 13-0 ahead. The bank balance was improving. But Crosshaven got a penalty from the drop-off and subjected Clonmel to a bout of pressure in their left corner. The siege was lifted and a good run by Cooney brought Clonmel back to the visitors half. On 34 minutes the visitors conceded another penalty on their right and another kick from the top drawer by Cooney put Clonmel 16-0 ahead. Crosshaven battled fiercely but the Clonmel lineout was working sweetly and the home team looked to attack at every opportunity. On 41 minutes Clonmel won another penalty and a mighty kick from Lyons put Clonmel 19-0 ahead as half-time sounded. The question was – was the bank balance healthy enough to defy Crosshaven and the wind in the second half?

An early second-half Crosshaven attack was stymied in midfield where the tackling of Barry and Grogan was significant. With only 4 minutes gone a kick by Cooney drove Crosshaven into their left corner. Clonmel then regained possession and good hands put the ball out on the left for Joyce to round the visitors defence and go over. 24-0 to Clonmel. But Crosshaven remained defiant and on 10 minutes they were back in Clonmel’s right corner where they launched several moves. Clonmel held them out for all of  six minutes but eventually Crosshaven swept the ball right and their No. 12 evaded the tackle to go under the posts. The conversion left the margin at 24-7 to Clonmel. From the restart Clonmel showed better tactical nous and for the next fifteen minutes kept the game in the visitors half.

But on 30 minutes Crosshaven got down to the Clonmel “22” and for the next eight minutes subjected the home side to enormous pressure near their own line. But Clonmel, driven on by captain John Long, Phil Corby and John Kelly, were heroic in defence and when they cleared their lines on 38 minutes they struck a massive psychological blow. This frayed tempers slightly and the visitors received a yellow card on 39 minutes. The game was now drawing to a close in Crosshaven’s half when scrumhalf John Long was mysteriously sin-binned. It didn’t matter – he had his stamp all over this game by that stage. Moments later the final whistle saw Clonmel back to winning ways and back to the type of committed, coherent game plan we had been accustomed to. It will put Clonmel in the frame of mind necessary when they meet Cork Constitution at Templehill next Sunday in the quarter-final. Clonmel have been here before – they’ll be ready for it.