Munster Junior League – Div 1

Clonmel needed to win this win!!

When a team is doing so well for so long and then suffers two successive defeats it is acceptable that the team, its support staff, and some of the supporters begin to ask questions about themselves, and about whether they are truly deserving of the praise and accolades trusted upon them. By 4.20pm on Sunday 23rd December the Clonmel 1st XV that took the field against Clanwilliam in the Munster Junior League answered these questions with flying colours. The team, with many enforced positional and personnel changes due to injuries and holidays, demonstrated that they are capable of getting back to their winning ways.

The two John Longs, John Long captain, and John Long scrumhalf, rallied the forwards and backs around them respectively and led by example from start to finish in this often tough and close encounter. Both the positional changes and additions to the team will certainly cause a lot of debate among the selectors over the coming week, especially with Tommy Barry, Brian Lonergan, Conor Cooney, Mark Normile and John Kelly playing so well.

Clonmel started off well and dominated the first eight minutes of the game, then an unforced error gave the advantage to Clanwilliam who crossed the line for an easy try. Apart from a penalty twelve minutes into the second half this was Clanwilliam’s only score of the game. However it took Clonmel a long time to recover from this setback, and it was not until the twenty-fifth minute that a tremendous defensive tackle by John Kelly led to a turnaround for Clonmel. John Long, scrum half made most of the advantage, broke through a number of Clanwilliam tackles, chipped over the oncoming Clanwilliam centres to chase the ball himself. The ensuing high tackle on Long resulted in Conor Cooney successfully converting the penalty to close the gap to two points.

Then in the 31st and 38th minutes of the first half, owning to the excellent platforms set up by the forwards and the brilliant distribution of the ball from Tommy Barry, Brian Lonergan was over for two tries. Cooney converted one of these tries leaving the score at halftime Clonmel 15, Clanwilliam 5.

It was Clanwilliam that started off the better in the second half. A lot of the first twenty minutes was played between the 22s. It was only then that Clonmel got the upper hand and were rewarded with a penalty. The penalty shot hit the upright, and the ever-alert John Long (the smaller) pounced over the line for a touch down. However, the referee did not agree that the ball was grounded properly and disallowed the try. This set-back did not deter Clonmel’s onslaught and within another minute Tommy Barry was over for a well deserved try.

Clonmel were now determined not to leave the field of play without getting the precious bonus point. Wave after wave of Clonmel attacks led to Brendan Leo scoring a try in the left corner in the third minute of injury time. This well deserved try capped an excellent Clonmel team performance of backs and forwards working together.

Finally, we wish a very happy Christmas and New Year to all players at all levels, all members of the club, all the loyal supporters throughout the season, to the coaches and back room staff, and to the anchors in the club that make us think from time to time.