Clonmel Ponder On What Might Have Been

“The only completely consistent people are the dead” - Aldous Huxley. The Clonmel team who trooped off the field after defeat in this final league game of the season were, thankfully, all still alive but many of them will rake over the coals of a season where a little inconsistency really killed off their hopes of a league title. Pandering to “what-if’s” is dangerous territory but only a few weeks ago we still thought we would run out against Crosshaven to decide the league. In the meantime a few results for the other contenders really shut out even a mathematical chance of Clonmel making history by taking the crown. Thus last Sunday when the other three contenders, Cashel, Skibereen and Crosshaven were playing for the title, Clonmel had to assume the role of bridesmaid. Perhaps this role confused them or perhaps the realisation that they had come up just short unsettled them because this was not a focused performance by the home team. More likely they had consigned the league to the “out” tray and were already thinking of two massive cup games in the offing.

Crosshaven kicked off with the benefit off a stiff wind which would definitely influence the game and were immediately lodged in Clonmel’s “22” but a penalty on just 4 minutes saw scrumhalf John Long make a terrific run down the field which almost got him to the line but the visitors scrambled clear. The forwards exchanges were tough and very even and 10 minutes had gone before Clonmel put another backs move together which resulted in a penalty. A great kick into the wind by Morgan Lyons put Clonmel 3-0 ahead after 11 minutes. But the Crosshaven No. 10 gave a fine demonstration of how to use the elements and kept his pack going forward – Clonmel had to pull down a driving maul on 12 minutes and the same No. 10 put Crosshaven level at 3-3. Clonmel had to work very hard to keep the visitors at bay and they were well served by John Long, John Stokes and Phil Corby. Crosshaven’s weakness seemed to be the lack of cutting edge in their back unit but their pack worked very hard and their pressure told on 24 minutes when another penalty allowed them to go 6-3 ahead.

The visitors’ outhalf continued to dictate field position, pinning Clonmel back and forcing tackle after tackle from Mark Normile and John Kelly. Clonmel’s efforts to lift the siege were not helped by a lineout that was not firing on all cylinders, resulting in a lot of trench warfare on the ground. Crosshaven now missed another penalty chance while Clonmel had two penalty opportunities which they opted to run but both moves broke down. Just before half-time Clonmel, with Tommy Barry and Niall Grogan working hard in midfield, put a good backs move together which culminated in a drop-goal effort by Lyons which went narrowly wide. Still, we were happy enough when half-time saw us only 3-6 in arrears. Surely we would turn the screw in the second half when the wind blew on our backs.

The second half opened just as we expected – Clonmel went straight into Crosshaven territory and a flowing backs move to the left wing was stopped just short. A quick recycle saw the ball transferred over to the right wing where David Joyce beat his marker to go over in the corner. Lyons’ missed conversion left Clonmel 8-6 ahead. Clonmel had the backs to do the damage – we anticipated more tries. But that was as good as it got. Clonmel seemed to lose focus, piled trouble on themselves through a litany of errors and forgot that the wind was behind them. Clonmel now coughed up four penalties in quick succession and were fortunate that the visitors’ outhalf, so sure-footed in the first period, pulled two kicks wide. But the game, amazingly, was being played in Clonmel’s half and another transgression on 14 minutes gave Crosshaven another chance which they didn’t miss. 9-8 to the visitors. Clonmel’s indiscipline was proving costly.

The game now settled into a battle for inches of ground in midfield – this suited the visitors and baffled the home support who knew that Clonmel had the firepower out wide to decide this match. In truth the game was being played according to the visitor’s game plan – an open game would have seen Clonmel run riot but it just didn’t happen. More errors on 34 minutes saw Clonmel forced back into their right corner and the battle to keep out the visitors saw Paudge Leahy receiving a yellow card. Matters were becoming decidedly tetchy and on 36 minutes the Crosshaven No. 5 and captain joined Leahy in the sin-bin. But Clonmel were still in their own “22” and on 38 minutes conceded another penalty which Crosshaven gratefully accepted to go 12-8 ahead. It looked hopeless.

But now Clonmel at last roused themselves and some fine running by Conor Cooney, John Long and Niall Grogan, backed up by the pack, kept the ball alive as they went deep into Crosshaven’s “22” – could we snatch it? Alas, Crosshaven turned the ball over and lifted the siege. The final whistle brought the curtain down on what was a fine league campaign by a committed bunch of players. It’s not so long ago that we were hanging on by our finger-nails each season – now we’re expecting to win the league – things have changed a lot for the better. Next Sunday sees another milestone when we travel to Tullamore to take them on in the All-Ireland Junior Cup semi-final. The team would really appreciate a big turnout of the Clonmel support.