Clondalkin retained the Leinster North Midlands Hosie Cup with a single point victory over North Kildare in a windswept Kilkock on Saturday 28th March. Playing with the strong wind at their backs, Clon opened the scoring with a Matt Stapleton kick before North Kildare equalised with a penalty of their own. Unbeaten all season in League Division 2A, North Kildare had significant momentum coming into the tie and their greater concentration levels in the first half were evident when they ran a tap and go penalty and scored the first try of the game to extend their lead to 8 – 3. Almost immediately from the kick-off, Clondalkin were guilty of falling off a number of tackles and this allowed the home team to score a second try which went unconverted to bring their total to 13. Eventually stirred into a response, Clon showed good hands and James Kenny continued his impressive scoring form of late to break away from the side of a ruck and score the away sides first try, which went unconverted and left a 13 – 8 deficit at the break.
Facing the strong wind in the second half, Clon were penalised early on and the Kildare men extended their advantage to 16 points to 8. Keeping the ball to hand, Clon responded through a Stapleton try which he failed to convert but there was now only 3 points between the teams, 16 – 13. North Kildare extended this to 6 points with their second penalty of the half and then with 20 minutes remaining, Eoin Delaney was tackled short of the line after more good work from the backs but Seanie Brennan was on hand to cross the line. Facing into the stiff wind and from a wide angle, Matt Stapleton drove the conversion low and hard and between the posts to edge Clon in front for the first time in the game 19 – 20. North Kildare had the chance to edge back in front but missed a penalty kick and Clondalkin held on to claim the Hosie Cup for the second year running. The official man of the match was presented to James Kenny and honourable mentions should also go to the hard working second row pair of Seanie Brennan and Marcus Doyle.
Clondalkin 1st XV: Brian Doyle, James Kenny, Kevin Kelly, Marcus Doyle, Sean Brennan, Simon King (Capt.), Paul Nolan, Derek Glennon, Mark Molloy, Ben Foran, Eoin Delaney, David Jebb, Matt Stapleton, Niall Nolan, Barry Mulloy. Subs: Conor McCrea, Ciaran Cullen, Mikey Russell, Neil Finlay.
Clondalkin 2nds reached the 4th round of he 2nds Towns Cup with a high-scoring 44 vs 27 win at home against Carlow on Sunday 29th March. Despite windy and wet conditions, the ball was kept to hand by both teams and playing against the wind in the first half, tries from Steve Cunningham & Greg Dunne gave Clon a 17-6 lead at the break. An early Bobby Smith try in the second half, followed by a second each from both Cunningham and Dunne with a Colm Tighe effort in between gave Clon a total of 44 points which was enough to send them through to the next round, despite a late rally from Carlow which saw them cross the line 3 times in the second half. Final score 44 points to 27.
