Clondalkin seconds pre-season kicked up another with a battling 24-5 victory over a tough Edenderry first team. The Friday night lights game allowed for a number of players to put their hands up for selection for both the firsts and seconds team ahead of the league next Sunday. A few weeks ago the seconds team were expected to struggle with a number of high profile retirements from last season’s squad but the integration of the third team panel into training has given the club as a whole an added boost.
Edenderry firsts presented formidable opposition and are fancied to gain promotion into Division 1B this year. They got off to the better start of the two teams with their huge pack forcing Clondalkin to make lots of tackles. Clons pack were up to the challenge with hits from Marcus Doyle, Karl Jebb, Straightjacket McKenna and Darren Moore all registering on the Richter scales. It took a while for Clondalkin to settle into the game and they were eventually afforded some possession after front rows James Jenny, John Allen Glynn and Kevin Dunphy got the drive against the Edenderry scrum. This forced their 8 to scramble the ball at the back and allowed Karl Jebb pounce and rip the ball from the 8’s grasp. Not happy with the rip Jebb turned his attention towards the outhalf and ran straight over him before making 30 yards and lifting the initial siege.
Clondalkin now hard territory and the lineout was functioning well with Patrick Adeleye looking more comfortable in the air as the weeks go by. Clon spread the ball wide to Italian heartthrob Massimo Scaramella who was fouled after putting in a kick over the top. Clon were awarded a penalty on the 22 and opted to go the corner. The Doyle showed his leadership skills calling the ball to himself and the resulting maul allowed Karl Jebb barge over for the first try of the game.
Edenderry must have seen this as a blip in their defence and came back at Clondalkin hard with Stevo Cunnigham, James and The Butcher Beresford manning up in defence. Darren Madden in particular stood out in defence registering hit after hit at 12. As the game neared half time it appeared that Clon would go in 5-0 up and then a moment of magic from Scaramella saw the 2015 World Hide and Seek champion round three would be tacklers on his way to the line.
Clon entered the break 10-0 up and left Edenderry a huge mountain to climb. Coach Phily Byrne demonstrated Clondalkins strength in depth replacing the front row with Conor Caslin, Dar Dar Madden and Connacht Junior cap Paul McCreanor being introduced. He also made a switch at scrum half to allow the returning Eoin Brady put his hand up for selection and removed James ‘Sinkie’ Murphy who put in another solid stint at 9.
The other replacement was third team captain Eoin Delaney coming in for hard running Colin Lyons. Delaney’s parted the Edenderry with his first touch of the ball and went in under the posts unchallenged. Clon were now 17-0 in front and began putting Edenderry under pressure all over the park. Coach Byrne decided to give Hugh McKenna, Rae Conners, Ian Murphy and Derek Murtagh a chance to put their hands up for inclusion in the second team squad for next week. This raft of changes had an unsettling effect on the Clondalkin defence and Edenderry capitalised by crossing within two minutes of the changes.
If Derry thought they had a chance of coming back into the game, this was quickly snuffed out at the restart with Derek Murtagh registering a seismic hit on the Edenderry number 8 with the referee calling the game to a halt to check on the health of the ball carrier who was left lying prone on the ground. Clon were awarded a scrum on the Edenderry 22 and a powerful carry from The Doyle forced Edenderry’s scramble defence into overdrive. Unfortunately the Clondalkin forwards did not get their in time to support their leader and he was turned over and Edenderry cleared their lines.
With the game entering the final few minutes the fresh legs of Hugh McKenna, Ian Murphy and Rae Connors came into their own. The trio combined with a series of offloads which set Paul McCreanor in space just inside the Edenderry 22. The Mayo native ran for the line, like his countymen will be running for the M4 after they lose to Dublin this Sunday, barging any would be opposition out of the way. Final score 24-7.
Clondalkin can be happy with how their preseason went this year with fitness coach Andy Phelan delivering the teams to the start of the league campaign primed and ready like no other season before. This coupled with the hard work put in by coaches John Bagnall, Philip Byrne, Ciaran Cullen developing the game plan and nurturing strength in depth across the club not to mention the effort of the players will see all of Clondalkin’s teams being formidable opponents this season.
It’s a busy weekend next weekend with the thirds at home to Mary’s on Saturday at 3.00 while the firsts and seconds are away to Suttonians on Sunday. Make sure to get out and support your club.
(thanks to Murts)
