Following on from their Lalor Cup triumph, Clondalkin 2nds gave their most satisfying league performance of the season against a strong Suttonians side in Gordon Park, Sunday 18th January. Out to avenge a 2 point defeat by the same opponents in October, Clon were immediately put on the defensive and for the first 30 minutes of the game they held a solid line, most of the time in their own 22. The forward pack must take huge credit for this effort as their aggression at the breakdown forced a number of key turnovers and Suttonians were unable to convert the few penalty chances that came their way. After 33 minutes, the first decent spell of possession saw Steve Cunningham score a try, which he converted and followed by 2 successful penalties, Clon went into the break 13-0 up, despite having been starved of possession for the majority of that half.
Continuing where they left off into the second half, the home side capitalised on a tiring Suttonians outfit to record two further tries, from Tom McGrath and Marcus Doyle, both of whom came off a solid lineout platform. The game closed out 25 points to 0 for Clondalkin – a first rate performance from the home team with the defensive effort particularly worthy of mention in keeping a Suttonians side scoreless for the first time this season. The performance lifts Clon ahead of Monkstown and Cill Dara in the table and with a game in hand against Dundalk to come, they are aiming for a strong finish to the season.
Clondalkin J2: T McGrath, J Kenny, H Curran, K Cullen, M Walsh, C Tigue, L Sweetman, C O’Connor, B Berry, S Cunningham, K Horan, J Nolan, A Dixon, D Ward, A Tyndall. Subs: G Geoghegan, K McMahon, M Waters, P Fitzgerald, L Beresford.
Clondalkin 1sts went down 15 v 27 to the same opposition where despite a dominant scrum and a purple patch in the second half where they scored 3 tries, they were outplayed by Suttonians for the majority of the game and missed out on a losing bonus point by conceding a try in the last play of the match. Leinster League Division 1A action takes a break for a number of weeks with the 1st round of the Provincial Towns Cup against Boyne RFC, taking place in Drogheda on Sunday 25th, 2.30pm. All support welcome.
