Clondalkin RFC 3rd XV enjoyed a well deserved 32-22 victory away to Barnhall last Saturday. The thirds early season form has seen them regraded to a division higher but the higher standard of opposition the better they perform.
Clondalkin were without their talismatic captain Eoin Delaney and it was left to Derek Murtagh to fill the void. A number of late withdrawals also meant the starting team had to be rearranged with Jay Radcliffe returning to the front row in place of Paul Gifford junior and Jamie Kelly coming into the starting lineup in place of Anto Byrne, but none of these distractions were to impact on Clondalkins performance.
Clondalkin were keen to make an early impression in the new league and it was the hard tackling captain himself who set the tone, with his first hit of the game seeing the dangerous Barnhall centre knock on and exit the game injured. Clondalkin were awarded a scrum on the halfway line and outhalf Colin Lyons put a superb kick through to be chased up by the Clon backs. The Barnhall winger spilled the ball under pressure from Joey ‘The Model’ Lovett. This allowed the Mousey scoop the ball up and go one on one against the fullback demonstrating his powerful handoff for the first time in seven years, en route to the line.
Barnhall were getting away with deliberately slowing ball at the breakdown and Clondalkin were unfortunately coming out on the wrong side of the calls. This coupled with ill discipline meant further scores did not come their way in the opening 20. Both sides traded penalties to bring the score to 8-3. As halftime approached it was Mousey who rolled back the years, this time showing his famous step as he swerved between two dazzled Barnhall defenders before throwing on the turbochargers to go over for Clondaklins second and give them a 15-5 lead into the break.
The referee warned Clondalkin that a yellow card would be coming their way if the penalty count continued into the second half. Unfortunately the penalties continued and it was Murtagh who was given a team yellow. Barnhall made the most of this 10 minute period to bring the scores back level. However, once Clondalkin were back to 15 men it was to business and a James ‘Sinkie’ Murphy try put them back in front. Sink had recovered from a first half ankle injury, which had brought tears to the youngster’s eyes, to go in for his seventh try of the season.
The man described as the greatest of all time by Jonny Hips was having a quiet day at the office on his second game in near 15 years. However, Pat Haughton was just taking his time to remove the rust and he eventually clicked into gear on the 55 minute mark. The 6’5”, 22 stone number 8 took the ball from the base of the scrum on Clondalkins 10 metre line and swatted away the 6 and 8 before walking over the 10. This left Haughton one on one with the fullback on the 22 line. The Barnhalls defenders brave defensive effort acted as a speed bump to let a number of covering tacklers eventually bring Haughton to ground ten metres from the line.
With a number of broken bodies lying on top of him there was no way for the ball to emerge and Clon were awarded a scrum. Haughton moved into the number 10 roll for the move off the next scrum and the Barnhall defense lined up to repel his advance. However, Haughton was just a decoy for this move and Sinkie took a snipe down the blindside to set Ciaran Murphy in for a try for the ever developing winger. Clon were intent on closing the game in style and it was debutant Eoghan Murphy who scored the fifth a final try. The former Newbridge schools player showed his potential ondebut and will no doubt be pushing his brother Podge hard for a place in the first team by Christmas time. Barnhall got a consolation try with 4 minutes to play. Final score 32-22.
Next up for Clondalkin are league leaders Old Belverdere. A win here will see them sitting pretty going into the week off for captains dinner. Many will see Clon going into the game as favourites especially with captain Delaney and Luke Sweetman ready to return. It is some turnaround for pretty much the same bunch of players who went winless all last season. The return of Mousey and Haughton with the addition of Delaney and Sweetman has definitely strengthened the team but the performances of Stephen McCabe, Rae Connors, Sinkie and Ciaran Murphy have definitely been the story so far. The move to bring training back to the same nights as the first and seconds has transformed the guys with an air of positivity and unity flowing through the team. Coach Ken McMahon had this to say, “the code has changed, but for the best. The players are playing to their full potential and will be pushing hard for a place in the seconds in weeks to come”.
