Clondalkin seconds made up for the cancellation of the first team Hosie Cup final, with a convincing defeat of a strong Athy outfit in the Lalor final. Both games were due to be played in North Kildare but the frosty conditions seen both pitches deemed unplayable.
The game was relocated to Clondalkin and saw a tough physical encounter unfold. Athys second string have always provided fierce opposition and they got off to a solid start taking the lead 3-0 after ten minutes in. A bruising 20 minutes followed with Ciaran O Connor, Tom McGrath, Pat Australia, Colum Tighe and Bobby Smyth leading the way with their physicality.
With the forwards matching each other yard for yard, it was up to the backs to provide the difference. It was Alaric Collier who stepped up to the mark. The fullback had initially put in a poor kick but followed it up with a sickening hit on his opposite number. The hit was so good that many believed it couldn’t be legal and were not surprised to hear the refs whistle. However, it was just him ensuring the player received immediate medical attention after the bone jarring collision.
Clon then went on the ascendancy and looked set to register the first try of the game before John Nolan gifted them an intercept. The Athy centre had a good ten yards head start to the try line but appeared to give up running as soon as he seen Stevey Cunningham and Darragh Ward in chase. The Athy 10 then put a grubber kick through. The resulting chase saw Kev Kelly slide for the ball in a manner similar to a sack of spuds falling off the back of a lorry with the big prop static the moment he went to ground. Clon entered the break level and with an extra player after Athy had a man binned just before the half time whistle.
Dan Fitzpatricks half time team talk hammered home the importance of the next 10 minutes, and Clondalkin came out inspired. Big Matt and Pat Australia took it in turns to act as battering rams with Pat at one stage needing 6 Athy players to bring him to ground. Clons pressure eventually told with Ben Ten going in under the posts after some big plays from the Clon pack.
The 2nd try came via a Kevin Cullen steal at the lineout followed by a massive handover. Excellent phase play allowed Ben Ten go in under the post for a great team try.
Clon were starting to get into their groove when Kev Cullen decided it was time to unleash some bear flair with a tidy little side step followed by a delightful offload from the second row as he was brought to ground. The Polar Bear had given the people what they came to see, and so was withdrawn to be replaced by Hugh Curran who moments earlier had tweeted #anychanceofgettingon #mebirdandherdadcametoseemeplay.
Athy are known for their fighting spirit and started to come on strong after 60 minutes. Their cause was helped by Stevey Cunningham finding himself in the bin. The introduction of Ken McMahon bolstered the defensive effort, with the Facebook employee getting a lot of likes for his impact off the bench. Cunninghams reintroduction ensured there would be no comeback for Athy with his clearance kick almost going the length of the pitch before finding touch.
Clons forwards marched to the resulting lineout with purpose and came away with the ball. With Brian Berry directing things, they ground out the hard yards with Neil Finlay going over for the final score of the game.
Coach Dan Fitzpatrick was in flying form after the game and had this to say after Clon put their name on the cup for the third year running “I won this cup last year as a player and now I’m here as the coach. Legend”. Asked how he thought the guys would go for the rest of the season, he had this to say “When’s the Towns Cup final? Put that in your diary”.
The team owe a massive thanks to Kevin Laide, Sid Stapleton and Frank Lynam for a well organised presidents drinks afterwards. The night involved a kangaroo court which seen the treacherous Tom Duffy brought to justice for his stint at Newbridge and saw John Nolan going through his first gap of the day when he snook through an open door while the King of Clonmel John Walsh explained why he is a good friend to Neil Finlay. That’s a definite paddling for Nolan next Saturday.
The seconds will be looking to a big 2015. One other team that will be looking for silverware next year will be the over 35s with the core of today’s team all eligible. One such guy is Alaric Collier who had this to say about his standout performance today “My game was never about speed, so I’m not ageing the way Andy Dixon did”. It might take Ali longer to get out of bed in the mornings but it’s definitely taking more defenders to bring him down.
One downside to today was the first team game being called off. However, the positive is that it gives the players an extra weeks rest ahead of next weeks vital encounter with Ashbourne. Chris Brady-Jebb is one man who was looking fatigued after he reportedly spent 12 hours meticulously wrapping presents for his wife on Christmas Eve. Fair play Moe Syzlak!
Clondalkin J2: T McGrath, B Smith, K Kelly, K Cullen, C O’Connor, C Tighe, N Finlay, K McMahon, B Berry (Capt). S Cunningham, C Horan, J Nolan, P Hickey, D Ward, A Collier, Subs: M Waters, H Curran, K McMahon, L Sweetman, C Mahon.
Report courtesy of Derek Murtagh (last spotted leaving the country at 5am this morning…)
