Women’s Team Beat Gorey in Performance of the Season
Back in October, Gorey capitalised on a Clondalkin team having lost a number of key players to injury only the week before. Consistent and efficient rugby from Gorey inflicted a crushing whitewash on the Clonettes. The return fixture in Gordon Park on Sunday was rightly perceived as a huge challenge but also an opportunity to make amends.
Clondalkin kicked off and applied some early pressure but Gorey were very unlucky to lose a prop in the first two minutes with an awkward landing under a high ball. The first ten minutes was mostly Clondalkin possession with some good carrying by forwards like S.J. Masterson and rookie Dawn Keegan. That early pressure was rewarded when clean passing by the backline in Gorey’s 22 drew a penalty close to the sticks. Outhalf Ailbhe O’Nolan duly converted.
It wasn’t long before another backline move allowed centre Sara Phelan a run along the touchline, beating 3 defenders to touch down in the far corner. The tight angle on the conversion proved too difficult but Clondalkin had taken the upper hand. Gorey began to get into the game from there, with some fluid passing and managed to break the defensive line on a number of occasions. Thankfully, full back Nicola Smyth was live to the danger and put in a string of excellent tackles to end these Gorey attacks. Eventually however Gorey’s persistence was rewarded when clever support play and quick passing allowed them to score in the near corner. The conversion proved too difficult but Gorey were back in the game. In an uncharacteristic rush of blood to the head, Clondalkin then saw second row Emma Lewis red carded on the stroke of halftime when growing tensions with Gorey’s scrum half boiled over.
It wasn’t long until Gorey made the most of their one woman advantage and took the lead early in the second half through another persistent attack resulting in a try. The conversion again was too difficult. Two points and a player down, it was beginning to look like an uphill battle for the Clonettes but they rallied. An obvious willingness to carry by all 15 yellow shirts in attack and some excellent tackles by scrum half Niamh Farrelly and flanker Naomi Fynes, particularly off the scrum, shut down a number of Gorey attacks and kept Clondalkin in the game. It wasn’t long before a backline move allowed Sara Phelan to break through for her second of the day and Clondalkin retook the lead.
With wet conditions and clever kicking forcing knock-on’s from both sides and minor infractions being penalised quite readily, possession changed hands frequently. Clondalkin began to see the better of it though. Persistent infringements by Gorey ultimately led to their 13 being sinned binned. Penalties in the 22 gave on field Captain Fiona Tighe chances to run at the Gorey defence and when that proved impenetrable, she took the option to kick to the corner. The pressure was ultimately rewarded with a penalty but injury affected Ailbhe O’Nolan was unable to convert. It could have proven to be a wasted opportunity to open up the lead when Gorey found themselves within meters of the Clondalkin try line moments later but disciplined defensive work eventually prompted a knock on.
The closeness of the game was beginning to tell on supporters and replacements as we went into the final fifteen minutes. Both sides battled for a breakthrough and when Clondalkin knocked on in the Gorey 22 it seemed to be another fruitless attack. Excellent work by Hooker Caroline Conway however won back the resultant scrum and ultimately, with vocal support on her outside causing enough of a distraction, outhalf Ailbhe O’Nolan stepped inside and dived over the line. She then added the extra’s to make it 20-10. There was still time for more Gorey attacks but eventually a fantastic turnover at the ruck, again by Naomi Fynes secured possession for the Clonettes and the final whistle followed when the ball was sent into touch.
(with thanks to AnneMarie).
