2nds make it 13 in a row

Provisional Seconds Leinster League
Gorey 5 vs Clondalkin 35
Jonny Stapleton




























Conor Steed gets a little carried away and runs onto the pitch in support of Peter Fiztgerald

Clondalkin seconds celebrated an amazing thirteenth straight win last Sunday but had their victory party ruined after a bonus point Athy victory in Ashbourne left them a single point short of league glory. Under the stewardship of Kevin Cullen the sensational second string did all they could to claim the clubs first seconds league title in over 10 years but their was an air of unlucky 13 about the Easter Sunday win as it couldn’t bring a deserved championship medal .

Despite the loss however captain Cullen was upbeat and proud come full time “You can not be disappointed after that season. We have won thirteen games on the trot and we done all we could to win the league. I couldn’t have asked anything more of the team they have been great all year. We might not have won the title in the end but we played great rugby and we were in contention right up and until the last game of the season.”

A tag team tackle from Paul Hickey and Conor Caslin from the drop off set the tone for a Clondalkin side aware they were in need of a bonus point win if they had any chance of winning the league. Further crashing hard hits from Ray Kelly suggested if Clon were not going to win the league title war they certainly were not going to loose Sunday’s battle against Gorey. And after a hard hitting forward dominated start winger Dave Behan opened the scoring via the same move that gave Clon the lead in their last three games. The winger ran a sweet line off Dave Gaule to finish under the posts after a maul that more ran than rumbled its way in the opposition 22. Gaule added the extras and it was a case of one down three to go for the visitors.

Two tyrannosaurs rex style tackles, hits full of power but without sufficient arms, saw the brilliant Kelly sent to the bin for his rugby misdemeanours but the binning couldn’t prevent Clon from dominating. Caslin and Hickey ensured the back row was not lacking, while Finbarr Butler again impressed upfront and despite the man disadvantage Clon increased their advantage to ten via a Gaule penalty. The hosts were under so much pressure they made three changes with just 20 minutes gone but the reinforcements couldn’t prevent probably the greatest Clondalkin second team from furthering their lead.

A move that started with left winger Peter Fitzgerald fielding a high ball ended up with right winger Dave Behan gathering his own kick a head to score yet again. Try machine, Behan was soon registering his third of the tie and his sixteenth in twelve games to make it 23-0. This time a brilliant break by the versatile James Kenny enabled the ’Dream Boat’ Behan to sail home unchallenged. The hosts did enjoy a spell of possession but Ali Collier and John Nolan amongst others ensured it didn’t yield any scores.

Clondalkin’s strength and deptt was highlighted by the fact the could call on the likes of Simon Cuminsky at half time. The prolific number eight had an immediate impact and inspired a break from Ken McMahon which fell down at the last minute. But it wasn’t long before the host extended their lead and registered the targeted bonus point fourth albeit via the most unlikeliest sources. Ollie Megraw, who was denied a spectacular effort two weeks ago, held onto the ball at the tail of a brilliant maul to follow in the prolific Behan’s scoring footsteps scoring his second try in 178 senior games. At that point that Clon looked like they were going to go on and register a record scoreline but indiscipline prevented them from running riot.

The visitors bad ruck behaviour also enabled the hosts to register a unexpected try to lead it 28-5 with 15 minutes to go. Clon did up the tempo once more and after giving a debut to fourth team sensation Eammon Hughes and re introducing long term injury absenteeism Brian Berry started to dominate again. Normal business was eventually restored as the seconds finished off the season in style with a fabulous try. A move that started on the Clondalkin line with Dave Gaule and had telling contributions from Collier and Lee Beresford was finished off by speedster Peter Fitzgerald.
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Added by Murts April 8, 2010 (1:47PM)

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