Clondalkin (47) vs Athy (11)

Leinster League Division 2
Article entirely by Jonny Stapleton


Clondalkin stole the initiative in the Leinster League Division 2 promotion race with a sensational try scoring display in Gordon Park last Sunday. The first string popped the cork and produced, for the first time this season, rugby of the champagne kind to move into second ahead of their nearest rivals and next opponents Ashbourne on points difference. However despite the fact rugby bubbly was flowing to ensure an eight score salvo, which included a Steve Cunningham hat trick, the hosts refrained from over celebrating as realisation of their promotion dream is still at least four games away.

Athy handed Clon the early initiative via their indiscipline in the early exchanges as a penalty conceded in each of the opening five minutes gifted the hosts territory aswell as 3-0 lead via the boot for Chris Jebb. The visitors paid further penance for the rugby discrepancies when minutes later another penalty, which this time was aimed down the line rather than towards the posts, resulted the first of eight home touch downs. Clon caught and mauled the subsequent line-out and before Brian Doyle, after recommendation form scrum half Mark Molloy, broke from the tail to dive over unchallenged.

Moments after he had produced a Carlos Spencer style dummy, Doyle’s front row partner, Ciaran Cullen, scored a similar effort, differentiated only by the stylish finish, touching down after a smart draw and give by centre Ronan Murphy to make it 13-0.

At this stage Clon were dominating in ever facet. Their scrum was strong and the line out, as per usual, exceptional. The only thing Athy were leading in was the penalty concession count. They lead 16-5 on the misdemeanour score board a fact their coach and stat man let be know to the referee after Jebb missed a chance to make it 16-0.

Once the visitors tidied up their act they began to make inroads into the home half and reduced the deficit to ten. But the hosts reprieve was only temporary and in truth if Gordon Park natives were a little more ruthless in their finishing the could have register a bonus point before the turn. Niall Nolan and Simon King came closest but it remained 13-3 at the turn.

To their credit Athy did rally after the break and prevented Clondalkin from getting their hands on the ball directly after the turn. The visiting pressure eventually yielded but strong home tackling ensured it did so only in the form of a penalty. And when Cunningham pounced on an fortunate bounce from a Molloy kick moments latter the result was all but assured.

Captain Dan Fitzpatrick nearly registered the bonus point effort moments latter with his customary bull dozing charge but despite leaving pile of Athy rubble in his wake he was unable to touch down.

A problem Cunningham didn’t have minutes latter. The St Judes man consulted his GAA roots to catch another punt forward after two bone crunching hits from Murphy to make it 27-6. Clon were cruising at this stage and marshalled Alan Hickey began to turn on the style. The ran at ever opportunity and began to tear their opponents apart.

Not happy with the aesthetically pleasing nature of their beautiful attacking play Paul Nolan, Fitzpatrick and Simon King ensured their some wincing moments for the less romantic fan of the uglier side of rugby to enjoy. Nolan in particular registered one groan inducing hit that almost won the approval of Ray Kelly.

Although they were dishing out tackles Clon were rarely in receipt of them a fact Molloy took full advantage of to further extend the home lead. The scrum half touching down under the posts after a slalom like run that would have been at home at the recent winter Olympics. The scoring didn’t stop there though and moments after Athy touched down to make it 35-11 Cunningham registered, much to his delight, his first career hat-trick.

But the hosts save the best to last and registered a try of the season contender right at the death. Alan Hickey decided to move the ball deep in his own 22 and after substitute Gaz Donnelly raced past three would be tacklers before off loading to King on the half way line. The combative flanker could have moved the ball but elected to go for the line and via two wonderful side steps and a dummy earned his right to swan dive and touch down under the posts.

Coach Paul 'Hitch' Haycock was mildly pleased with the result and was keen to put the game into perspective. He told clondalkinrugby.com "The lads played well today but they did make a good few mistakes that need to be ironed out before next weekends Towns Cup game in Wicklow. We have a massive month of rugby ahead starting this Sunday coming". A number of clondalkin players thought they would be getting rested this coming weekend but Hitch had this to say to them after they quizzed him on why they wont be getting the break they were promised "Never trust a man with a moustache".

Added by Murts March 10, 2010 (6:02PM)

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