Clondalkin Vs Mullingar

Leinster League Division 1

Mullingar 6

Clondalkin 11

CLONDALKIN U-19s booked a prestigious Leinster Final berth via another fine team performance in Mullingar last Saturday.

The underage side repeated their North Midlands semi-final heroics and ensured a second final place after a tight, tense and highly entertaining encounter.

The current U-19 crop became only the second team in the clubs history to make the decider and are now in with a chance of registering an unprecedented league and cup double.

Out-half Eoin Murphy registered all of the sides 11 points, touching down for a try and kicking two penalties, but the win was born out of a group rather than individual effort.

“We knew everyone would have to perform well for us to get to the final and that was the case,” Captain Bobby Smith explained.

“From one to 15, we were great today. We didn’t miss any tackles and we were ruthless when we needed to be. Now we are just two wins away from doing what no other team in the club has done and winning league and cup medals.”

Meanwhile club captain Dan Fitzpatrick scored a superb last ditch try to secure the first team’s ninth away win of the season on the same ground on Saturday.

The big lock crossed the whitewash in the dying embers of the game to keep the Gordon park side’s title ambitions alight.

Fitzpatrick collected the ball 22 yards out after the pack had rumbled their way up the pitch and powered his way over the line in the last minute.

Clondalkin now sit in second place with a game in hand over top team Longford and third place Ashbourne after the 18-15 win over Mullingar.

Speaking after the game, Fitzpatrick was delighted the club’s elite outfit managed to claim the win despite performing below bar.

“Winning when you don’t play too well is the mark of a good side. We managed to that today. Mullingar really tested us but we proved our title credentials. We wanted to be in contention at this stage of the season and that is the case. We have a run of home games coming up and if we can win them we have every chance of going up to Division 1.”

Elsewhere tries from Alan O’Brien, Paul Sexton and Ben Watson saw the third string register their first league win of the season in Gordon Park on Saturday.

The hosts, who have been unfortunate with close defeats of late, managed a 21-3 win over high flying Bective in the J4 Section A side.

The club’s second and fourth’s side recent run of bad form continued however as they suffered disappointing reveres against Mullingar and Stillorgan respectively.

Added by admin February 21, 2011 (3:58PM)

This article hasn't been commented yet.

Have a comment? Please register