Delayed Article: Clondalkin (25) vs Barnhall (18)

J5 League

Article by Jonny Stapleton

Clondalkin fourths most recent nail biting league encounter in Gordon Park last Sunday produced a finish more dramatic than anything Hollywood has ever produced.

Jonathan Edgewards played the Oscar winning role as he finished off a sensational move that started on the Clon try line to snatch victory for the hosts in stylish fashion right at the death.

After they threw away a 17 point advantage disappointing draw stared Clon in the face when the referee informed them a penalty on their five was to be the last play of the game.

Instead of settling for the draw the home side, whose guts and fight have been on display throughout the season, didn’t even bother with a risk reward evaluation and immediately elected to tap and go.

There was too much skill involved to say fortune favoured the brave but Clons daring was rewarded as they converted a true try of the season contender.

The inspirational Conor Maloney carried first and after quick recycled ball fellow prop Conor McAuley elected against taking it into contact at the last minute and fed the back line after a pirouetting pass.

Paddy Lawlor and Peter Fitzgerald excuted perfect draw and gives to send flyer Eamon Hughes racing free. The pace laden full back, who is having a huge impact in his first ever rugby season, then set off for the line. To the sidelines shock Hughes’ 60 yard dash was halted on the opposition 22. However, ‘Joxer’ Edgewards ensured celebrations were postponed not terminated when he popped on his team-mates shoulder to ensure Clondalkin completed the double over the senior side.

It was more than Clondalkin deserved after dominating the majority of yet another keenly contested J5 tie. Off field wing men Lawlor and Fitzgerald proved their combined efforts can produce scores on the field of play as well as the night club. This time it was the brilliant Fitzgerald who got lucky scoring twice. The former first team winger first took a lovely line off a soft Lawlor pass splitting the centres to touch down under the posts. Fitzgerald then made it 12-0 benefiting from a clever Lawlor grubber to beat the visiting defence. The pack ensured Clon’s dominance was reflected on the score board when scrum half Darragh Ward and Kenny, who produced a brilliant dummy, combined down the blind.

It was a well deserved forward score and a touch down the front eight deserved. Via the likes of Alan Murphy, Brennan, Maloney and the diminutive yet lion hearted Kev Dunphy they out shone their Barnhall counterparts. In control and comfortable and leading from the off for the first time this season Clon looked set for their first simply straight forward victory. But tension has been a main stay of the Gordon Park side’s ties and you could have been forgiven for thinking they missed it.

As if in a bid to welcome apprehension back into the tie and to further grey Aiden Delamere they gifted their visitors passage back into the game. The pack provided a running commentary highlighting every away discrepancy to frustrate the referee. Barnhall then took advantage of some quick tap penalties to gain territory and a Jonny Stapleton missed tackle enabled his opposite number to race over and make it 17-5 at the turn.

A similar scenario ensued after the turn around and after Kenny was binned for his verbal rugby sins the visitors managed to level. With the aid of a peculiarly awarded penalty try after a quick tap from just four yards Barnhall made it 17-17. After a late rally failed to produce a score all hope of a deserved win looked losts. However this Clondalkin team never give up a fact proven by the fact they have come from behind to win no fewer than four times this term, and they finished off the game with a try that wouldn’t look out of place in the upcoming Six Nations.

Added by Murts February 14, 2010 (7:38PM)

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