Clon draw Portlaoise in Towns Cup

Clondalkin Rugby Club have been paired with Division 1 opposition in the first round of the Provincal Town’s Cup for the third consecutive year after their name was paired with Portlaoise in a recently hosted RDS draw.

Clon are one of the newest entrants to Ireland’s oldest cup competition but have yet to win a game in the prestigious tournament.

They will be hoping it will be case of third time lucky after first round defeats to Roscrea and Tullamore in past years, but face a difficult trip to Division 1 stalwarts Portlaoise in the opening round on Saturday January 24.

Towns Cup draw

1st Round - Saturday, 24th January:
Skerries v Wicklow, New Ross v Arklow, Gorey v Boyne, Wexford v Dundalk, Ashbourne v Portarlington, Rathdrum v Carlow, Portlaoise v Clondalkin, Longford v Enniscorthy, North Kildare v Kilkenny, Tullow v Naas, Mullingar v Clane, Athy v Edenderry (byes - Navan, Cill Dara, Tullamore)
2nd Round - Sunday, 8th February
3rd Round - Sunday 8th March
Semi Final - Sunday 5th April (tbc)
Final - Sunday 26th April (tbc)

Comments (0) Added by Murts January 5, 2009 (8:00AM)

Under 18s ready to make a valuable point

Atricle by Jonny Stapleton

Unlike the seniors the majority of Clondalkin’s under-18 outfit are too young to enjoy a new year’s beverage, but coach Ken McMahon still hopes his talented underage charges will enjoy some form of point this coming weekend.

If Clondalkin emerge victorious from this weekends tie against Terenure with a single point they will qualify for the final eight of the Leinster League Division 1 quarter finals.

After under performing and subsequently suffering tight defeat, to a side they usually record easy victory against, Clane, the reigning North Midlands Shield winners believed their league hopes were extinguished.

The Gordon Park outfit however, received a welcome Christmas present when they were informed they currently lie just a point off fourth spot with a game in hand over Newbridge the side that just about lie above them.

Hence victory this weekend will see them achieve their pre season target and qualify for the quarter finals of the prestigious tournament. And second team prop and third team aspirer Ken McMahon hopes the clubs members will relish the chance to take in a quality game after a Christmas packed with weekends at home and support the young starlets.

“We just need one point to make it to the last eight,” McMahon exclusively told the Clondalkin website. “Newbridge, a team we have beaten comfortably throughout our underage term, are a point ahead of us. It’s a very important game, and hopefully we will get the support out to give the lads a boost.”

A time has yet to be confirmed, but the tie has to be played this weekend and despite an inconsistent season McMahon is confident his side can get the result they need.

“It’s a first year at 18s for a lot of the players, so they can compete here again next year, but we are more than capable of winning. We have let ourselves down this term not finishing off games and limiting ourselves to brave comeback attempts. We need to stay focused from start to finish and if we do that we can beat anybody.”

Clondalkin under 18 will play Terenure this weekend in the final round robin game of the Leinster League exact date and time to be confirmed.

Comments (0) Added by Murts January 2, 2009 (11:28AM)

Clon fail to Cill off Dara and exit the Lalor cup

Lalor Cup 20/12/08
Cill Dara 15 Clondalkin 8
Article by Jonny Stapleton

WILD Cill Dara celebrations said it all. Not since Peter Pan’s arch nemesis had him in a compromising position has anyone got off the hook so lightly, as Clondalkin failed to hammer home their dominance and subsequently suffered semi final defeat at the hands of the Kildare outfit for the second time in a month.

The ever improving second string tested the Division 1 side throughout, dominating possession and territory, but in a slightly ill tempered affair failed to register the points their all round play deserved, and as a result exited the tournament at the penultimate stage.

Despite being the away side and playing into a stiff breeze the Gordon Park outfit dominated the opening exchanges, but still found themselves trailing at the break.

Then apart from the opening minutes of the second period the visitors were superior in everything bar finishing. With just a converted score between the sides Clon peppered the home line at the death managing on three separate occasions to cross the white wash, but were held up each time and the all important score eluded them right till the end.

Clon made a bright start under the Cill Dara flood lights with the pack continually making the hard yards. Big ball carries from the likes of Ciaran and Kevin Cullen, Finbarr Butler and some decent work in the tight from Ken McMahon saw Clondalkin set up foundations in home half.

That pressure never yielded ay points however, and despite coming close on a number of occasions they couldn’t break the Dara resolve.

Cill Dara, on the other had no problem taking their chances. On only the second furor into the Clon half they registered five points. A break from inside their own half was only halted by a brilliant Collie McHuge cover tackle, but a series of penalties ensued. And to their credit the hosts opted to tap instead of take the handy three points on offer. The visiting defense withstood the initial barrage with tackles from Ali Collier, Butler, McHuge and captain Derek Murthagh, but Dara eventually touched down out wide to take the lead.

Clon were immediately backed in the ascendancy but once again struggled to convert. They lacked the type of finishing touch underage star Niall Nolan showed while scoring for the Leinster the day previous, or for that matter the one first team back rower Paul Nolan displayed at the team Christmas party just hours after full time.

After half breaks by Ali Collier and Ciaran Cullen, Kev ‘the Pollar Bear’ Cullen did make it over the line but the referee deemed the big lock was held up.

Andy Tyndall did manage a penalty to ensure the visitors took some points from a dominant first half showing. The young out-half split the post with a long range effort on the stroke of half time to leave the score 5-3 at the turn.

The large Clon support were optimistic after the turn. Having been the better side in the first half and now wind a stiff breeze at their backs they were confident Clon would give them a final day out.

It was Kildare side who stole the initiative, however and the man they call ‘Tyson’ hit what proved to be the knock out blow. The centre made irrelevant another fine McHugh covering tackling by providing supporting his out half’s break ad touching down under the posts.

Tyndall, however, canceled out the effort soon after opting to taking the forwards route to the line. The out half burst onto a Brian Berry, who provided leadership at the base through-out, pop at the fringe of the ruck and burst via the opposition full back before touching down.

The game suddenly began to loose shape as the referee was forced to give cards not of the Christmas kind to both teams. First a home flanker was given a ten minute rest before, Murthagh followed a superb clearing kick with a clumsy tackle, and unfortunately saw yellow.

With a man deficit Clondalkin were forced to defend. Cill Dara began to push on, and despite some big hits from McHugh, Burke and Butler in particular, once again managed to get points from their period of dominance. This time a penalty saw them extend their lead.

Andy Tyndall then saw yellow along with the opposition winger for an off the ball scuffle. There was to be more card giving as Keith Doyle escaped a black eye but not a red card after he kicked out.

Amid the madness Clondalkin were on top and in the dying embers of the game they were hammering the home line. Rob Denver, who impressed in the line out and added further bulk to the pack when he came off the bench, twice crossed the line, McMahon came close as did Gary Donnelly, but none could register the vital score.

A little more composure, vision and appreciation of space may have saw Clondalkin score and book their place in their first ever Lawlor Cup final. It wasn’t to be however, but Clon will take solace in the fact the out played a Division one side that put 50 points on them last term.

Comments (0) Added by Murts December 22, 2008 (11:03AM)

Permanent TSB announce the CRFC Bank Card

Permanent TSB have announced the launch of the Clondalkin Rugby Football Club Bank Card. This is the first of its kind bank card and is available to all members and associates of the club. Each new account opened with Permanent TSB will result in a €50 donation to the club account. As with all bank accounts terms and conditions will apply. For more information contact:
Ciaran Cullen (Big Cux)
Assistant Manager
Permanent Tsb
2 St. Stephens Green
Dublin 2
Ph. 01-6714122
Fax 01-6714812

Comments (1) Added by Murts December 12, 2008 (8:01AM)