Match Report: 1st XV vs Athy

Clondalkin vs Athy 31/08/08
Article by Conor Moloney

Clondalkin 1st xv lined out for their first match of the Hosie Cup group A last Sunday. They travelled to the Kildare town of Athy for another somewhat close encounter. The Clondalkin victory over Athy last season was definitely on the minds of the Athy players having lost the match due to a missed penalty in front of Clondalkin the post's with the last kick of the game .In the end Clondalkin were promoted and Athy resigned to another year of division 3 rugby.

Athy were first off the mark due to some bad communication from the clondalkin centre’s who were playing together for the first time,its worth a mention this was Paul Hickey's first time to play in the centre’s and he definitely grew into the position as the game went on. Athy score in the corner was not converted. Clondalkin won the ball from the restart and worked hard to get into the Athy 22 before coughing up the ball all too easily. This was the pattern for most of the first half with Athys attacking options reduced to loose ball due to the dominance of the Clondalkin scrum and lineout which did take some time to get going. Clondalkin tryed to maul a few lineouts over the Athy line but were kept out thanks to the big hits from the Athy pack .

Brian Bruiser Doyle finally crossed the line for a try after a sustained period of pressure which 17 year old Andy Tyndall converted. After the break Clondalkin had the lions share of possession which they did not turn into points straight away instead they opted for scrums and lineouts in order to soften up the Athy defense. Athy kept impeding and more penalties given. Finally Clondalkin opted to put some points on the board and again Andy Tyndall stepped up and kicked the ball over the bar. From here on in you thought Clondalkin were in cruise control and if they were it was only because of the hugh hitting centre Phil Byrne putting in immense hits in the centre as was his new partner Paul Hickey. Clondalkin forward dominance saw them adding two more penaltys before the game was over. They should take great heart out of this performance and also the one against the Garda RFC 3 days earlier in which over 30 players got a run.

(Forwards) 1.Conor Moloney 2.Brian Doyle 3.Ciaran Cullen 4.Finbar Butler 5.Kevin Cullen 6.Colm Tighe 7.Simon King 8.Sean Brennan

(Backs) 9.Eddie Martens 10.Andy Tyndall 11.Farm Boy 12.Philie Byrne 13.Paul Hickey 14.Garry Donnelly 15.Ali Collier

Added by Murts September 3, 2008 (10:31AM)

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