Mullingar (0) vs Clondalkin 2nds(21)

Towns Cup Seconds First Round
16/03/08
Article by Derek Murtagh

Clondalkin started their march towards the Towns Cup Seconds final with an impressive 21-0 win over a resilient Mullingar.

Coming at the end of the week that was Cheltenham, the game was played on ground that could only be described as extremely soft. This coupled with an emotionally charged team resulted in an error ridden first twenty minutes for the away team with an uncharacteristically high penalty count resulting in neither team achieving any sort of dominance.

However, the workhorses up front finally began clicking on twenty minutes enabling scrumhalf Eduardo Martens to begin to start supplying some quality ball to the thoroughbred backline. The front eight went about setting up camp in the opposition 22 following a well worked backline move instigated by Gavin Greene making his comeback from injury. Some resolute home team defending and some silly away team errors resulted in Clon being denied any scoring oppurtunities. Big carries from Maori, Stephen Tyndall, Dan and Ian Cullen, all of whom weigh in at over 18 stone, eventually weakened the oppositions brave defense forcing a penalty under the posts allowing Clon the chance to take the first points of the game. Mullingar presumed Clondalkin would take the kick and switched off. This proved to be costly as Maori capitalised on the momentary lapse, taking a quick tap penalty and barrelling over from 5 metres out just before half time.

The second half began pretty much where the first half left off with the Clondalkin team setting up camp in the Mullingar half. Any chance the Mullingar team had of coming back into the game was taken away by Clondalkin denying them any possession with line out general Bren Ward steailng every opposition throw and Eduardo Martens who hassled his opposite number at scrum time forcing numerous turnovers until Mullingar were left with no option but to pick and go from the base of the scrum which was meat and drink to the Clon back row of Dan Fitzpatrick, Maori and Derek Murtagh who combined well to repel every attack.

The game was put beyond doubt with fifteen minutes remaining when captain Dan Fitzpatrick picked and went from outside the 22 metre line breaking at least four tackles before eventually being pushed over the line by Bren Ward in what must be a contendor for Clondalkin try of the year. The backs were not happy about not getting in on the action and yet another Gav Greene break set up Philly Byrne who selflessly passed to John Nolan who went over for the final try which put a gloss on the scoreboard that discredited the bravery of the Mullingar defense.

Next up is Birr, a team Clondalkin have previously beaten this year. However, this game will not be taken lightly by the Clondalkin outfit, who suffered injuries to player of the year contendor David Gilmore and prop Ian Cullen. Any other year these injuries would have severely weakened the second team but with Stephen Tyndall ready and waiting to step up from the bench and with scrummaging rock Chris Australia’s immenent return it could be argued that the Clondalkin team to take the field will be a stronger unit than the one fielded against Mullingar. Roll on next Sunday!!!

Added by Murts March 18, 2008 (10:52AM)

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