Match Report:Connemara 2nd XV v Dunmore 24-02-08
Junior 1B match against Dunmore in Dunmore on 24th Feb 2008
In the first half Connemara played with a fairly stiff breeze, the sun and the advantage of the hill on a bright sunny day in Dunmore applying pressure from the off. Connemara enjoyed much of the possession and territory in the first half and was rarely threatened but Dunmore put up a fairly stubborn resistance which resulted in a scoreless first quarter. Connemara were playing well and the pack were more than holding their own with Alan Pryce hitting Martin Faherty and Noel Walsh in a very solid lineout every time, while the backs were making in roads and making some nice breaks. However Dunmore kept their line intact with some heavy duty tackling and defence but were eventually breached with a fine opportunist try by scrum-half Eoin Bourke, breaking from a close in ruck and wrong footing the defence. Vinnie Heffernan added a fine conversion. Connemara were now enjoying their best spell and right from the kick off drove back deep into Dunmore territory and five minutes later from a maul the ball was spun right from out-half Rob Delaney to inside centre Mark Joyce who put Eoin Bourke through on the loop and shrugging off the tackle of the full back went over for his second try just right of the posts. Vinnie Heffernan added the points. Connemara were really on top with the forwards rucking and mauling well with Cormac McDonald and Johnny Young making great yardage ably supported by the rest of the pack and were making many fine breaks with Darren Little, Brian Joyce and Vinnie Heffernan making a lot of ground down the right which culminated in a beautifully taken try by Vinnie Heffernan taking a great line off a Darren Little pop to split the defence and go over in the corner. So, with only a few minutes of the half left and leading comfortably 19 – 0, Alan Pryce broke left from a ruck on half way did a beautifully weighted chip and chase and almost out sprinted the Dunmore defence to be just beaten to the touch down by the full back. It would have been a spectacular try to end the half with! Anyway Connemara well deserved their half time lead of 19 – 0 and turned around with the expectation of the same but that wasn’t to be. For most of the second half Dunmore seemed to be camped between our 22 and 10 metre line and threatened our line on a couple of occasions but thankfully with some stout defence Connemara kept their line intact. Connemara made a number of forays into the Dunmore half with good breaks by Cormac McDonald, Noel Walsh, Johnny Young, Eoin Bourke and Michael Conroy down the left but never could seem to hold onto the ball and were giving possession away far to easily. It seemed the concentration slipped for awhile. However, with about 8 mins to go Connemara upped the tempo knowing the bonus point was slipping away and crossed the Dunmore line only to have the ball ripped away and sent barrelling down the line. From the ensuing line out a ruck formed on the half way and 15 metres in from the left touch line, John Davis broke left was tackled and popped a lovely inside pass to the ever supporting Eoin Bourke who went streaking for the corner, handed off the full back with aggression to score his third try and round off an outstanding all round display. With seconds left on the clock Connemara almost got a fifth try but it wasn’t to be. However, great jubilation at the final whistle the second five point haul in a week and a job well done, a real team performance. It was a very entertaining, hard fought clean match and credit to both sides. It ended Connemara 24 – Dunmore 0.
1) John Davis
2) Alan Pryce
3) Kevin Barry
4) Martin Faherty
5) Cormac McDonald
6) Shane Austin
7) Noel Walsh ( C )
8) Johnny Young
9) Eoin Bourke
10) Robert Delaney
11) Michael Conroy
12) Mark Joyce
13) Darren Little
14) Brian Joyce
15) Vinnie Heffernan
16) Gerry King
17) Paul Keaney
18) Sean King
Coach – Gerry King
