Clane RFC

On bright and sunny day in Clane, a large home support were treated to a great game of rugby as Clane's first team dispatched the League favourites Clondalkin with aplomb. Clane started brightly but couldn't turn this early dominance into scores with Colum Fagan going very close to the opening try.

Clondalkin having quelled the Clane attack starting working their way into the game and from a line-out inside the Clane 22 they mauled infield only to break on the blind-side and despite the best efforts of Anthony Hennessy the Clondalkin hooker touched down in the corner, the Clondalkin 10 Chris Jebb kicked a fantastic touch line conversion. Clane responded well and having won the restart they went wide and Gordon Kearney touched down in the corner. Clondalkin though showed why they are league favourites, despite this setback they again worked their way down the field and won a penalty in the middle of the park, again Jebb made the kick.

Clane though never panicked and stuck to their game plan, their ambition was rewarded with the forwards and backs combining fantastically to send skipper Brian Conroy over for a great try, Kearney with the conversion. Clane went for the jugular but excellent Clondalkin defence held them out and right on the stroke of half-time a Kearney penalty left Clane 15-10 in front.

After the break Clane started where they had left off and this early pressure saw Ronan Murphy score a try with the conversion added this left Clane 22-10 in front.Straight from the restart again Clane went on the attack with Hennessy, Watkins and Kearney combining for Kearney to score a great try which he converted to bring his personal tally to 19 points. With the bonus point in the bag Clane took their foot off the pedal and a raft of changes on both sides meant the last 20 failed to live up to the previous 60 mins and the intensity dwindled. Clondalkin though never gave up and were justly rewarded with minutes to play when they scored a well worked try under the posts.

Credit to both sides and the referee for an excellent game. Gordon Kearney will deservedly receive the plaudits but Brian Conroy, Peter Jackson and Mick Holland laid the foundations up front and Colum Fagan, David Watkins and Alan O'Neill ensured Clane were on the front foot through out.

Team: Paul Morrin, Gary Mullen, David Doran, TJ Ryan, Brian Conroy, Fergal Corbett, Mick Holland, Peter Jackson, Alan O'Neill, Mark Coonan, Anthony Hennessy, Ronan Murphy, David Watkins, Colum Fagan, Gordon Kearney Reps: Niall Hughes, Tony Blake, Cormac McEvoy, Tony McLoughlin, Justin Monahan