Whatever happens next weekend with Tarf at home to Ballynahinch and Belvo away to a now relegated Garryowen, the tale of the last two weeks trauma will rest on stark statistics that show a complete collapse of the Clontarf defence.
In the last two games Clontarf have scored 60 points; enough to beat most sides in any league. Three tries per game . . . sounds like a winning strategy.
In defence we have conceded 73 points in the last two games. That is more points than we conceded in the previous seven games back as far as Christmas! We have conceded nine tries . . . some of which were comical. Being hit on the head by a falling piano is a funny concept unless you are the one under it . . .
Friday night’s game had an added factor of the main AVIVA pitch which was an extra stimulation to a Lansdowne team who previous to this game had started to play like summer had arrived. Playing on the main pitch is a significant motivator and it showed in the home sides endeavour from the start. It didn’t help an already nervous Clontarf who were building themselves slowly into a performance when they were hit by a sucker punch which saw the Lansdowne prop Dooley break a tackle in the middle of the pitch and plough on for the try. After that the first up tackling went and, as anyone knows, scramble defence will not keep you in the game for long. Just before half time Clontarf rumbled over to give themselves hope and when Max McFarland zipped in after half time to bring the score to 24 – 20 an unlikely comeback was on. Almost immediately an ineffective kick chase left the Lansdowne full back Cian Aherne with room to pick his line and he breached the Clontarf defence at the half way and got into the visitors 22 where the ball was recycled to out half Scott Deasy whose deft chip was finished by wing Foster Horan under the posts. That took the steam out of the comeback and Lansdowne held off a final surge from Killian Lett with a penalty for 34 – 27 and the victory.
We now must regroup for the final game against Ballynahinch and hope for some of the Limerick defiance that is at the core of Garryowen.