Clontarf and Young Munster served up a cracker of a game on the 4G on Saturday in front of an enthusiastic and committed crowd in gloomy autumnal Castle Avenue.
The game started 30 minutes late due to delays on the road from Limerick and if that was to have an effect it certainly didn’t show, with both teams going at it from the off in the tradition of these fixtures. Young Munster have gone through a rebuild in the off-season and have produced a more balanced game than in the past which, for right or wrong, always painted them as a big aggressive pack with backs along to make tackles and kick penalties. The new look Munsters have a slick backline, which has no problem with ripping it up when necessary. Added to this is a phenomenal place kicker, who is capable of keeping the scoreboard ticking from distance.
With all this to enjoy, the game didn’t disappoint and was played at a furious pace from the off.
Clontarf dominated early territory but were guilty of conceding silly penalties, which let the visitors off the hook. The breakthrough came after a free kick to Tarf brought play to the edge of the Munsters 22 where Cal Smith turned over Munsters ball brilliantly, and when the ball arrived to Tadgh Bird, he found space between his opposite centres for the opening score.
Munsters levelled it after pressure from the visitors in the home 22 looked to have been relieved by a scrum pen only for the ball to be run back and after a few phases the Munsters centre O’Leary broke through, rounded the defence, and was awarded the try after a heated debate involving players, subs, spectators, kitchen staff and the girls in the sauna, about a knock on while grounding.
Munsters then went ahead, again from a penalty, when a fast tap and a wraparound put their scrum half O’Riordan through a gap and he was nippy enough to make the line.
Tarf levelled it through route 1 after a lineout in the visitors 22 was mauled and Ben Griffin was to the fore in straightening the drive for the final surge to the line. So,14 14 at half time.That was the end of the tries for the game but not the excitement.
The second half was nip and tuck with both sides exchanging penalties and Tarf managing to keep some small distance between the sides on the scoreboard. Young Munster never gave up and were always barely try scoring distance from the lead, so it was an extremely tense affair to the finish. In the end Con Kelly’s performance from the tee was enough to see Tarf home for the win.
In the end Con Kelly’s performance from the tee was enough to see Tarf home for the win.
As you will have noticed that win moves us from 1st to 3rd in the division. as good an example of how competitive the league is this year.
Next Saturday we are across the river to Lansdowne.
Many thanks to our match jersey sponsors.
Thanks to Peter Walsh for the words and Michael Sheridan for the images