I suspect we will be waiting some time before we get as exciting a game as this again.
It helps that both Clubs have been top four rivals for the last 15 years and that consistent rivalry has built a well of respect that flows away from the pitch and settles with social intent in the bar.
Lansdowne deservedly wore the smiles after going toe to toe with Tarf for 75 minutes and then having the will to hold on during a ferocious onslaught for the last 5.
Clontarf will be happy that they were so close at the finish because, to be fair, they struggled with accuracy for large periods of the first half with multiple handling errors messing up their phase building, which led to anxiety and a tendency to force the play when it wasn’t necessary. Case in point would be the last 5 minutes when Clontarf had to hold on to possession, therefore couldn’t risk a forced pass and consequently put in their best period of the game, and were massively unlucky not to pinch it at the death.
It would have been a steal though, because Lansdowne played a more accurate game, were tactically on point, and were brave in absorbing enormous pressure at times from the home side.
Clontarf opened the scoring with the first possession of the game after a quick tap from Louis O’Reilly brought play into the Lansdowne 22, where another infringement was taken quickly by Dylan Donnellan, who made the line. Lansdowne replied almost immediately with a penalty for 7 3 and after another penalty gave them access, multiple phases and a long pass put winger Peter Sullivan in on the left for 7 8.
Clontarf then set up camp in the visitors 22 and after multiple lineouts were defended brilliantly by Lansdowne, the pressure told and Tony Ryan scored under the posts for 14 8.
Lansdowne came again from the kickoff and a great inside pass brought them back to the 22 where a lovely delayed pass put Andy Marks in for 14 15. Tarf responded immediately and Mark O’Sullivan got in on the right after a peel off the lineout, some heavy carries, and soft hands from Con Kelly and Seni O’Reilly. Half time score was 19 15.
The second half continued the pattern with Lansdowne defending manfully and Clontarf errors helping them in their task. After 49 minutes Tarf and Dyl got in after a maul on the left for 26 15 and a shaft of daylight. Lansdowne closed the curtains on that shaft when an inside pass put Marks free and scrum half Mathews went in for 26 22.
After 70 minutes Lansdowne scored the try of the game when Steve Madigan put a beautifully weighted dink over the Tarf defence. Andy Marks gathered it beautifully at full pace and after that it was only a question of who would dot down. Rory Parata got the honour and Lansdowne were ahead 26 29.
Tarf we’re now staring at the result of their own inaccuracy and upped the pressure to find relief. As the clock wound down Tarf introduced accuracy along with power and Mark O’Sullivan was called back for a very tight forward pass as he was heading in for the winning score. As the intensity increased Tarf came and came and looked to have earned a scrum on the left but the ref disagreed and the game ended in Lansdowne’s favour for a well-earned and deserved victory.