Garryowen FC Notes w.e. 11^th February 2007.

It took twenty minutes of extra time to decide the outcome of our AIB Cup quarter final clash with St. Mary’s College at a cool, yet pleasant, Dooradoyle last Saturday. The flags were appropriately at half-mast and a minute’s silence was observed for the late Mick Ryan. It turned out to be a cracking game for the small but enthusiastic attendance, with our team having to come from behind before edging home 16-13. Jonathan Sexton, nephew of Willie, put the visitors in front early-on but after sustained pressure No. 6 Mark Melbourne took an inside pass close to the line and his strength carried him over for a deserved try. Earlier, Ciaran O’Boyle was only inches away from a touchdown following a clever cross kick by Eoghan Hickey. It was real cup football with neither pack willing to give an inch in the stirring exchanges. A further penalty from Sexton brought the half to a close (7-6) but our supporters felt we were getting the upper hand. The visitors however had other ideas and a show of the ball and a faint to the left and then the right saw Jonathan Sexton carve through our defence after initial pressure had been repulsed inside our 22.His conversion brought the score to 7-13 and thoughts of our exit to the same opposition at the penultimate stage of this competition last year sprang to mind. From there to the finish our pack threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the royal blues and were enjoying an almost monopoly of possession. Tremendous tackling and some fine clearances by Sexton often meant we had to regain possession near half way and drive again. Eventually a penalty from a difficult angle yielded three points to Eoghan Hickey and his effort narrowed the gap to 10-13. Last years finalists didn’t want to give up their right to the final and the elusive score took a long time to come. The last few minutes were played at a frantic pace and there were some tired bodies as the play swung from end to end. A penalty conceded near half way did not seem within range but our No 10’s mighty kick just dropped over the bar for the equalising score. The relief was palpable around the ground. He repeated the effort in the 82 minute and it may have been this effort that finally broke the resistance of a brave and skilful Templeville Road side. This weekend the boys will have a deserved rest, what with five hard games on the trot since Christmas and a large number of our squad on representative duty for Munster “A”. Our next home AIL game v UL Bohs is on Saturday 17^th February and this promises to be a thriller. John Noonan is hosting the customary pre-match luncheon and can be contacted at 087-9308318 to reserve a place. The Junior Cup draw sees our 2ndXV make a return visit to Clanwilliam. Both sides will have made some useful notes after our 22-14 friendly win in Tipperary last Sunday. Tries from Declan Lavery, David Heaton and Roy Sexton eventually saw off the home side. Alan McNamara added two conversions and a penalty to complete the scoring. On Saturday we play Naas in the Billy Reid Memorial Cup in Dooradoyle at 3.00 p.m. Earlier the 3^rd XV return to action when they take on Shannon in the McInerney Cup semi-final in Dooradoyle at 12.00.Our U20’s lost narrowly to Shannon in the AIL at Coonagh in a game that also went down to the wire. An 11-6 half time lead was established via a try by Mick Sherry and two penalties from John Paul Hartigan. This was just reward for their efforts and with a bit more accuracy with the boot could have put further daylight between the teams. It was to prove costly as Shannon got the only score (converted try) of the second half to edge home 13-11. This Saturday they play their last AIL game away to UL Bohs at 2.30.Our U16’s who have putting some good results on the board in the NML also lost to Shannon by the minimum margin. There was precious little between two fine sides and a lone penalty was sufficient for the Parish to take the points. Have no doubt they will cross swords again before the season ends. The under 14s qualified for the league semi finals with a 19-10 win over Scariff at Dooradoyle on Sunday. Well taken tries from Andrew Fullen, Ben Drew and Sean Noonan, two of which were converted by Rory Collins led to an eventual victory in a closely contested game against a strong Scariff pack. The blues had to defend their line for long spells in the game where brave tackling by the back row and half backs kept a very mobile Scariff pack at bay. They play UL Bohemians at home on Sunday to decide the winners of Section B. Having lost twice last season (0-3 on both occasions in the league and the cup final) to the same opposition our boys will be keen to make amends