Garryowen FC Notes. w.e. 8^th April 2007

Two late tries from centre Conan Doyle gave us a rather flattering 32-13 win over a gallant Clonakilty side in the AIB Cup semi-final at a sunny Dooradoyle last Saturday. Certainly the West Cork side gave it their all and it took a neatly struck drop goal from Gerry Hurley to give us a 13-10 half time lead. Clonakilty opened the scoring with a penalty by Gary Cribb but Conor Kilroy replied with a smashing try at the pavilion end which Eoghan Hickey converted magnificently from the touch line. Hickey extended the lead with a long range penalty before Clonakilty struck back before the break through their open-side Declan Coppinger who touched down near the posts and Cribb added the points. The game was back in the melting-pot when Cribb equalised in the 60^th minute but Gerry Hurley burst into life with a searing break from half way. He weaved his way to within 5m of the line and when eventually tackled, Eoghan Hickey was on hand to score. The missed conversion saw us hanging tenuously to an 18-13 lead until Doyle put the game beyond reach, first with an interception and then following a neat kick through by Hickey. We now play Belfast Harlequins in the final on Saturday 14^th April in Dubarry Park . Supporters please note the club will be running a number of buses to Athlone for the big day. Our prospects of qualifying for the top four in the AIL will be determined when we travel to play Clontarf this Saturday in Castle Avenue at 2.30. This is a crucial game and a win is essential if we are to hold any hopes of competing for qualification in our final game v Galwegians in Dooradoyle. The supporters bus will leave from outside Willie Sextons’ at 10.00. On Sunday we play UL Bohs in the final of the Munster Junior Cup in Tom Clifford Park at 3.00. Last Sunday Damien Fahey’s team booked their place in the final with a hard-fought win over Young Munster in Dooradoyle. Willie Staunton proved the hero of the day with four well-struck penalties and a drop goal. It was a tough and always sporting game but our pack just about had the edge in the second half after the sides were tied 3-3 at the break. Dave Sherry, Eoghan Nihill and Neville Melbourne were a formidable back-row unit and Willie Staunton orchestrated play from out half. Our 3^rd XV went down 22-17 to Old Crescent in the replayed semi-final of the ever popular Webb Cup in Rosbrien. The play was evenly matched in the first half with the score at 3–3, courtesy of a penalty by Dave Madden. Crescent scored immediately on the re-start leaving the score at 10–3. A rather soft try saw us fall 15–3 in arrears but after the introduction of Conor McNamara and Kevin Culhane, we clawed our way back into the game. Mark Hanrahan touched down in the corner and Dave Madden kicked a fine conversion to reduce the deficit to 15-10. However Crescent responded with another try and Paul Mc Donough added the points. A late try by Kevin Culhane and another fine kick from the touchline by Dave Madden left the score at 22–17. Hard as we tried during the last 5 minutes, we were unable to cross the Crescent line. Well done to Niall Wixted, Shane Smyth and his players who have had a long season and were in contention in all the competitions. Our best wishes to Stan Sheahan and Dave McInerney who are recovering from injury. The U20’s play an away friendly v Bruff at 12.00 on Sunday in preparation for their City Cup campaign. It was a busy week-end on the under-age front. Our U13’s played UL Bohs in the quarter final of the NM Cup in Annacotty on Sunday morning and put up a very strong performance to run out 8-5 winners. Nice handling from the backline and great work from the pack set up a Michael Horgan try in the first half and although we held the upper hand, Bohs equalised for the teams to go in 5-5 at the break. The second half territorially was a more even affair, but Garryowen captain Andrew O'Byrne coolly slotted a penalty mid-way through the second period to put us 8-5 ahead. Bohs attacked right to the final whistle, but excellent defending from Garryowen kept them at bay to clinch a semi-final spot v Shannon on Tuesday 10^th in Dooradoyle at 6.30. The U14’s went down 20-14 to Shannon in the NML after a great game of rugby played in Annacotty on Sunday. The windy conditions dominated the game with each team getting the upper hand with the wind advantage. Shannon led 20-0 at half time thanks to 3 tries, one converted and a penalty goal. Garryowen stormed back in the second half scoring 2 unconverted tries and were unlucky not to add to that tally. There is great backbone in this team – many teams would have capitulated after being under so much pressure in the first half against a larger pack who dominated line-out proceedings. The players and coaches were appreciative of the pre-match pep talk from David Wallace. The team now goes on to compete in the cup with an away match against Scarriff. Tom Barry’s U16’s continued their excellent run with a convincing 38-0 away to Ennis in the NML. Alan Barry 2, Arran Healy, Billy Glynn, Cian OShea, and Eoin OToole were the try scorers and Billy Glynn kicked four conversions. Our U18’s had to go the full distance before finally seeing off St. Mary’s in a very entertaining NM Cup match in Dooradoyle. Trailing 13-9 with two minutes to go, our hard working pack edged towards the Saints 22. Some quick hands and change of direction saw Mike Hackett scorch over for the winning score. Second row Mike Carroll kicked 3 excellent penalties and added a conversion. The team has progressed nicely and with Seamie McDermott and Liam Glynn at the helm it will take a good side to lower their colours. On Good Friday they play York RFC at 11.30 in Dooradoyle. On Saturday they travel to Naas to play the current All Ireland U18 champions following which the boys show real club spirit by continuing on to Castle Avenue to support our senior team. Members are reminded that tickets are on sale for our annual youth development greyhound meeting on Monday 16th April.