Our reign as AIB Cup champions came to a rather abrupt end this year at Castle Avenue last Saturday with Clontarf running out 23-11 winners. There was precious little between two evenly matched two sides but mistakes at crucial times were to prove very costly. Penalties from the ‘Tarf out half Ian Keatley (3) and Conor Kilroy (2) had the game nicely poised at 9-6 coming up to the break. Some indecision inside our 22 saw the ball turned over and the home pack quickly drove to the line. The attack appeared to have been repulsed but referee Olan Trevor immediately raced under the posts for a penalty try.  We missed 2 long range penalty efforts in the third quarter but our ever improving pack turned the screw to gain good field position. Disaster struck in the 60^th minute as having already been awarded a penalty for offside in front of the posts, the advantage rule was applied for a couple of phases. Unfortunately the final pass to Keith Earls was seized upon by right wing Phil Howard on his own line and he proceeded to race the length of the field for a try under the posts. Most teams might have thrown in the towel at 23-6 but Gerry Hurley, who had a real battle at No.9 with his opposite number, sniped over to the left of the posts in the 65^th minute for a well taken try. His conversion sailed right and wide of the posts but 23-11 was as close as it got, although the boys never gave up and on another day the ball might have bounced a bit more kindly for them. Our next game is away to Greystones in the AIB League when the series resumes on 16^th February. Weather caused the cancellation of the Munster Junior Cup game v UL Bohemians which now hopefully will go ahead at 2.30 on Sunday in Doooradoyle (eta). The U20’s beat Bruff 33-8 in their AIL U20 game at Dooradoyle at noon last Saturday. Kevin Buckley, Mark Rowley, Mike O’Shea, Diarmuid Madden and replacement Ian Whelan all scored tries. Out half Colm Downes kicked four of the conversions. We play hosts to Corinthians in our final AIL game in Dooradoyle On Saturday at 2.00, while our 3^rd XV have a friendly v Shannon at the earlier time of 12.30.