Garryowen FC Notes w.e 14th Jan 2007
Consecutive
victories over Cork Con are rare and so it proved as they withstood a fierce
onslaught from a resurgent Garryowen team to take the AIL points at Dooradoyle
last Saturday. If it was drama you were after this was the place to be as both
sides recovered from a lethargic first half to give it holly in the second
period. Con had turned over narrow 6-3 leaders, Gerry Hurley’s penalty was our
lone response to Richie Lane’s
two efforts, and the large crowd waited in anticipation for the fireworks to
start. Alan Kingsley dropped a neat goal following considerable pressure, only
for Lane to restore the margin again. The game exploded into life when Ed
Mackey fielded a ball on his own ten yard line, showed a neat side step and
raced into the Con half. Scrum half Gerry Hurley read the line well and his
take and race to the corner lifted the game and with it the crowd. The missed
conversion left us holding a fragile 11-9 lead with 20 minutes remaining. It
was helter-skelter stuff after that with both sides probing for an opening at
every opportunity. A number of long clearances out of the Con half were not
dealt with astutely and we conceded a number of turnovers which again put us on
the back foot. The stiffish wind may have mitigated at kicking the ball back
with interest but in any event Con always looked dangerous on the counter
attack. A number of mix-ups in midfield saw us concede ball and ground that
ultimately proved decisive. From one such retreat, referee Donal Courtney not
only penalised us but also sent Damien Varley to the sin bin. It was a cruel
blow for the player who put in some fantastic runs throughout and only for a
bad call from a supporting player might have put the game beyond the visitors.
As it was, Lane struck his fourth penalty and we were forced to play the last
10 minutes at 11-12 and 14 men. With the earlier sin-binnings of Peter Malone
and Conor Kilroy, it meant we played 50 of the 80 minutes a man short. The
apparent lack of consistency seemed to irk players and supporters alike but the
team showed admirable spirit in the closing stages and ended the game camped on
the Con line. Anthony Kavanagh was almost in, only to fall inches short of the
line. We continued to pile on the pressure but in our over anxiety we spurned a
relatively straightforward 4 on 2 overlap. Con dug deep and in a welter of
excitement held on gamely to the end. The large travelling support were
delighted to have exacted revenge for their Cup Final defeat the previous week.
The new scrummaging laws were in operation and it will be interesting to see
how they pan out in the games ahead. We have an opportunity to repay Buccaneers
for our 8-6 away defeat in the AIL when the AIB Cup game kicks off on Saturday
in Dooradoyle at the earlier time of 2.00 (ETA). Our junior team went down 18-8
to Bruff in the NM Cup at Bruff last Saturday where Colin Varley made a return
to action. Colin came off the bench to touch down and Diarmuid Waters kicked a
penalty but it wasn’t enough as the County
Limerick side won
comfortably enough in the end. On Sunday Young Munster are our opponents as the
MSL resumes in Dooradoyle at 2.30 while on Saturday we have an away 3RD
XV friendly against UL Bohs at 1.00. The
under 14s continued their winning ways on Sunday in Dooradoyle with a 34 -15
win against Richmond.
Garryowen had tries from Andrew Fullen (2), Ian Mooney, Ben Drew, Dominic
Furnell, and John “Bull” Fyfe. Rory Collins kicked two conversions to put a
slightly flattering look on the score-line. It was in fact a hard earned win
against a very big Richmond
team. Both sides tried to play an expansive game in tricky conditions which
made for an entertaining contest. This Sunday the team is away to Thomond away
while our U16’s are at home to Young Munster. The U18’s are also away to Richmond and all games
start at 11.30. We would like to wish a speedy recovery to Mick Ryan, that
great Garryowen stalwart, following a recent operation.