Garryowen FC Notes w.e. 24^th Feb 2007.

Our senior team got back into contention in the AIL race following an 18-5 win over UL Bohs before a large attendance in Dooradoyle last Saturday. In the opening half it was the visitors who looked the more purposeful side and indeed they may have had more than 5 points on the board as time ran down to the break. The game turned on it‘s head when Ciaran O’Boyle seize on a loose ball after our pressure defence forced the error and the left wing cruised to the try line. This seemed to swing the pendulum in our favour and with Donal Sheehan and Mark Melbourne lording it in the lineout on the resumption, the points always looked likely to stay in Dooradoyle. Eoghan Hickey kicked a penalty and put in some prodigious kicking which kept us on the front-foot for the remainder of the game. The inevitable second try came after good approach work by the pack and Damien Varley again showed his tremendous strength when crashing over after a series of drives. The conversion by Hickey and a further penalty set the ‘Robins a formidable 13 point target which they manfully tried to reduce as the time slipped away. When they did get in striking distance of our line, our back-row was up to the task, most notably Anthony Kavanagh. Peter Malone and capt Paul Neville completed an impenetrable unit that saw us safely to shore when the danger threatened. Alan Kingsley proved himself an able deputy at scrum half and Conor Kilroy brought off some crunching tackles, in particular a try saving effort early in the first half. Overall the team seems to have regained their early season confidence and can look forward to our next fixture away to Dolphin on 3^rd March. Gerry Hurley continues his recovery from a leg injury and no doubt will be pressing hard to make the squad for that game. The 2ndXV reached the last eight of the Munster Junior Cup when they overcame a stubborn Clanwilliam resistance to run out 28-3 winners in Tipperary last Sunday. Coach Damien Fahey may have had some anxious moments in the first half but a bout of pressure before the interval yielded a drop goal and a penalty from Willie Staunton. Second half tries from Jamie Carroll, Cillian O’Boyle and Eoghan Nihill gave a slightly flattering look to the scoreboard but the team played extremely well throughout. Neville Melbourne and Ronan Cross belied their tender years with some fantastic covering and support play. Declan Lavery, Pat Humphreys and Barry McNamara were rock solid in the front row, while Dave Keane (especially out of touch) and Eoin Kelly did trojan work in the engine room. Alan McNamara provided quality ball for our runners with Dave Heaton and John Barry catching the eye on more than one occasion. It should be a great quarter final when Cork Con visit Dooradoyle on Sunday 4^th March. A much improved performance paved the way for a 24-8 win for our 3rdXV in the Webb Cup away to Ennis last Saturday. Both sides were evenly matched in the opening period after which we led 10 – 8, courtesy of a touch down from John Mark Griffin following a 20 metre maul and conversion and penalty from Fergus Sheahan. We upped the ante in the second half to take control of the match. Griffin scored again after some excellent build up play and Charley Colling pounced for the third when Ennis lost control at the scrum. Fergus Sheahan added the points to both tries. Some of our Under 20 players did well, especially the aforementioned Colling and James Carroll. It was also good to see Dave Madden and Peter O’Shea back playing again. On Sunday we play Presentation in the next round in Dooradoyle at 3.00. The Final of the North Munster U20 League will take place on this Friday (23^rd) in Thomond Park at 7.30. It is fitting that Shannon and Garryowen contest what will be the last final at this level at this famous ground. Our condolences to Liam Rowley and family following the tragic premature death of his Sister. Best wishes to former great Brian Cobbe who was in Dooradoyle on crutches last Saturday. Knowing “Cobber”, he will be quickly up and about before too long.