U18.5 Munster Cup - Group 4 - Dungarvan 19 Killarney 33
After the defeat at Clonakilty, the lads bounced back with a terrific win away to Dungarvan. This was very much the proverbial "game of two halves" (aren't they all?)
A knock on from the kick off gave us good field position but we struggled to gain ground against a big Dungarvan pack. But a sharp cross field kick that just ran away from both Mark Kennelly, and Billy O'Donoghue gave an inkling of where some joy might be found.
Dungarvan got the opening score. A penalty for offside was kicked into the corner and from the lineout they used their big pack to drive over from close range. The try was converted in to 7 points by an excellent kick. It took us a while to get our own opening score. A good defensive effort from a Dungarvan attacking lineout - led to a scrum for a knock. Shane Morrissey put ina good clearing kick and the reply was run back through the backs to the Dungarvan 22. We won a penalty, and from the resulting lineout got the ball out to the backs, an interchange of passes saw out half Gearóid Sugrue find a gap and attract 3 Dungarvan defenders - his offload found Billy O'Donoghue who had a clear path to the tryline.
From the kick off, Dungarvan worked their way back in our half and a penalty for a high tackle gave them access to our 22. We defended a number of drives on the goal-line finally Dungarvan broke through under the posts.
Trailing 14-5, we struck back immediately. From the kickoff, Dungarvan kicked deep to Gearóid Sugrue, who ran the ball back and found Alex Sheahan in support, Sheahan cut in off the wing. From the ruck, drives from Adam Lynch and Dylan O'Brien brought us up over halfway and had Dungarvan backpedalling. From Dylan's carry, the ball got to Gearóid Sugrue whose chip over the advancing blitz found Bryan Walsh in full flight with only the full back to beat, and Bryan scored under the posts. Sugrue converted to bring us back to 14-12.
Dungarvan scored their third try as a goalline dropout that failed to go 5 metres was punished by a scrum on our 5 metre line. After a number of pick and goes - Dungarvan got over the line despite good last ditch defence. Our third try came just before half-time. A defensive mix up led to a penalty for offside which was kicked to the corner. From the lineout Bryan Walsh carried into the 22, and drew a number of defenders - Gearóid Sugrue chipped into the corner and only a pre-emptive tackle stopped Billy O'Donoghue regathering. From the ensuing penalty, Mark Kennelly took a quick tap and bounced through defenders to hit the ball on the line. We reached half-time 19-17 behind.
Six tries in the first half. But the second half took on a completely different complexion. From the kick-off, Bryan Walsh kicked long into the Dungarvan half, they replied in kind but another long kick by Shane Morrissey found grass in the Dungarvan 22. A superb chase and tackle by Billy O'Donoghue set up a ruck and we secured the ball in the Dungarvan 22. Good hands by forwards Mark Brosnan, Alex Sheahan, and Jake Leahy set up a 4 on 2 overlap. Bryan Walsh drew the last defender and put Gearoid Sugrue into space with Mark Kennelly and Arthur Gabbett outside - as the Dungarvan defence came across he cut back inside to score near the posts. With the successful conversion we now led 24-19.
From the kick off, Killarney again kicked deep. The reply was then kicked into space, Mark Kennelly won the race and gave an offload but poor handling prevented what seemed a certain try. Another chance came and went after Dungarvan carried towards our 22, a great counter ruck allowed Gearóid Sugrue to chip ahead but unfortunately he was unable to gather his kick when in on goal.
Our next score came after Jack Donoghue jackalled as Dungarvan attempted to carry from their 22. Killarney opted for the posts and Sugrue converted to push the lead out to 8 points. A poor Dungarvan kickoff gave Killarney a scrum on halfway, after a few unsuccessful carries - Mark Kennelly found gap and chipped ahead with Walsh and O'Donoghue chasing - a push on Walsh as he attmepted to hack the bal on gave Killarney another penalty in front of the post. As before the option to kick was chosen and successful - leaving Killarney 30 -19 ahead.
There followed a long period where with good kicking and an aggressive first-up defence we kept Dungarvan in their own half. This was broken by a third penalty to extend the lead to 33-19 with time ebbing away.
