Garryowen punish plucky Clon

RARELY has a scoreline offered a more distorted picture of 80 minutes of rugby.

Having been the more aggressive and impressive side for almost the entire game, second division Clonakilty somehow found themselves at the wrong end of a hiding at the hands of Garryowen in the semi-final of the AIB Cup at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Garryowen now go through to the final against Belfast Harlequins, , openly admitting Clonakilty were at least the equal of any visiting side to the venue this season. Cheered on by a large and vocal band of supporters, Clon rattled the first division side from the kick-off and, with the exception of the final five minutes when they conceded two converted tries in a vain attempt to play catch-up, were far more creative and hungry for another big scalp.

“Clon are not close to the top of the division two table for nothing and would be in contention for promotion barring injuries,” complimented Garryowen coach Paul Cunningham. “I expected this kind of commitment. They play a nice brand of rugby and I though they were very good today. They came up with nothing to lose and really put it up to us.”

Cunningham’s counterpart, Terry Dillon, took the outcome on the chin and now turns his attentions to ensuring Clonakilty clinch their place in the second division play-offs. On this form, they have no reason to fear any team.

“Garryowen are one of the top teams in division one and that’s the kind of level that we aspire to,” said Dillon. “We kept with them for a good bit of it and weren’t in any way overawed. We tried to play all the rugby and maybe we were a bit silly at times and a bit too cavalier. We weren’t here to make up the numbers. We’re a nice side and when we play like that, we’re capable of taking on any team. We’re mostly home-grown guys and one of those who isn’t, Gary Cribb from New Zealand, has been here for four years or so and is beginning to talk with a west Cork accent.”

Burly centre Dave Lombard was a constant threat for Clon and his powerful burst from midfield laid on their first half try by flanker Declan Coppinger. Cribb converted and also kicked a penalty. The sides were level approaching the interval, with Conor Kilroy finishing off a good attack to score for Garryowen who also had a penalty and conversion by Eoghan Hickey.

A drop goal by scrum-half Gerry Hurley, the cleverest footballer on the pitch, pushed Garryowen 13-10 ahead at the interval.

After Cribb had levelled with an early second half penalty, Hurley produced a superb break on 62 minutes before delivering a delightful inside scoring pass to Hickey. Clon were then obliged to force the game, something they were doing nicely until they went a step too far in the 79th minute when Garryowen centre Conan Doyle intercepted a pass and scored between the posts. He nipped in for his second a few moments later, Hickey converted both, and Garryowen were through to final by a grossly flattering margin.

GARRYOWEN: C. Kilroy; A. O’Loughlin, C. Doyle, K. Hartigan, C. O’Boyle; E. Hickey, G. Hurley; R. Brosnan, D. Varley, E. McGovern, M. Melbourne, D. Sheehan, P. Neville, P. Malone, A. Kavanagh.

Replacements: E. Mackey and D. Sherry for Sheehan and Malone (both 53); A. Kingsley for Hurley (79).

CLONAKILTY: D. Dillon, S. O’Donovan, P. Dillon, D. Lombard, J. O’Donnell; G. Cribb, C. Murphy; J. Knowles, A. Harte, D. Spencer, D. Whetton, M. O’Hea, E. Scannell, M. Keohane, D. Coppinger.

Replacements: E. Knowles for J. Knowles (inj., 15); P. O’Neill, L. Harte and B. Duggan for O’Donovan, Keohane and A. Harte (all 77)

Referee: E. O’Dowd (IRFU).