Garryowen pack power is decisive

THERE was a carnival atmosphere at windswept Coonagh on Saturday before this AIL Division One semi-final clash between Limerick’s big two, both sets of fans enjoying the usual pre-game banter; afterwards, however, the joy was all one-sided as the sound of the Garryowen anthem carried from the victorious dressing-room.

“Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for Garryowen,” sang the light blues; “Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for Garryowen; if the forwards do their duty and the backs all follow up; then back to Limerick, we’ll bring the Munster Cup.”

Well, it’s a bigger prize now than the Munster Cup, and they still have another big game to go — against Cork Con in Cork, but if they play as they did in this game, Garryowen might well be singing again soon.

With tactics dictated by the wind, the forwards really did their duty on Saturday, thoroughly outplaying the home pack. Half-backs Gerry Hurley (who had a terrific battle with Fiach O’Loughlin) and Willie Staunton were outstanding, and as for the other backs, they certainly did follow up, three superb second-half tries testimony to that.

The platform was set in the first-half. With the big wind at their backs Garryowen built up a solid 14-3 interval lead, courtesy of three penalty kicks from fullback Conor Kilroy and a well-taken try from substitute David Sherry, who made full use of his considerable length and strength to power for the line and stretch for the score

Shannon’s lone score came from a fine Mossy Lawlor drop-goal, drilled into the wind after the out-half had gathered an errant long lineout throw from Seán Cronin.

The second half began promisingly for Shannon, and winger David O’Donovan was on target in the 45th minute with a massive kick from the left touchline, just inside halfway. Six minutes later he tried from even further out, about eight metres into his own half, and only the width of the post denied him what would have been an astonishing score.

Brosnan, Varley, McGovern in the front row, Frank McKenna, Melbourne’s second-row partner, a big man but with soft hands, dancing feet, Neville (until his injury), Anthony Kavanagh, David Sherry, and most impressive of all, Peter Malone, these were the men who ground out this win on Saturday, in that second half especially, holding onto the ball through phase after phase.

Eventually that hard work paid off, and in the 58th minute came the try that really decided the game. Over 18 phases of forward possession saw the ball almost to the Shannon line; finally they decided it was time to open up and a long skip pass from 20-year-old Staunton put the pacey Kieran Lewis through the gap. 19-6, real daylight between the teams. Two late tries put the icing on this cake, Conan Doyle on Staunton’s shoulder after a strong break from the out-half, then winger Keith Earls with a slashing, tackle-breaking solo effort from distance.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t do ourselves justice,” said Shannon coach Mick Galwey, a reference probably to a number of dropped balls in good positions, to costly indiscipline.

“In fairness to Garryowen, I thought they played very well, certainly deserved their win on the day. We have a mixed bag of experience and youth, it’s a case of the youth having to learn a bit more from days like this.”

For Garryowen coach Darragh O’Sullivan, satisfaction. “That was a fantastic display, everything we did was controlled, brilliant. We talked beforehand about the different way teams defend, the best way to attack, and patience was one of the key things there against Shannon, being physical in the contact area, winning on the ground, that was key. These opportunities don’t come around very often, you have to take your chances when you can, you’ve got to really do it.”

Captain Peter Malone, his bloodied face a testimony to the commitment of both teams laughed-off his injuries: “I never seem to get away lightly in these matches. It was a tough one, without doubt. It was a good team performance, and what’s most encouraging for Garryowen is that, apart from Kieran Lewis, they’re all Garryowen players, they’ve all come up through our underage system and they’ve all really blossomed in the last couple of years.

“Gerry Hurley came up through underage, so did Mark Melbourne; hopefully now they go on and get a breakthrough, if not with Munster then with some other professional team, because they’re all outstanding players.”

GARRYOWEN: C. Kilroy; C. O’Boyle, K. Lewis, C. Doyle, K. Earls; W. Staunton, G. Hurley; R. Brosnan, D. Varley, E. McGovern; M. Melbourne, F. McKenna; P. Neville (c), A. Kavanagh, P. Malone. Subs: D. Sherry (Neville inj. 30); D. Lavery (Brosnan 75); B. O’Mahony (Kavanagh 79); L. Bourke (Kilroy 79); M. Sherry (Staunton 79); F. Quaglia (Lewis 79). Blood sub: B. O’Mahony (McKenna 60/66).

SHANNON: A. Finn; D. O’Donovan, M. Kinsella, J. Clogan, S. Kelly; M. Lawlor, F. O’Loughlin; K. O’Neill, S. Cronin, K. Griffin; P. O’Brien, F. Walsh; P. O’Connor, C. McMahon, D. Quinlan (c). Subs: L. Hogan (O’Neill 60); L. Malone (O’Connor 60); J. Manual (Clogan 60); F. Broderick (McMahon 74); A. Thompson (Finn 77).

Referee: S. McDowell (Ulster).