Garryowen spoil party for Belvo

Garryowen 23 Old Belvedere 18

The RTÉ cameras, the Ulster Bank AIL trophy and medals along with the IRFU president, Pat Fitzgerald, were all there to mark the foregone conclusion when Old Belvedere were crowned champions for the second time in four years.

After all, they were up against Garryowen, a side already relegated for the first time in their history, and apparently with nothing to play for.

However, from the second minute when Garryowen winger Harry McNulty sailed through a slack Belvedere defence for a try, converted by Andrew O’Byrne, it was the home side that dominated for long stretches.

All the while Clontarf were keeping tabs on what was happening in Limerick and they dulycapitalised on Belvedere’s failure.

Tarf beat the still relegation threatened Ballynahinch 27-13 to claim their first AIL title. Even then, though, they had to wait 24 hours to be presented with the trophy.

As for Garryowen, it was a bitter-sweet victory given they were still destined for their first season in the lower divisions and could only wonder why they hadn’t performed like this earlier in the campaign.

“We decided in our last game, live on TV, that we were going to play for the club and what it means, all its traditions, and put in an 80-minute performance,” said Garryowen head coach Tom Tierney.

“This club needs to get a solid footing and go from there. Hopefully, they will do that but it will be without me. This was my last game, I’m moving on, I don’t know where but I’m committed to coaching.”

Tierney had begun his coaching stint at Dooradoyle under Paul Cunningham who, after 20 highly successful years as player and coach with Garryowen, was hoping to sample more glory on this occasion with Old Belvedere. It was not to be and he had no complaints.

“From the time we dropped the first kick-off and they scored a try and converted when we hadn’t even touched the ball, that set the tone”, said Cunningham.

“Of course it was difficult for me coming to Garryowen of all places but once the game kicked off, we were prepared to play. Good luck and fair play to Clontarf.”

Scorers for Garryowen: Tries: H McNulty, A Kavanagh. Cons: A O’Byrne 2, Pens: A O’Byrne 2. DG: A O’Byrne

Scorers for Old Belvedere: Tries: K O’Gorman, P O’Dwyer. Con: J Glynn. Pens: J Glynn 2.

GARRYOWEN: A Wooten; C O’Shea, A Gaughan, C Doyle, H McNulty; A O’Byrne, N Cronin; R Brosnan capt, E Rossiter, JP Cooney, M Hanrahan, A McCloskey, S Buckley, A Kavanagh, M Rowley. Rolling replacements: D Rowley, P O’Shea, D Mulcair, J McInerney, E Connolly.

OLD BELVEDERE: J Glynn; A Wynne, J Kennedy, S Berne, P O’Dwyer; S Crosbie, A Sheehan; P O’Regan, K McDonald, D Lavery, J Eden-Whatiri, D Moore, J Slattery, K O’Gorman, L Auva’a. Rolling replacements: A Trenier, A Howard, K O’Neill, F Lawlor, P Robb.

Referee: G Conway (IRFU).