Lansdowne FC v College Faculty Dublin RFC

Energia AIL Division 1 A

Friday 12^th January 2024

Lansdowne Highway

Lansdowne 30  – 26 UCD

Although most of us had been fortified by the fantastic meal within the clubhouse, the side-line and useless ball line of the again pitch on Lansdowne Highway was not for the faint hearted on Friday night time. Baltic, however enjoyable.

The night opened on a solemn word as gamers and supporters noticed a minute’s silence for a much-loved member of each golf equipment, Eddie O’Connor, who handed away in the course of the week.  And from the kick-off, each side confirmed the aptitude, dedication and braveness for which Eddie was famend.

Collidge had the sting within the opening skirmishes, although there wasn’t a lot in it.  The tempo, ambition and accuracy was heart-warming, although it didn’t assist a lot with the fingers and toes of supporters, now huddled collectively for heat in clusters alongside the useless ball line.  A penalty to Collidge put somewhat area between the edges after seven minutes, however it was short-lived as Lansdowne additionally bought a kickable penalty however opted to place it within the nook, hoping for a attempt from the maul. Their confidence was rewarded as Tom Barry went over within the nook from the maul that adopted. 5 – 3 on quarter-hour.

It was nearly like a Colors match, with two younger, gifted and adventurous sides operating every little thing, besides that one of many sides was Lansdowne.  Our first line of defence was somewhat porous in the course of the park, however assured cowl tackling from Jack Cooke and Barry Fitzpatrick, at six and 7 (although in a great way) prevented the scholars from gaining a lot territory from their assaults. The Faculty rush defence had a equally stifling impact on us, and onerous as he tried to outfox them with chips alongside the bottom or excessive, out half Stephen Madigan couldn’t handle to realize a lot territorial benefit both.

For what appeared like a whole Siberian winter, this creative stalemate persevered – a bit like a cross between the Siege of Stalingrad and the Kirov Ballet – till ultimately the scholars once more bought a penalty. On the sting of most individuals’s definition of “kickable”, their glorious scrumhalf and kicker, Michael Maloney made quick work of it, placing them again right into a slender lead. 5 – 6 on the half hour mark.  The UCD strain continued from the restart and shortly we had been again on our line, withstanding wave after wave of assault. The strain confirmed and our line was lastly breached by their lofty second row, Alan Spicer, with that pesky scrum half topping it off with one other properly taken conversion from the nook. 5 – 13.

Now it was Lansdowne’s flip to exert the strain and we threw each weapon in our arsenal at them, quick onerous operating and large passes, finally resulting in a attempt by Cathal Eddy. It was 10 – 13 because the half time and a little question cosy fireplace chat from Fassie approached.  Nonetheless, the guests hadn’t completed their half but.  They resumed their different assault and although our defence was tighter now and so they didn’t win a lot territorial benefit, they did win one other penalty simply inside our half and properly inside their deadly kicker’s vary. So, properly into harm time within the first half, Collidge stretched their lead additional to 10 – 16.

As supporters rushed again inside for some half time heat, the phrase within the loos was “don’t panic”.  Presumably they had been speaking concerning the sport.

If doable, the depth elevated after the restart with each side going at it toe to toe like Rocky Balboa and that Russian lad from Rocky IV. Our defence was impenetrable and at occasions strong with the penalty rely towards us reflecting as a lot.  Collidge bought one other penalty bringing it to a worrying wanting 10 – 19, however the knowledge of the loos was proper: the rating didn’t mirror a shift in management from the guests to the house facet.  We had contained one of the best they needed to provide and now it was our flip.  The subsequent part of the sport belonged to us.

Our first blood got here from a many-phased advance properly into their half, culminating in a uncommon penalty for us. Stephen put it within the nook and we soaked up as a lot of their defence as we may within the ensuing maul. Sufficient of their defence was absorbed to depart a small however important crack of their cowl out large and permit winger, Cathal Eddy make the primary break, offloading to his comrade from the opposite wing, Sean Galvin who went over within the nook.  15 – 19.

Our set items had been faultless now, scrums and lineouts offering a rock strong platform for the better-looking gamers within the backs to ply their commerce. And they also did.  Oblivious to how chilly all of us had been on the sideline – some individuals had set fireplace to the deal with baggage now and had been warming themselves beside the poisonous flames – Lansdowne performed like they had been at a sunny seven’s event. We camped inside their 22 and launched assault after assault on the scholars. However for a number of properly contested lineouts and good Collidge exits, we’d have caught them sooner, however catch them ultimately we did as we entered the ultimate quarter of the sport.  The Faculty defence was scrambling now and so they conceded a yellow card for some over exuberance in a ruck, including to their woes.  We emptied our bench and the contemporary legs of sub scrum half James Kenny completed off a sequence of rucks as he made a wonderful break to complete within the nook.  The equally glorious conversion by Stephen Madigan gave the scoreboard its first wholesome look of the night time 22 – 19.

And we weren’t completed. The guests’ set items and defences had been beginning to unravel somewhat and we received a few of their lineouts and even bought scrum penalties. Finally our strain paid dividends and led to presumably one of the best attempt of the night time. Centre Andy Marks took a go on the blind facet of a ruck simply inside their 22m line and burst into area with alarming velocity for a giant lad. Stretching their defence and drawing two tacklers, Andy offloaded to Sean Galvin who shot over for his second within the nook. 27 – 19 .  UCD seemed like a spent pressure when hooker Tom Barry intercepted a go and offloaded to James Kenny, setting him off on a dash to the nook. However honest play to the Collidge backrow, Matt Healy, for masking the bottom and catching James simply on the road.

The strain continued and we stretched our lead with one other properly taken penalty by Madigan bringing us to 30 – 19 with 5 minutes left on the clock.  Although we by no means let up our work charge, it was a credit score to the Collidge braveness that noticed them claw their approach again into our half and within the closing embers of the sport – the deal with baggage had all gone out by now too – they scored a wonderful attempt below the put up to safe a shedding bonus level.  Collidge sub scrum-half, Rob Gilsenan, even in solely a cameo function, nearly positively had a hand within the attempt.

Full time 30 – 26.

An incredible sport and a worthy tribute to 2 nice previous members of two nice golf equipment in whose reminiscence it was performed: Billy Sutherland and Eddie O’Connor.

LANSDOWNE 30 UCD 26, Aviva Stadium again pitch

Scorers: Lansdowne: Tries: Cathal Eddy, Sean Galvin 2, Tom Barry, James Kenny; Con: Stephen Madigan; Pen: Stephen Madigan

UCD: Tries: Alan Spicer, Dan Campbell; Cons: Michael Moloney 2; Pens: Michael Moloney 3

HT: Lansdowne 10 UCD 16

LANSDOWNE: Hugo McLaughlin; Cathal Eddy, Andy Marks, Rory Parata, Sean Galvin; Stephen Madigan, Jack Matthews; George Morris, Tom Barry, Greg McGrath, Steven Walshe, Ruairi Clarke, Jack Cooke (capt), Barry Fitzpatrick, Donough Lawlor.
Replacements: Mikey Yarr, Adam Boland, Hardus van Eeden, James Kenny, Steve McMahon, Tom Monaghan.

UCD: Tim Corkery; Harry Donnelly, David Ryan, Wilhelm de Klerk, Ross Deegan; Daragh Gilbourne, Michael Moloney; Hugo O’Malley, Bobby Sheehan (capt), Andrew Sparrow, Alan Spicer, Gerry Hill, Conor Tonge, Michael Colreavy, Matt Healy.
Replacements: Lucas Maguire, Tom O’Riordan, Evin Coyle, Dan Campbell, Rob Gilsenan, Niall Carroll.