This game was easy to write about and even better to watch for those who were there in what was a sublime performance by the J1 team in securing victory against Clontarf in what looked on paper a tricky away fixture in Castle Ave. It also contributed and added to the list of good results overall for the Landsdowne club this weekend.

The first half of this game was played at a high tempo/pace with both teams trying to exercise superiority over the other and it took just five minutes for the opening score to come along which was for Clontarf following a back move and crash ball through the center with an offload out of the tackle to another back who was able to touch down. The conversion was missed from close in solely due to the ferocity of the high wind which dominated the game, and no doubt was a byproduct of storm Aileen passing over the country on this particular day.

Lansdowne struck back shortly after the restart following some good play in the loose allowing prop Oscar Egan space to run through from the ‘22 breaking a few tackles before touching down to the right of the posts. Again, the conversion was missed in the tricky conditions and this pattern to the game continued with both sides attacking each other and it was Clontarf who struck again at the mid way point of the first half from close in to the ‘22  where after several phases of possession and a fine offload out of a tackle their speedy lock No.5 touched down under the posts and with the conversion added left the scoreline at 12 – 5.

Not in any way put on the back foot by this the J1’s came immediately back and after a period of concerted pressure and a yellow card for the Clontarf’s out half it was left to scrum half Jack Matthews to cross over for a score and with the conversion from full back Jack Connolly left the scoreline level at 12 points each. Again, the game ebbed and flowed one way and then the other and it was the home side that started to apply pressure deep within the ’22 and after 32 minutes they retook the lead after the said No.5 lock forward burrowed over from close in to leave the score at 17 - 12.

Almost from the restart, the J1’s struck back and after a superb back move it was left to Jack Matthews to score a really nice team score under the posts and with the conversion from Connolly coming towards half time the J1 outfit had taken the lead for the first time by 19 -17. However, this was not the end of the action in the first half and again following some outstanding forward/Backs interaction it led to a break from Jack Matthews who offloaded the ball to speedy winger Oisin Devitt who cut inside close to the line to be tackled but offloaded the ball expertly out of the tackle to the on running Jack Connolly who was able to run in under the posts a fabulous try from sixty meters out and with the conversion added by said Connolly left the scoreline at half time at 26 – 17.  It was time to catch your breath in what had been a brilliant first half for both teams and very entertaining to watch.

The message at the break was more of the same as it had been a very good performance by the J1 team who had it put up to them by Clontarf but had responded in terrific fashion. One felt that the first score of the second half was to be crucial in deciding the overall outcome of this game.

The second half began with, as so often happens, a lull in the scoring so much so despite huge effort from both teams the scoreline remained the same for the opening twenty minutes. One felt that the J1 outfit had, however, mastered their opponents and were now beginning to enjoy periods of more possession and territory.

It was not until the last quarter that the breakthrough came and what a breakthrough it was with Lansdowne hemmed in their half close to the ’22. In one movement they turned defense into attack and center Dylan O’Keeffe broke through the defensive line cleanly towards the halfway line and as the last defender was coming to him offloaded the ball to the speedster Sean Galvin who did the rest running the ball in from the 10-meter line to score under the posts and with the conversion by Connolly pushed the scoreline out to 33 - 17

The confidence was clear to see in the J1’s and they were now dominating the game and Clontarf although trying hard were unable to match them in the ferocity of the tackle and pace of attack. By now the clock was running down and with minutes to play the final score of the game was achieved following a superb long pass from Matthews out to substitute winger Alex Kinahan who dotted down in the corner. That ended a really good display of rugby by this team who had hugely improved from the last day and showed in what were very difficult blustery and stormy conditions that they are a formidable outfit when on song.

For me this week what a good team performance full of energy, application, grit and no short levels of skill. Mention Jack Matthews who had an outstanding cutting-edge display coming back from injury. Also, for Luke O'Connor in the line out and the back row in general. In the back line mention for Dylan O'Keeffe who performed with huge energy levels and was a thorn in the side of the home team. Overall, to a man well done and it is hoped that this performance will set down a marker for the weeks ahead and the next fixture will be at home to Barnhall MU on a Thursday night in headquarters on the 31st of October next at 8pm.

 
Match Report - John Kilroy