There was a queue for the defibrillator at the end of this pulsating battle in Tom Clifford Park on Saturday, as a Lansdowne panel, much depleted through injury and elevation, showed immense character to hold out against a spirited Cookie comeback. 

[Reader Warning! – with 75 excellent points scored, it’s impossible to keep this report short, so get a cup of tea and settle in … we’re going to be here a while.]

The elements favored an open style of play and both sides took full advantage from the kickoff. First it was Lansdowne to launch an attack with phase after phase of intense but meticulous play, no pass ever failing to reach its target in spite of crushing tackles from the Young Munsters. We secure a penalty and outhalf James Tarrant ignores the advice of the traveling sideline sages to “take the points” and goes for the corner. In the phases that follow, the ball comes out of a ruck in the middle of the pitch and scrum half Jack Matthews goes surprisingly to the well defended right. He draws one then passes long to second row Matt Healy and Matt defies the cruel stereotyping of second rows being slow and ungainly (and ugly, some even say) by showing the defenders a clean pair of heels and speeding to the line. He looks like he might even make it, but passes to winger Tom Roche cutting inside to tip it down with less than four minutes played. James kicks the conversion and we’re off to a cracking start, 0 – 7.

But straight from the restart, the Cookies showed they can attack was well as defend, winning a lineout well and spinning it wide to our Tom’s opposite number Orin Burke replying to Tom with a try of his own in the corner. Their faultless kicker on the day, centre, Shane O’Leary struck the conversion beautifully from the touchline and with less than seven minutes played it was clear we were in for a high scoring game. 7 – 7.

Sure enough, the next wasn’t long in coming. We took up residence in their half from the restart and looked well in control when they knocked it on and we had our first scrum. Any fears that our pack would be outmuscled were soon dispelled as props Julien Valleise and Greg McGrath got well under their opposite numbers driving them back and then up for a penalty. The hosts manage to clear the ball from the lineout that followed but only into the hungry arms of Sean “Snoop” Galvin covering the backfield. Sean scorched back into the Young Munster 22 then passed inside to centre Harry O’Riordain on the 10 meter and Harry finished off the lightening strike. James topped it off and it was 7 – 14 with five minutes still to go in the first quarter. 

Our territorial dominance continued helped by repeated offside penalties against the overeager Munster defenders. Happily, the experienced international referee, George Clancy knew better than to take personally some of the advice coming from the sideline.  Nor did our own decision makers on the pitch heed the chorus from our own elders to “take the points” from all these penalties. Evidently Tarrant or perhaps Captain Andy Marks had more faith in another try and Andy he proved it by scoring his first try of the day himself. The ball came out of a ruck in the middle of the pitch and half back Jack nips through a gap in a centre, going just far enough to allow Andy get in behind his defender and pick up the pass from his bootlaces to power over the 15 meters to the line. James tops it for 7 – 21.

Now the hosts set up camp in our territory and if the Munsters’ defending was good against us, now ours was awesome against them. Wave after wave was repelled with crunching impact and reset as the tacklers spring back to their feet to continue to hold the line.  Credit to the lads’ resilience but also their fitness and credit for that to the Strength and Conditioning coach, Dan Moore.  Having held our lines like Horatio on the Bridge, we worked our way out of our 22 and James Tarrant rewarded his weary teammates with a glorious kick from inside our half to reach touch in their 22 giving us the throw in – a 50:22 for any newcomers (or second rows).  And what a timely relief, but being back in their half didn’t mean any reduction in the intensity. The battle for every inch was waged as if the lives of both sides depended on it, yet for all the intensity and passion, the accuracy was incredible. “How can they keep this up? I’m exhausted just watching it.” said one Alickadoo on the sideline as he reached into the Technical Area to rob one of the team’s water bottles for sustenance.

Happily, the half time whistle blew and a welcome rest was enjoyed by all. 7 – 21

With some Shakespearean symbolism, heavy clouds, wind and rain darkened the pitch as the game restarted as the ominous weather brought trouble with it.  The first sign was a yellow card against us for a deliberate knock on. Then the Munsters took full advantage as they put the ball on our 10 meter line and ran in a text book lineout maul for a try by their hooker near the posts. 14 – 21.

The Munsters’ scrum was now also looking more secure and it offered a perfect platform for their half backs to pepper our back field with testing kicks, one eventually leading to a 50:22 (see above) condemning us to another sustained period of defending.  But before they could build real momentum, hooker Jack Treanor robbed a ball in a ruck and won us a much-needed exit from the danger zone.  Moments later, Jack came to the rescue soon again when they returned briefly to our 22 and he intercepted a pass destined for their lethal right winger and bringing us back into their half.  Now, with a full complement back on the pitch, order seemed to return. Another excellent nudge in the scrum allows lock Paul Wilson to pick and pass to Jack Matthews who sees Snoop Galvin with space in the corner and he pings a beautiful chip over the defenders’ heads allowing Sean to gather and touch down.  14 – 26 as we entered the final quarter.

These opportunist tries might have been keeping our healthy lead intact, but Young Munster were the dominant side during this phase of the game and they soon showed it again with some old school impact. Lots of forward pressure led to a series of penalties and we were lucky to only lose territory and not another player. A lineout maul on our 10 meters was defended bravely, but at the cost of committing players to the rucks, so when they spun it out wide to that left winger again, Orin Burke, he had all the space he needed to touch down in the corner, their centre topping up again. 

21 – 26 and you can hear the Lansdowne bums starting to squeak.

But proctological relief was soon at hand.  From the lineout that followed the restart, Matt Healy pops down a quick ball to sub scrum half, Oisin Devitt and Tarrant at ten pops it up to captain Andy taking a strong line and running 15 meters down the centre. He offloads to full back Todd Lawlor who still has a lot of work to dance around defenders and touch down under the posts.  21 – 33.

And immediately from the restart, Marks showed his leadership and extraordinary attacking chops again.  From the maul that forms from the kick out, second row Ruari Clarke takes a ball and charges down the centre of the pitch popping up to Andy coming at warp speed. Like Todd just moments before, he still had a lot to do, but do it he did and over he went for his second try. (Reportage enhanced by the director, sorry, Chairman of rugby, as your scribe was still taking notes on Todd’s try when Andy went over).   

21 – 40 and surely now our sphincters can relax. Oh no.

Even as the end of ordinary time approached it was clear that the hosts had plenty more fight in them.  And that menace of a left winger was to demonstrate that graphically moments later with another well taken try. 28 – 40. There was another four minutes on the clock with probably another five of injury time.

And then there was more. Now camped in our 22 the attrition was immense. Both benches were emptied (Luke Fagan making is AIL debut for the club) as were the tanks of all the players still on the pitch. Another lineout and that damn Munster maul works its magic again with their hooker touching down near enough the posts to make the conversion a formality for the 100% kicking centre. 35 – 40. 

Injury time was five minutes or less, but it was like the Siege of Limerick, (which apparently some of the alickadoos had also attended).  Rarely has two groups of players put in such an effort, us in desperate defence and them in do or die attack. For all the exhaustion though, the accuracy never flagged on either side. Our tackles were immense and as for their handling, one eminent member of the Lansdowne coaching team was heard to roar at the Cookies, “For [something] sake, would one of you drop the [something] ball!”

But they never did and it took a final heroic effort from our own lads to end their attack and the game as sub hooker Tom Barry won a ball in a ruck and brought the whistle finally to the lips of George Clancy for full time.

 

An absolutely staggering performance away from home, with a depleted panel and an excellent opposition that threw absolutely everything at us. This display didn’t just show the strength and depth of the entire squad, but its character. Pure class.

Match report - Brian Whelan


Match photos can be viewed here.- Michael O'Brien