Some said the conditions were difficult and others said we were short a few key players, but former firsts regular, Martin (“Deese”) Deasy summed it up best by simply saying “We just weren’t very good.”

The hardy Lansdowne supporters that traveled to Ballymacarn Park on Saturday were teased by an early flurry of class right from the kickoff when winger Tom Roche caught Stephan Madigan’s kick out straight from the off. A series of phases followed with the ball being moved quickly from side to side (though ominously not very far forward) and we were awarded a penalty within two minutes of the start. Mads struck it well and at 0 – 3 and it was looking like the journey would be well worth the fuel. 

But the worrying signs came straight away. First were the lineouts. They defended our maul well, forcing a knock and then ran over us with their maul gaining over 25 meters before we conceded a penalty. And that was the other worrying sign. We conceded five penalties in a row and a stern talking to for stand in captain, Bobby Sheehan. We were lucky not to concede a yellow card. That would come later.

A turgid passage followed with the game being played between the two 22’s, but the deadlock was broken when a lapse in our defence set their centre Matthew Booth over the gain line and he released winger Aaron Sexton for his first try of the day. 5 – 3 on the half hour mark.  The arm wrestle resumed and in fairness some of our defensive play was excellent. We won a ball back in our 22 and perhaps with the right idea in the wrong location, we opted to try to run out of trouble. We moved the ball well through quick hands, but hoofed it down the pitch straight into the welcoming embrace of their full back and kicker Conor Rankin. He countered straight away and skipped easily through our runners, following up too quickly. He evaded three tackles before passing to Sexton again who glided over easily for his second. Rankin slotted over the afters and we looked in big trouble, 12 – 3 as the half time whistle blew.

We tried to bring a bit more energy from the restart with scrum half Jack Matthews varying the play and taking the odd break down the middle, but penetration proved elusive with an otherwise utterly predictable attack. However, our scrum was still dominant and with it we won a kickable penalty which Stephen converted ten minutes into the half. 12 – 6

As we entered the final quarter of the game our efforts became a little forced with kicks going out on the full and breaking players getting caught on their own, so it wasn’t long before ‘Hinch restored the margin with another penalty 15 – 6.

Their lineouts now completely unstoppable, we illegally collapse one and in the penalty that follows they put the ball in our 22, storming over with another maul their hooker and captain, Clayton Milligan touching down and converted again by Rankin. 22 – 6

Our bench was emptied and there seemed some sign of life. The ball is moving a bit quicker through the half backs and James Kenny makes some ground with sniping breaks. Our lineouts too are somehow revived as Matt Healy contests and steals one, but yet again, our attack fails to penetrate. In our eagerness to defend we concede another kickable penalty but their outhalf spots their winger un marked across the pitch and sends an excellently weighted kick his way, catching our lads off guard. 27 -6.

Again, you can never fault a Lansdowne side for effort and heart and we played the last 10 minutes with courage and endeavor. Best of all, for this fan anyway, we started to move the ball wide and in a run of play we hadn’t seen all day (or perhaps for the last three games) we passed the ball quickly and fluidly all over the pitch, working the ball out of our half and resulting an a beautiful try in the corner by winger Tom Roche. Sub outhalf, James Tarrant, added to our hope with an excellent conversion. 27 – 13 with a few minutes plus injury time to go. Dare we hope?

Afraid not. Playing now with nothing to lose, inevitably we left gaps and in the closing moments of the games one of those gaps was exploited and they countered with their centre Booth going over and Rankin driving the final nail in our coffin with another conversion. 34 – 13.

Now the Belvedere game has real significance. See you there.

Match Report: Brian Whelan

You can view the match photos HERE © Michael O'Brien