Schools Rugby/Clongowes Wood 10 Terenure 3:Clongowes deservedly progressed to the Powerade Leinster Schools' Senior Cup final yesterday but the manner of victory was some way short of the standard required to win this competition.
When the rain is incessant and a gale blows diagonally from the Wesley end of this decrepit ground, the smallest tactical nuance can make the difference. Clongowes' forward power is undeniable but their inability to adapt here would have cost them against superior opposition.
It became apparent early on that referee Alan Rogan would not permit their usual approach around the tackle zone. Both teams, but mostly Clongowes, were consistently penalised for failing to stay on their feet. The Clane rugby nursery consistently produces a forward-oriented game, akin to the Scottish style of old. The rucking approach is angled insanely low, in pods and so ferocious that retaining clean possession against a well-drilled Clongowes pack - and invariably that's what they are - becomes a nightmare.
Add in the elements and victory should have been a formality. And yet, the draw was still available to Terenure in injury time. This is partially a compliment to their doggedness against a better team in every area. Even assured outhalf Terry Jones was matched by the intelligent Clongowes halfback pairing of Michael McLoughlin and Ciarán Wade. It was Wade's sensible decision to slip into the pocket for a fine drop goal on 48 minutes that left Terenure chasing a converted try.
Terenure could be camped in the Clongowes 22 this morning and the breakthrough still might not come. The defence was immense with ultra-aggressive hooker Tommy Burns receiving several backslaps for one supreme steal. Also, captain and number eight Trevor Conneely produced as much disruption on his opponents' ball as he did when rampaging over the gain line. There are shades of the 1998 cup-winning Clongowes captain Des Dillon about Conneely.
Dillon had Gordon D'Arcy at fullback, Conneely has David Kearney. Kearney is a quality attacker but his only notable contribution was to convert Nick Mullen's try on 22 minutes from wide left into the breeze.
The tactics here and throughout the campaign have seen Kearney used sparingly, normally on the inside switch, which is a shame as, without fail, he slips out of the first-up tackler. Tom Fletcher is another starved of possession who could do damage in the outside centre channel.
Despite the constant pinging by Rogan, Clongowes persevered with the approach to smash Terenure up front. One perfectly executed rolling maul off a lineout ended with Mullen being shunted over the line but the majority of other approaches ended in frustration.
There were two more try-scoring opportunities for Clongowes. The first came off an electric line break by Wade. The outhalf had a three-on-one scenario and opted to release McLoughlin with an inside pass but a textbook wraparound tackle by Brian Duke denied a certain try. From the ensuing scrum, Conneely attacked off the base but Clongowes infringed on the floor. Terenure cleared. And so went the merry-go-round.
The next gilt-edged opportunity saw Fletcher knock on with Kearney steaming up outside.
Jones attempted to pin Clongowes back but the bounce of the ball and some long-range penalty attempts conspired against him. Conor Allen and Gavan Costelloe must be noted for their ball-carrying as Terenure persevered.
Clongowes were unable to kill off the game while Terenure's ill-discipline saw several attacking platforms wasted. It was a slog, Clongowes prevailed. If the weather clears they might show today's victors - St Michael's or Kilkenny - a few more weapons in a decent arsenal.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 1 min:T Jones pen, 0-3; 22:N Mullen try, 5-3; D Kearney conv, 7-3. Half-time. 48:C Wade drp gl, 10-3.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE:D Kearney; M Sheehy, T Fletcher, S Kennedy, S Lennon; C Wade, M McLoughlin; C Spelman, T Burns, J 'Connell; N Delehanty, N Mullen; B O'Keeffe, T Joyce, T Conneely (capt). Replacements:M Collis for N Delehanty (66 mins).
TERENURE COLLEGE:R Williamson; P Elliott, C Allen, R McDermott, B Duke; T Jones, E O'Hanlon; N McDonagh (capt), R Byrne, A Buckeridge; R Duke, C Keenan; K Elliott, G Costelloe, I Morley. Replacements:C Farrell for R Duke (9 mins), K Moloney for A Buckeridge (43 mins), D Byrne for R McDermott (52 mins).
Referee: A Rogan(ARLB).
