Gorey stay in Divison 2 with Outstanding performance over Clondalkin

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Gorey hosted Clondalkin on Sunday for the most crucial game of the season. Only a win would secure Gorey?s position in Div 2 for next season.
It was also an important game for Clondalkin as a win would put them in a play off with Garda for promotion to Div 1 next season.
Gorey were without Captain Adrian Copeland after he broke his thumb the previous weekend and were hoping Hooker Barry O?Connor would last after returning from a foot injury which has not fully healed.
Gorey won the toss and decided to play into the wind. The 1st 20 minutes was going to be the best display of the season by Gorey and lead by outhalf Jack Sykes and the days Captain JP Redmond. Clondalkin were shell shocked and didn?t no what had hit them. From the 1st kick off Isaac Porter claimed the ball and Gorey went straight on attack. At the 22 a ruck was formed near the side line. No 9 Matt Bater quickly moved the ball to Jack Sykes (who looked as if he had rehearsed this in his sleep) he nicely chipped over the rushing Clondalkin backline and out sprinted the defence to score the 1st try. Clinton Furney converted to put Gorey ahead 7 nil after 5mins.
Gorey continued to put pressure on Clondalkin and Captain JP Redmond lead by example scoring two trys in the next 15 minutes. Clinton Furney converted one kick for Gorey to lead 19 nil.
Clondalkin had not really touched the ball in the first 20 minutes, but from the next kick off they fielded the ball and went straight on attack scoring a great team try out wide. The conversion was successful and Gorey new that they wouldn?t be able to switch off at all. Clondalkin dominated the remainder of the half but were not taking there opportunities as there kicker missed two penalties. Clondalkin should have scored a second try before halftime but a great covering tackle by wing Phil Furney stopped the try. There kicker was successful with one kick straight after this and Clinton Furney kicked what would be a crucial penalty right on the stroke off half time for Gorey to lead 22 points to 10.
Gorey had the wind behind there backs in the second half and new they needed to play in the Clondalkin half. Clondalkin worked hard to get in good field position but Goreys defence was solid with Colin and Wayne Pevoy putting in some big hits in the midfield and lose forwards Ian Horan and Gregorz dominating at the ruck. Gorey were tiring as the Coach made changes bringing on Ciaran Allen for Ed Warren, Michael O?Loughlin for Phil Furney and 21st Birthday boy Tim O?Rourke for Ian Horan. Clondalkin scored a try and then kicked a penalty with 10 minutes remaining to bring the gap to 2 points. Clondalkin were confident that they had time to get down the field for another penalty. Gorey showed great determination and discipline as they defended there hearts out and didn?t give away any penalties in there own half. Gorey had one last chance to score a bonus point try when Michael OLoughlin broke through a tackle and took off on the half way line. With one player to beat he probably should have backed himself but looked to draw and pass to Clinton Furney. Clinton caught the pass and tackle at the same time and knocked the ball on. Clondalkin could not get out of there half from here on and Gorey celebrated as the final whistle was blown.


Final score. Gorey 22 Clondalkin 20.

Team.
Ed Warren, Barry O?Connor, Ciaran Hennessy, Paul Swaine, Isaac Porter, JP Redmond, Ian Horan, Gregorz, Matt Bater, Jack Sykes, Clinton Furney, Colin Pevoy, Wayne Pevoy, Phil Furney, Vesi Rauluni
Subs. Ciaran Allen, Stephen Brohan, John Fanning, Tim O?Rourke, Michael O?Loughlin

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From Clondalkin Web site


Firsts promotion hopes end in tears
Leinster League Division 2
Gorey 22 vs Clondalkin 20
Article by Jonny Stapleton

 

















A gutsy Gorey broke Clondalkin Rugby Club?s promotion dreams and hearts last Sunday with a hard fought victory that left the Clon players in tears come the final whistle. The relegation threatened Gorey?s desire to remain a Division 2 team seemed greater than promotion chasing Clondalkin?s longing to upgrade to Division 1 and as a result the Wexford natives out battled the visitors to win a tense and exciting game with a lot on the line for both clubs.

With Division 1 status, the biggest prize in Clondalkin Rugby club history, within touching distance Clondalkin had perfect motivation going into the tie. However it seemed the pressure of the occasion got to the side and an abysmal start to the game literally put a finish to their promotion aspirations. To their credit a depleted yet talented Clon side did attempt a miraculous turnaround but unlike Our Lord they couldn?t come back from the dead on Easter Sunday.

A poor start left Clondalkin trailing 19-0 after just 15 minutes. Gorey, who were battling for survival, were winning the early exchanges and helped by some poor visiting fielding and several missed tackles stormed into a three score lead. When Clondalkin did find their bearings and began to impose themselves on the game it became obvious why they reside at the opposite end of the table. After a period of pressure, which saw a Clon pack led by the likes of Dan Fitzpatrick and Paul Nolan make inroads into the opposition half, prop Ciaran Cullen powered over the white wash. The 27 year old front row veteran took full advantage of a powerful Brain Doyle drive to finish from close range.

Chris Jebb, who by that stage had the visitors moving forward, added the extras to reduce the deficit to 19-7. Clondalkin continued to dominate but the hosts seemed determined not to concede and repelled regular visiting attacks. The referee was forced to penalize Gorey for some illegal defending but Clon failed to punish the hosts further thanks to two missed kicks. To their credit Clon didn?t allow the temporary set backs to affect them and they continued their attempt to reduce the deficit.

Michael Ryder and Simon King did the dirty scavenging work that comes with a rugby battle beautifully, Gavin Donnelly looked potentially lethal out wide and the continually competitive Mark Molloy was inspirational in patches. But for all the efforts the Gordon Park side could only register a Chris Jebb penalty, which was cancelled out with the last kick of the first half by a Gorey equivalent.

Clondalkin threatened to follow their first half imploding impression with a poor start to the second period but after an early mistake gave the hosts quality field position Clondalkin went on to dominate the second half in its entirety. The scrum was magnificent and shortened five man line outs enabled Clon?s big ball carriers to test the foundations of the home defensive wall. Simon King came within inches of further reducing the arrears after a sly steal and direct run seconds before Paul Fitzgerald thought he had touched down only for the referee to rule he had put a foot in touch.

Rob Dever was next in line to have an effort disallowed as Clon turned up the heat and just when it looked like the continuous Clon pressure wasn?t going to yield a reward Ciaran Cullen scored again. The man who captained Clondalkin to their only ever win in the prestigious Spencer Cup win showed his leadership qualities giving everything he had to power over again from close range.

Clon had being peppering the home line non stop for five minutes and Cullen with a little help from John Nolan prevailed were Fitzpatrick, Doyle and Dever had failed to register what had the potential to be the most important try in Clondalkin history. The sin binning of Simon King moments later helped Gorey gain temporary relief but it wasn?t long before Clondalkin were pressing once again.

This time Stephen Cunningham came within yards of registering five valuable points after Chris Jebb sent Donnelly scampering clear of the first up cover. Clon eventually got within a score making 22-20 with just 12 minutes remaining via a Jebb Penalty to set up an unbelievably tense finale. However despite an unrelenting effort the visitors couldn?t register the score that would have seen them take on Garda, a side they have beaten in their three previous meetings, in a promotion relegation play off. The one bit of consolation that does come from the game is the knowledge that they will be afforded the chance to have another crack at Gorey next whose 4 points ensured they just about stayed with Division 2. 











Added by Murts April 6, 2010 (4:17PM)
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