An Epic Display of Junior Rugby as War Weary J2s Prevail over Marys

Unfortunately, the game started on time, despite the fact that your correspondent was stuck in traffic. J2 Manager and club PRO (is there any beginning to his talents?) John Delany takes up the story.  “After a scintillating run, number 8 Eoin Buggy offloaded to centre Adam Daly who finished off the move. Conor Lenihan converted, and we were seven points up.” 

But Mary’s struck back with a try of their own and two penalties leaving it 7-13 by the time the press corps arrived 20 minutes into the game.  

The score must have flattered the visitors because Lansdowne seemed in full control, and we entered the second quarter. Pinning them inside their half they cleared the ball aimlessly to an eagerly waiting full back Finn O’Loughlin. Big mistake. Charitable in most other walks of life, no doubt, Finn loves nothing more than to make eejits of onrushing defenders, and he sliced through them in a 30m (no, sorry Finn) 50 METER run, leaving them scratching their heads in bewilderment. A cracking try. One of Limerick’s latest Lansdowne exports, Conor Lenihan (as the brother, Daragh played for us up in Terenure at the same time) slotted over the conversion, nudging us into the lead. 14-13 with the clock ticking towards half time.  But Conor had got his bearings now and when we were awarded another penalty just inside their half, he opted to go for it. And he nailed it. Mary’s worked back into our half into range of the posts but missed their penalty attempt, so it was 17-13 as the ref blew for the break and our lads rushed to the sideline for coach Mark “Face” Quinn’s sweeties and a much-needed snooze.

There’s nothing like a power nap, and it seemed to do the trick, because these marvels of modern medicine came out for the second half electrified. From the restart, winger Adam Galbraith soared into orbit and tapped back the ball for our pack to recycle. It moved across and back and when it looked like going back to the open side, that cunning devil, scrumhalf Stephen "Stewie" Morris switched to the blind popping it to barnstorming Buggy, who carried two defenders on his back inside the 10-meter line before offloading to that man Finn again who ran the remaining 20 meters to touch down for his second.  If they were feeling the effects of the night (and early morning) before, Lansdowne weren’t showing it, as they stretched their lead to 22- 13 with the second half less than ten minutes old.

The Mary’s boys must not have been up quite as late and they came back into the game, winning a number of penalties. We were lucky to have been spared a yellow and only conceding three points as we entered the final quarter 22-16.

Then, as if Conor Lenihan wasn’t doing enough with his boot and opening up the backline, he finished off an excellent move started by openside flanker Matt Whelehan winning a turnover and Stewie swinging it to the blind side again for Conor to finish. 29-16.

Now it was about holding on. Joking apart, it was staggering to witness the effort of these lads as Marys tried everything to get back into the game in the final quarter. They snatched an intercept inside their half and poured down the pitch, but by the time their first attacker was tackled, our entire pack had covered back to block any further advances. The scrums might have smelled like a brewery, but those brave donkeys did incredible work to keep the talented and enterprising Marys team at bay. Leading the effort by example (the night before as well as on the pitch) was wing forward Alex McEvoy as the younger crew followed in his footsteps, Caolim Fassbender and Mikey Whelan each putting in Herculean shifts in second row.

Spare a thought also for those who answered the call late. Paul “PK” Kinney was just getting his bed warm at around 9.00am when Coach Curry called and asked him to cover at sub. And turn up he did. Mercifully for everyone, he wasn’t needed after the warmup “that nearly killed me” but his effort is noted. As Winston Churchill (sort of) said, “they also serve who lie and groan …” (see photo)

Back to the game and the astronomical penalty count against us was the only sign our lads were starting to flag.  Eventually the inevitable yellow came. It was awarded to full back Finn, not because he had infringed any laws but because the Mary’s lads had signed a petition to get rid of him.

Eventually, the tempo of the game took its toll on the Mary’s lads too and their attack dwindled to nothing. The final whistle sung like music to Lansdowne ears, as 30 players collapsed in a heap.  What an effort.  Another epic display of junior rugby at its best.

Full time 29-16 to Lansdowne.

Match Report - Brian Whelan

Match album.