The game plateaud a bit for the next quarter but Ballymena did find some goodfield positions. Paul Neville was well tagged as he drove out of defence on 36minutes. Lavery was soon to face the ire of Eanna O’Dowd and when Hircockdeparted 2 minutes later, Marshall edged his side into a 6-5 interval lead.

Whatever was said in the confined sanctuary of the dressing room had thedesired effect as the 13 men fairly tore into their opponents from the off. Thepack played like men possessed and showed courage, determination and a level ofintensity that made some of the elder light supporters recall greatperformances of days gone by. The numbers game was evened up a bit when RossHackney infringed. The light blues took full advantage when hooker James Raeldrove hard on half way. The ball was recycled at bewildering speed before thespace was created for Alan Gaughan to score in the corner. A sublime off loadby Fergal Lawler on 60 minutes produced a run of stunning quality as Gaughancut an inside line and sailed through the defence for a try which Declan Cusackconverted. It was the latter’s beautifully flighted chip to the corner inthe 70th minute that caused all sorts of confusion for the cover.Ronan O’Mahony reacted quickest to pick up the loose ball and dive overthe line. Cusack converted to make it 24-6 and there was never any doubt thatthe Bateman Cup was on it’s way to Dooradoyle.

Huge Performances
There were some huge performances throughout. The introduction of AnthonyKavanagh at 7 and Shane Buckley at 6 was a big bonus as we increased the tempowith every passing minute. Lemeki Vaipulu will never carry more ball. Locks,Frank McKenna and David Sherry lorded it in the line-outs. Sherry’sperformance in the loose and tight was as out of the top drawer. JPCooney/Peter O’Shea/Declan Lavery, James Rael/Alan McMahon always heldthe edge in the scrums. A noticeable feature was some real solid driving by thefront row throughout. Hircock and Cusack formed an exciting midfieldpartnership and when called upon, Lorcan Bourke was steadiness personified atfull back. Ronan O’Mahony and Alan Gaughan on the flanks gave theiropposite numbers a fair old roasting. Congratulations to Alan for picking upRTE man of the match award.  There were 4 or 5 truly genuine contendersbut this was essentially a team performance, rarely bettered over the years.Neil Cronin at scrum half is a mere 19 years old. In a word he was“Magnificent”. Fergal Lawler at out-half showed unbelievable handsand cleverly disguised directional changes with his passing. Both Declan Cusackand Lawler put in some vintage line kicking that kept our resolute pack chargingforward in  “once more unto the breach” style.

Nev and Frankie
The writer has mentioned everyone at this stage with exception of Paul Nevillewho retired injured midway through the second half. It was Nev’s last game for the club. What aservant he has been for the light blues. As befits a man of great character,his first thought after the game was to ensure our injured Club Captain, ConanDoyle, lifted the Cup with him to the delight of the ecstatic Dooradoylefaithful. Frank McKenna also played his last game for the club. His performanceon Saturday was for the ages.

Paul Cunningham
What can we say about Coach Paul Cunningham?His achievements are legendary. He won the grand slam in 2006/7 and with TomTierney and Paul Murphy at his side this year, has added the All Ireland andMunster Senior Cups. Following a big scare last year in the AIL, the coachingstaff managed to steady the ship with a less anxious table finishing position. Paul Cunningham was a top class player, anexceptional coach and most importantly a gentleman. Paul is stepping down aftera very lengthy tenure at the helm. He will be missed in Dooradoyle but hisadvice, knowing him, will only be a phone call away.
They also served
Congratulations to Conor Kilroy andhis rugby committee, James Quilligan, Mattie Joyce, Mick Lucey and Mark VanDrumpt et al for their efforts. It was a hard day’s night on Saturday andSunday for everyone. The supporters bus sped home, the troops refuelled(l’écrivain aussi!), the players were toasted and on and on it wentto…yet another blast of H.F.G.

Garryowen F.C. have booked two 49 seater coaches to accomodate supporters travelling to the Bateman Cup final on Sat April 28th.  Both buses will have toilet facilities.

Buses will leave Bobby Byrnes at 9.30 am.  Bobbys will be open for breakfast from 8.30 am, so if anyone wants to get a breakfast roll, Bobbys will cater for us.

The cost per person on both buses is EUR10 per adult and EUR5 per child.
Payment cannot be accepted on the day as we have to confirm numbers in advance.

Contact Conor McCarthy 087 2428229 re bus from Bobbys or Geraldine Morrissey 087 2466815 to book your seat on the bus from clubhouse.

Names and payment at Garryowen F.C. on Tues 24th April from 6.30 pm and Thurs 26th April from 6.30pm.

Since Kevin’s demise we have held an annual cycle in his memory with the proceeds going directly to C.R.O.S.S..

In the last year Mr Paul Wallace has come on board as Patron of the Charity. Using Pauls contacts  and my club contacts. We have decided this year to try and raise €100,000 by cycling from Mizen head to Malin head over six days starting September 2nd.

We will have five teams of rugby players representing Munster, Leinster, Connaught, Ulster an International team (former Lions Players) along with individual and teams from the rugby, cycling and general community. Hoping to have up to 180 people “on the road at any time”

Our aim is to have a formal media launch in the week of the Heineken Cup Semi final in Dublin, with Matt Copper from Today F.M. already on board to give daily updates on the cycle. We are now seeking potential event, team sponsors, I have attached a sponsors proposal which you might like to consider and participation detail if any of your members would like a fantastic week of craic cycling and good company in the first week of September.

I do realise for a number of clubs your competitive season is now over  and come September you will be in pre season preparation, however you may have some retired player, members who cycle for fitness or some people just looking for to enjoy a great week.

We are  basically asking you  please take just a minute of your time to distribute this request to all the rugby community in Munster, club members, fans etc and I thank you in advance for that.

Should you be interested please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Conor by e-mail jkingslisduff@gmail.com or call me on 086 3854514.

Yours in Rugby Football
Johnny.

It should have been 13-8 after 50 minutes, but O’Brien was wide with apenalty from a favourable position. Jamie Gavin was introduced and proceeded tohave a significant influence on the game.  He nailed a cracker of apenalty from 45 metres. Derry O’Connor’s  no-nonsensedefensive clearance made great ground inside the Crescent half on 62 minutes.From the ensuing lineout, Neil Cronin proceeded to fairly zip the ball from aseries of rucks and the back row of Cross, Dooley and Donovan came into theirown. The ball was driven on before the gap appeared and O’Connorsupported in classic fashion to score. Cian O’Shea might have seen moreof the ball on the wing but the excellent Crescent midfield defence blotted outthe supply channel from his inside numbers. When switched to outside centre inthe second half, he began to find some excellent lines of running. JamieMcInerney produced an impressive turn of foot on 72 minutes and O’Sheawas on his shoulder to take the pass and score with ease. It was a try worthyof winning any game. Gavin converted and applied a little bit of style with adrop goal on 80 minutes to complete the scoring.

The final score-line flattered the light blues somewhat. For long stretches,the game was up for grabs. O’Connor’s huge defensive clearance on62 minutes was a major turning point. When Eoghan Cross requested the“Three Cheers for Crescent” he did so with honesty and conviction.This was a ding-dong battle, but as sporting a game you may never see. Well doneto both sides and coaching teams. It would be unfair to single out any playeron the winning team. Suffice to say, this was a victory achieved by 22 playersand a few more beside. John Staunton, John Giltenane, Dan Larkin, KevinHartigan, Dermot Waters, Joe Brooks, Dara Walsh, Gerry Baggott (A.K.A OWL) andKevin Sheehan all are commended for their efforts. A special word of thanks toour medical team of Dr. Michael Carmody and Gary Rainsford.

The 1 to 22 lined out as follows: Mick Lynch, Cillian Walsh, Jack Kingston, JoeBarry, Colm Considine, Eoghan Cross (Capt.), Michael Dooley, Jack Donovan, NeilCronin, Shane O’Brien, Shaun Horgan, James McInerney, James McGarry, CianO’Shea, Derry O’Connor, Colm Skehan, Kevin Long, Sam O’Rourke,Ronan Hogan, Alex Griffin, Jamie Gavin, Donough McGillicuddy.
The AIL now moves to the play off stages when we take on St. Mary’sCollege in Dooradoyle on Saturday. Kick off isat 12.45. The senior game will start at 15.00.
Weekend Fixtures.
AIL Div 1 A
It will be an extremely busy weekend in Dooradoyle. Our 1stXVswing back into action with the visit of Old Belvedere on Saturday at 15.00.  Pleasenote change to kick off time
It would be foolish to read anything into the respectiveleague positions as the ground has dried out considerably and both sides canput the ball about quite effectively.

Munster Junior Cup s/f
On Sunday we take on age old rivals Cork Con in the semi final ofthe Munster Junior Cup. Sure to be a cracker.

AIL Div 1 A v Shannon

It looked pretty promising that the pointswould remain in Dooradoyle as our senior team raced into a seeminglyunassailable 17-5 half time lead in last Friday night’s re-fixed AILgame. What a difference a week makes. Declan Cusack kicked a wind-assisted 9thminute penalty and the evening got even brighter when following as subtle apunt ahead as you will ever see by Paul Neville on half way, right wing AdamO’Loughlin followed up to score. The conversion was wide but 8-0 was ahealthy enough lead.  A further penalty from Cusack made it 11-0 but, outof nowhere, The Parish struck back in the 36th minute. Cusack appeared incontrol as he attempted to clear his lines, but he hesitated. The visitor’sinfluential out-half, Taught Bennett, was having none of it as he proceeded tocharge the kick down and controlled the ball for an opportunist try. The latterwas wide with the conversion and also failed to find the range with two (by hishigh standards) kickable penalties. Those misses were proving costly whenCusack hit back with two rapid-fire penalties on 38 and 43 minutes for a 17-5half time lead.

The mood in the clubhouse during the interval was mixed, depending on youraffiliation. Many of the smallest crowd you could imagine for such a premierderby found edible sustenance at the G Burger stand. That three inch gem seemsto deal very effectively with those nagging pangs of hunger. Meanwhile back atthe ranch in the 43rd minute, Bennett had reduced the margin to 17-8with a straight forward 22 metre penalty. The game could have been decided inthe 45th minute when some smashing football put Corey Hircock inpossession 10 metres from the line in the right corner at the clubhouse end. Onany other day he might have backed himself and squeezed through the rapidlynarrowing gap, but his moment’s hesitation made the pass toO’Loughlin incomplete.

The Parish don’t do “gift horses” and they slowly gained morethan parity in the possession stakes. Their out-half stroked a beauty to makeit 17-11 on 50 minutes and when No 7 Kieran O’Gorman refused to leave theruck ball alone in the 53rd minute, referee Michael Black dulydispatched him to the bin and the scoreboard now read 17-14. It was 17-17 whenDavid Sherry was adjudged to be off his feet on 57 minutes and the resultantpenalty from Bennett sailed between the posts. It was no more than their spiritand efforts deserved.

Stung into action, the light blues endeavoured to restore their margin andpride. That looked a certainty when Cusack sold one of his dummies outside the Shannon 22 in the 70th minute. Unbelievably,like the “last-leg” man in the 100 metre relay, Hircock hit thesupporting line with a fraction too much pace and the “baton” was droppedwith the line at his mercy. Groans from the light-blue faithful, huge sighs ofrelief from the Coonagh brethren.

Ronan O’Mahony decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck with asensational run on 74 minutes but the try refused to come. A penalty by Cusack3 minutes later seemed to have won it as the ball split the posts from 22metres. It should have been “ball up the jumper” stuff after thatbut rather naively the emphasis was on more “footie”. That provedto be a serious tactical error because this Shannon8 never gave up and turned the ball over on the light-blue 10 metre line. Thevisitors’ replacement prop Kevin O’Neill got the better on thescrum “engage”. The shunt came on and the light blue locks wentdown. The referees’ hand extended and cool as you like, Bennett slottedthe equaliser with the last kick of the game. It was more than fitting that hehad the final say as he accounted for all his side’s scores. Final score:20-20 and a brace of points a piece.

It was disappointing for the light blues that they failed to do the“double” They had every opportunity to do so on the night. Fullcredit to Shannon who deservedly gained the two points which may make theirrun-in less “stressful”. On Friday night’s performance, theyhave certainly earned it.
Munster Junior Cup q/f
The home side were quietly confident oftaking this quarter-final game but a determined light blue 15 had other ideasand their well merited 29-14 win edged then a step closer to winning the Cupfor the first time since 2006/7. Brendan Cullinan’s first half try,converted by Shane O’Brien, proved the platform for a 19-5 half timelead. O’Brien was in scintillating form adding three first halfpenalties. Even though the Tipperaryside narrowed the gap to 19-14 with three second half penalties, the superiorclass of the light-blues re-emerged in the final quarter. Anthony Kavanagh wasa power-house at No 8 and he steadied the ship to ensure safe passage to thelast four. Out-half Shane O’Brien showed great composure throughout and afurther penalty (22-14) and touch-line conversion to MichaelO’Shea’s 72nd minute try brought his points contribution to 19. Itwas a very hard fought game and we had to dig very deep against a well-coachedhome side. The light blues lined out as follows: Eamon Connolly; Brian Smith,Mike O’Shea, Alan Gaughan, Cian O’Shea; Shane O’Brien, Aran Healy; PeterO’Shea, John Mark Griffin, Brendan Cullinan; Luke Horgan, Alan Kennedy; BarrySheehan, captain; Mark Hanrahan, Anthony Kavanagh. The semi final will beagainst our old rivals Cork Constitution in Dooradoyle on Sunday 25thMarch. This is sure to be a high quality game as in numerous encounters overthe years.

AIL U21 SWC
Our U21’swent down 28-15 to UL Bohemian in Annacotty last Saturday. Despite trailing 7-3at the break, (Jamie Gavin penalty) we edged 10-7 ahead when ascintillating break by full back Eamon Connolly from inside his 22 was finishedoff by No 13 Jamie McGarry at the other end. Gavin converted but some loose playenabled UL Bohemian to hit back and they had stretched it out to 21-10 beforeCian O’Shea raced over in the left corner to reduce the deficit to 21-15with five minutes to play. We came close to gaining that illusive, sevenpointer, but resolute defence from the Robins kept their line intact.Eventually they broke out of defence and some very good support play forced thetry which was excellently converted for a 13 point win. The result did notchange the pecking order at the top and light blues hung on (by the skin oftheir teeth) to qualify for the SWC Final v Old Crescent on Saturday in Rosbrien at14.30

Paddy Cunneen RIP

It is with a heavy heart that this writerbids farewell to that great light blue, Paddy Cunneen, who made his final visitto St. John’sCathedral on Tuesday evening. He died peacefully at home. He was the belovedhusband of Helen, loving father of daughters Pat (recently deceased), Karen,Maeve, Joan and son John. A special word of consolation to his daughter Maevewho was always by his side in Dooradoyle. Paddy was a lovely, kind andcourteous man. He had a very easy, gentle disposition. His words were always ofencouragement. The type of words that makes one proud, the type of words thatmakes one try a little harder. In victory and defeat, his “mantra”was always the same. “Garryowen in Glory” which he delivered withthe same pride and humility as “not to worry Christy, there will be otherdays”.