v Parkmore
UCD J4 13 - Parkmore 17
The game was played out on Thornfield, the scene of our great performance last week in which we sealed our first victory for this team since Shane Geraghty was Captain over two years ago. However our start was somewhat lacklustre and as a team we never seemed to hit full stride.
An early penalty was kicked by Parkmore to give them a 3 – 0 advantage, but Paul Gilligan stole one back for us. However by half time Parkmore were 9 – 3 ahead having kicked two more penalties. We regrouped at half time and Gilly slotted another penalty to make the score 9 – 6 and all of a sudden it was game on.
However on about 55 minutes after a missed penalty attempt went wide we failed to clear our lines and Parkmore punished us for our slow reaction and quickly turned the ball over. Quickly moving the ball through the hands their left winger used his overlap to full advantage and capitalized with a try. They failed to convert leaving the score line at 14 – 6.
However the combination of fresh legs, the downhill advantage and a sudden surge of the fighting spirit which had been lacking all day saw Collidge storm back at a Parkmore side starting to tire. The small but extremely mobile J4 pack rumbled down the hill before the ball popped out to Stephen O'Hara on the right wing, as he was taken down just short of the line the Collidge pack sealed the ball and set Mick Barton up for a great try in the corner.
With the score line at 14 – 11 all eyes turned to Gilly who was left with a huge touchline conversion attempt to bring us within a point, and low and behold he slotted it. However it was not be, and with only two minutes remaining Collidge gave away a penalty and three more points.
We were all gutted at the end as it was a match that we could and should have one. Hopefully we will have found our J4 spirit by next weekend against Mary's!
Man of the match was awarded to Paul Gilligan for a fine display including the "monstrous" conversion from the touch line!
Fred Gilligan (J3 Captain)