UCD J4 6 - Trinity 8
After a very promising training session on Thursday and strict orders for all the players to abstain from alcohol on Friday night we made the long trip out to Santry on Saturday afternoon. Arriving in good time we were a very focussed unit heading out onto the park for the away leg of our Colours fixture. The game started badly though and we seemed to be pinned back on our own 22 for most of the first 20 minutes. Our attacking left a lot to be desired and we were unable to complete the few moves that we did have to look in any way dangerous. Our defence was again though very solid and tackles were being put in by every man in the St. Patrick’s Blue out there. Gilly who started at out half tried unsuccessfully to get in behind the Trinity team with little chips over the top but most of these came straight back to us in the form of strong running from the Trinity full back and number 13, this added to the disbelief that we were playing the same team that were beaten by Parkmore 56 - 0 last weekend!!
Sam Duffy was doing Trojan work from the base of the scrum making yards every time he took the ball on, and brought tears to his Mum and Dads eyes who were cheering on from the sideline. One would never have a guessed that John Roche at full back was actually a student of Trinity such was ferocity of some of his covering tackles. Indeed the Cockroach was equally unstoppable with the ball in hand and looked very dangerous on the attack throughout the game. Other men of note in the pack were Connor O'Higgins and Niall Collins who took some super balls in the lineout and there is no doubt that Matt Leonard and the boys are getting to know each other a lot better. Alas on the 30-minute mark Trinity full back broke our defensive lines and managed to off load to his number 13 man who went over for a try in the corner and all of a sudden we were 5 nil down. They failed to convert.
Gilly came back with a well kicked penalty on the cusp of half time and we left the first half trailing 5 - 3. All in all a result which we were happy enough with. The second half though meant it was time to step up a gear and the lads dully obliged. Doyler came on for Shoey and Ken Forde was replaced by the Big Man Tom Hill (Happy Birthday Tom). The Collidge team began to really attack the Trinity lines and wave after wave of blue attacks were only just about being repelled. Eventually we were awarded a penalty for our disciplined attacking and Gilly obliged. Collidge lead 6 - 5. We didn’t sit back and again we attacked in waves battering the Trinity defence and any signs of Trinity uprising against us were quickly and efficiently dealt with. But out of nowhere with about 7 minutes to go they were awarded a dubious penalty in front of the sticks and got it. Trinity leading 8 - 6. Tom Hill who was dazed and confused was replaced by John Creen and Doyler was replaced by Cormac Foley who moved into out half and played well there.
Talk about lighting the afterburners for a Collidge team. Barry Sheahan came on for Paul Dempsey with about 5 minutes to go but even the mighty Barry couldn’t find a way through. We attacked and attacked and were camped on their 22 but to no avail. The ref missed a huge amount of infringements any of which Gilly would have easily kicked three points from and alas the final whistle was blown. Each and everyone of us was gutted. The men of the match though has to go equally to Sam Duffy and John Roche who have both ensured they will be in the starting line up from now on. An equally big up has to go Shoey for that massive round he bought in Hartigans on Saturday night where the J3s recovered their composure and resolved to come out fighting even harder if that’s possible against Bective next weekend.
Best of luck to Claudio Doyle who returns home to Uruguay this weekend.
Fred Gilligan