v Trinity
UCD J4 13 – 0 Trinity
The return leg of our Colours fixture was played on Thornfield with a 2.30 kick off on Saturday. It was a cold and overcast afternoon and the pitch was what racing pundits would call “heavy” to say the least. We assembled in the Sports Centre and made our way out to the Thornfield for our new improved shorter warm up! The atmosphere was unlike any I have ever experienced before a match before, hardly a word was spoken during the warm up such was the focus within every single player. Back in a huddle in the changing room words were said that can never be repeated but suffice to say had Trinity being in there with us they probably would have forfeited the game there and then!!
The game started well and thankfully the rain was holding off. Gilly was the Captain again as my fitness still isn’t back to full strength. We began by playing up the hill into the wind and managed to keep trinity pinned back in the upper half of the pitch. We were rewarded with a penalty just inside the 10 meter line which Gilly slotted to open our account and pit us 3 - 0 up.
Trinity came back down the hill in a rush after the penalty and it was only a huge effort from the pack which kept them out. The Trinity number 8 was a fine player and was picking from the base of the scrum every time. Mick Barton, Eoin Moriarty and Sam Duffy excelled in putting him down every time. There was an image of Sebastian Chabal down in Thomond Park a few years ago, after Munster had just pummelled him all day, which sprang to mind. By the end of the game he had a bewildered expression on his face and a look in his eye that begged the question what the **** just happened? The number crossed the line but was held up by the pack.
Then we began the long climb up the hill again. Padraic Mulpiter, pronounced MUL-PETER was moving the ball brilliantly to Ken Forde and Gerry Ginty in 12 and 13 berths who were making yards very time they took the ball up and it was from some great backs play with Ken, Gerry and Ross Cahalane linking up that put Connor “the white Habanna” O’Driscoll away in the top left corner for his 4th try this season. In doing so however he injured his leg and was replaced by Paul Ruddy. 25 minutes in and we were 8 - 0 up. The rest of the half was quiet and we held out till half time.
The second half gave us the advantage of the hill and the wind but we failed to capitalise on this for the first 15 minute and in fact the pack again held up the ball when Trinity crossed our line. Paul Dempsey and Ross McMahon who both had a cracker of a game made way for Mark Gilligan and Niall McGoldrick. We attacked in waves but were making mistakes which resulted in us being pushed back but eventually Padraic Mulpiter went over in the corner for a second try giving us a 13 nil lead. It was then that I felt the time had come to make my much anticipated return and Ross Cahalane who had a great game but whose leg was seizing up made way for me on the left wing. I have to say that my time on the pitch was relatively quiet until Padraic gave me a beautiful pass down the left wing just inside my own half. However due to age and lack of match fitness I couldn’t find my pace of old to round their winger.
Barry Sheahan and Eoghain Moriarty made way for Paddy Gamble who had a stormer and Paddy Barrett. Also of note as usual were Matt Leonard and Andrew Hornshaw on the wing. In the end we finished 13 - 0 up and we therefore win our Colours on aggregate. It was a tough game and one that we had to fight hard to win. The support as always was great and Niall Collins managed to come straight from the airport to watch us after his week on the slopes. The Duffys were there in force and some supporters say they saw a tear in Gilly senior’s eye as the three Gilligans took to the pitch at the same time in the St. Patrick’s Blue to beat the old enemy!
Fred Gilligan