Last Saturday we had sunshine, this Saturday we woke up to witness two inches (5 cms) of snow covering Stevenson Park. Grounds Convenor Billy McKenzie was very appreciative of the help he received from a team of Club stalwarts and Youth rugby players who started work at nine o’clock to help clear the pitch. The helpers worked tirelessly for the next four hours to get the snow cleared from the lines and drain vital parts of the pitch. We are greatly indebted to these volunteers who turned up un-requested to help. It was particularly good to see the Youth boys helping; this gives them a flavour of what is involved in putting on a Saturday programme. Our thanks also to II XV prop Hugh Flanigan of Hire-Power who provided some equipment and also a sturdy tower for the match day cameras.
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One look at the pitch told you that this was a day created for Corinthians and so it turned out with the men from Galway grinding their way up field and denying Dungannon any decent possession. The Stevenson Park boys were unable to create any momentum in the muddy underfoot conditions. This made for an interesting game, not a spectacle for anyone but the purist but a great contest by two teams with contrasting styles. That Dungannon won this Bateman All Ireland Cup semi final by the narrowest of margins was due to their experience, doggedness and determination rather than to any deficiency on the part of Corinthians.
Dungannon kicked off and went on the attack but it was Corinthians that were first on the score board when Conor Murphy made amends for a fifth minute miss with an eighteenth minute penalty conversion. Two minutes later Michael Lawton levelled the score with a successful penalty.
3 – 3
After the restart Ali Birch made a magnificent break right up to the twenty-two and kept on going before being stopped five metres short. Dungannon were denied the penalty but the assault was carried on by Callum Threlfall before a knock on stopped the attack. After twenty-six minutes Dungannon centre Glen Telford was the recipient of a yellow card after the ref had warned Gannon that the next infringement would result in a rest for someone. The game was now settling into a pattern with Corinthians picking and driving and Gannon defending. Great work by Birch, Knipe and Halsall gained possession for Dungannon but we were finding it difficult to string together any sustained periods of control of the ball. Before Telford’s rest period was over Corinthians moved the ball quickly and used the extra man to send South African winger Darren Classen away to score from fully sixty metres out. The try was converted with a great touch line kick from Murphy after thirty-five minutes.
3 – 10
Telford’s return signalled a Dungannon attack but Corinthians replied and on the stroke of halftime Conor Murphy was just wide with the penalty attempt.
If the first half was a case of strike and counted strike by the forwards the second half was a war of attrition between the two eights. Corinthians must have had around seventy percent of possession and went through the phases forcing Gannon to defend. Full credit to both packs, Corinthians for their ball retention and Dungannon for their magnificent defence.
Ryan Caldwell announced his second half arrival on the pitch with a big tackle on a Corinthians centre that resulted in a penalty for Dungannon. Michael Lawton duly converted on forty-two minutes. Then Corinthians outhalf Conor Murphy restored their seven point advantage after forty-five minutes.
6 – 13
The next thirty five minutes was dominated by the packs with the pattern of Corinthians recycling possession and Dungannon defending punctuated by occasional hoofs up field and the odd knock on. Then after eighty-two minutes on the Norman Clock the big hearted Michael Rainey hacked a loose ball into the Corinthians half. A defender cleared straight to Timothy Smith who quickly transferred to Glen Telford who passed to Michael Lawton on the touchline. Michael kicked ahead and as a Corinthians defender gathered the ball he was collared by Magee and Birch who ripped the ball away from the defender. Kieran Campbell sent the ball out to Ryan Caldwell. Big Ryan took a couple of strides but took no chances and passed to Chris Cochrane who, not for the first time this season, scored a late try. 11 – 13. Michael Lawton lined up the pressure kick and struck the ball perfectly between the posts to level the scores.
13 – 13
Despite a missed penalty by Corinthians the final whistle went in the eighth minute of injury time and the teams had twenty minutes of extra time to look forward to!
Two minutes into time added pressure from Dungannon resulted in a penalty outside the Corinthians twenty-two. Michael Lawton duly converted to put Dungannon into the lead for the first time in the match.
16 – 13
The forward battle continued into the second period of extra time until Dungannon stole a Corinthians lineout and worked their way up field before coming to a halt in the Visitors twenty-two. A great break by Michael Kirkwood was stopped a couple of yards short before Ali Birch made the line but without the back up of a TMO referee John Lacey adjudged that Corinthians had held the ball up. This was the last notable move of the game and when the final whistle blew the Dungannon players knew that they had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
This result was hard on Galway Corinthians who played their hearts out but that little bit of experience and determination not to accept defeat by the Dungannon players told in the end.
Our players deserve praise for the way they stuck to the task and all of them could be singled out from the effort of the front five to the work rate of the back row and the defence of the three quarters. However Chris Knipe is worthy of praise for his effort, he has played little rugby since November but he lasted almost ninety minutes and had given his all by the time he left the pitch.
Now it is on to the final against Bruff scheduled for 9 April. We shall confirm venue and kick off time as soon as possible.
Team: Conor Gaston. Michael Lawton, Paul Magee (Capt), Glen Telford, Christopher Cochrane. Kieran Campbell, Michael Kirkwood. Phil Whyte (Ben Howard), Christopher Knipe, Glen Sinnamon (Mark Farquhar). Michael Rainey, Aaron Fry (Ryan Caldwell). Callum Threlfall, Ali Birch, Rowan Halsall. Timothy Smith, Stuart Lester, James McMahon, Darren Simpson.
Referee: John Lacey (Munster)
Scorers:-
Tries: Christopher Cochrane
Cons: Michael Lawton
Pen: Michael Lawton (3)
Drop Goal:
3rd XV vs Malone (21 – 15)
Junior League
This was a tight game against a good Malone side with Dungannon’s superior backs allied to a great defence winning on the night.
Malone opened the scoring with an unconverted try before Jonny Patton replied with a penalty for Dungannon.
5 – 3
Jonny Patton then sent Jonathan Smith through a hole, Jonathan drew his man before unleashing Philip Stinson for a try.
5 – 8
On the run up to halftime Malone kicked a penalty to level the scores.
8 – 8
Gannon took the lead again with a good move from the backs that ended with MLO Stinson going in for his second try, this one converted by Jonny Patton.
8 – 15
Shortly after Malone equalised with a converted try off a scrum.
15 – 15
It was now a tight game with Richard Holmes marshalling the pack Dungannon edged ahead with two further Jonny Patton penalties.
15 – 21
In the closing minutes Malone threw everything at Dungannon but the defence held and when the whistle blew it was a relieved Dungannon that had the points.
Coach David Reid was very pleased with his team’s performance particularly the defence over the last quarter.
Team: Christopher Blair. Jason Ferry, Geoffrey Blair, Jonathan Smith, Philip Stinson. Jonathan Patton, David Spence. Wallace McKay, Aaron Falloon, Neil McGinley. Richard Holmes, Mark Thompson. Gary Martin, Adam Booth, Andrew Caddoo.
Referee: Michael Pollock
Scorers:-
Tries: Philip Stinson (2)
Cons Jonathan Patton
Pen: Jonathan Patton (3)
Drop Goal:
