Firsts through to next round of All Ireland Junior Cup
Bright sunshine and a finely manicured pitch at the Galway Sportsground set the scene for a fast, open game as Cooke took on a determined OLBC team in the first round of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior cup.
The Belfast side started confidently and showed early intentions to spread play wide. The visitors struck within 5 minutes when the ball was moved to elusive winger McMaster who was halted on the OLBC line. Support by the Cooke pack was immediate and it was mobile lock Dawson who carried the ball over close to the posts offering Jarvis an easy conversion.
Cooke dominated early exchanges in the scrum but the visitors found themselves defending furiously when a long kick and was mis-fielded. The Cooke defence however remained intact and when Boys Club launched another attack, a chip ahead was snatched by visiting hooker Drysdale. From the resulting ruck the ball was again flashed across the Cooke backs to McMaster who outpaced his opponent to touch down in the corner for an unconverted score. Abrasive exchanges between the packs continued with Cooke pivot Creighton sending Boys Club backwards frequently with well-directed box kicks.
Try number three for the visitors came from a change in tactics. Instead of passing out wide, centre Cartmill chipped over the Boys Club defence, collected his kick and released flanker McMurray to run in from 30 metres. Jarvis added the conversion from the touch line extending the visitors lead to 19 points without reply. Our Lady’s battled on and when Cooke were penalised outside their 22 for not releasing, home full-back Dooley claimed 3 points with a well struck penalty. The home side now seemed to find another gear and launched a series of attacks in Cooke territory. Their perseverance paid off in injury time when powerfully built centre O’Mahony punched through the Cooke defence for a try which Dooley converted bring the score at half time to 10-19 in favour of the Belfast side.
Within five minutes of the re-start Cooke again took control of affairs. A solid scrum by the visitors gave momentum for the team’s influential No 8, Mitchell, to pick up and crash over the line. Jarvis’ kick from out wide deflected over off the upright. The next phase of play was at the other end of the pitch when Our Lady’s launched a series of pick and drives. Relief for Cooke came about in an unusual set of circumstances when referee Butler penalised the OLBC scrum half for dissent.
Try five for Cooke came from some deft footwork by number 10, Finlay. When the ball was presented from a ruck in the home 22 the out-half wrong footed defenders and darted though to touch down under the posts for Jarvis to ‘add the honours’. Oozing confidence, Cooke worked straight back into OLBC’s 22. Quick service from Cooke pivot Creighton directly to centre Cartmill saw him side step through several defenders to cross close to the posts for try six. The conversion by Jarvis saw the visitors extend their lead to 30 points.
A combination of fatigue and complacency within Cooke ranks during the last ten minutes of the game was severely punished by Boys Club. A fierce onslaught by the Galway side saw the ball taken forward by prop McCreanor before passing to his captain Moran for a try which Dooley converted. As the game extended in injury time another lapse by Cooke allowed OLBC flanker Charlton to narrow the score-line further with another seven pointer thanks to Dooley’s conversion, bringing the final score-line to Our Lady’s Boys Club 24 Cooke 40
This was undoubtedly the best performance by the team so far this season. Every member of the squad contributed but special mention is made of the second row pairing of Dawson and Quigley for their presence throughout the game. Half backs Creighton and Finlay provided speedy service to the talented Cooke backline and prop McCullough impressed as ever with his contribution in both set pieces and loose play
President’s Man of the Match – RICHARD FINLAY
