Clogher Valley RFC 39 – Coolmine 37
Clogher Valley welcomed Dublin side Coolmine for this All -Ireland Junior Cup tie. From the opening whistle any pre-match scripts were ripped up and thrown away as this fascinating match unfolded
. For the neutrals it was an exciting spectical. For the respective supporters it was both nail-biting and breathtaking. For the purist it was error-strewn. From leading 12 – 0 in as many minutes, 17 – 7 up after seventeen minutes and 20 – 28 down before the half hour,Clogher Valley’s Jekyll and Hyde performance saw the snatch a 39 – 37 victory at the death thanks to a try from man-of-the-match Jimmy Bates and conversion from Philip Holme.
Bates book-ended the Valley scoring with the opening try in the fifth minute from a scrum close to the Coolmine line after their scrum half Cousins was yellow-carded for killing the ball. A typical rampaging burst from Rodney Bennett led to a try at the posts for Aaron Best. Holme’s conversion made it 12 – 0 and the Valley supporters were sensing an easy victory. Not so ! The Coolmine backs had other ideas and proceeded to blitz the Valley defence. A missed tackle on the left wing allowed prop forward John McCullagh to cross for a try which Donal Crotty converted. Directly from the kick off Eugene McKenna claimed the ball and sent Bates clear. He sent an overhead pass to Bennett who was tap-tackled just short of the line.Clive Donaldson was on hand to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but Valley looked comfortable at 17 – 7.
Back came Coolmine and after a lineout steal, full back Niall O’Donoghue scored all too easily at the posts. Crotty added the points and the same combination added a further seven points in the twentieth minute as the scoreboard operator struggled to keep up with events. 17 – 21 as the visitors took the lead for the first time.
Valley were shell-shocked and Crotty scored and converted another try after twenty-five minutes.Holme kicked a penalty to narrow the gap to 20 – 28 but Valley continued to struggle with the basics. Poor passing,ball retention and timid tackling combined with a spluttering set-piece contributed to the Valley woes. The half time whistle gave the coaches the opportunity to address the problems.
A good start to the second half saw Coolmine defending deep in their 22. Eventually the pressure told and Stephen Baxter crossed for a converted try to make it a one point game at 27 – 28. Once again Coolmine bounced back and Crotty kicked a penalty to make the score 27 – 31.
A serious injury to Bennett held up play but both teams agreed to continue the game on the adjoining pitch whilst an ambulance was summoned. Another Crotty penalty extended the Coolmine lead to 27 – 34 but Valley struck back immediately with an unconverted try from Philip Moore following a lineout take and drive. A further Valley indiscretion gifted Crotty another penalty to give the visitors a 32 – 37 lead going into the final minutes.
Valley finally managed to hold on to possession and the forwards pounded the Coolmine line. A series of penalties were conceded by the crumbling Coolmine scrum and Valley took the scrum option as a three point penalty was not enough. With the penalty try looming , that man Bates broke from the base and showed great strength and determination to wriggle over under the posts to level the scores. Holme converted with the last kick of the game to give Valley a slightly flattering victory and leave the visitors devastated to have scored 37 points and go home empty-handed.
Valley are back in League action at The Cran on Saturday when Cooke are the visitors. If recent results are to go by , this promises to be another closely – fought encounter.
