Terenure finish as Champions - Match report

[Ruckedtobits]

TERENURE COLLEGE RFC 33 V UCC RFC 19
DIVISION 2A
Terenure adorned their season with a wonderful all-action display against UCC in Lakelands Park. Scoring five tries with a 15-man performance of defence and attack in a squally windy conditions, Terenure were deserving winners by 33-19 in a game of pace, risk and excitement.

Visitors UCC contributed hugely to the quality of the encounter and the scoreboard scarcely reflected the quality, pace and skill of their display.

The Terenure pack were out-weighted and over-shadowed by the physical size of the UCC eight, but their fitness and technique never allowed the difference to matter during this wonderfully entertaining encounter. As an appetizer to the Munster / Leinster encounter later in the day, the game was an excellent advertisement for the quality of the Club game in the two Provinces. Watched by a crowd estimated at 1,200, the vast majority were loyal Terenure supporters who have had to wait for some years for a revival to their playing fortunes and a return to Division 1 of the Ulster Bank league.

UCC started with the wind behind them, unusually blowing up the pitch in Terenure. Despite a surfeit of possession for UCC within the Terenure 22, it was the hosts who opening the scoring from the boot of out-half Willie Staunton. Two tries following for Terenure, in each case the result of great team work and off-loading and support skills which would have graced many a game at a higher level. The loyal supporters also saw Terenure centre and captain Conor Gildea substituted with a shoulder injury and flanker James O'Neill yellow carded for an infringement in a ruck which prevented UCC maintaining their pacy attacks on the edge of the Terenure 22.

Winger Harry Moore was one of the stand-out players for Terenure and his defensive and attacking qualities contributed directly to Terenure's 3rd try just before half-time.

Irish Under 20's winger Darren Sweetman, the man with the Cork hurling heritage, lining out at full-back for the visitors threatened with several strong, counter-attacking, runs but the spirited and technically sound Terenure tackling kept him and his College teams-mates at bay until the half-time whistle.

The second half commenced with a 10 minutes attacking blitz from UCC but 14-man Terenure defended their line as if their lives depended on the outcome and they were rewarded by two tries in 3 minutes from breakaway efforts. The first was a penalty try when winger Moore was pulled back following a mazy run from 40 metres out through the UCC pack and a deft chip behind Sweetman. UCC also suffered the indignity of a Yellow Card for this incident.

Now back to full numbers, Terenure crowned their afternoon's work with a great try by out-half Willie Staunton, who with the ball in both hands, sold dummies left and right to bewilder the UCC defence and touchdown just to the right of the posts. His conversion brought the 60 minutes score to 33-0 for the home team. It also resulted in a gradual drift of some of the spectators into the vast marquee set beside the pitch, which had hosted 570 lunch guests in this rugby hotbed.

Terenure were heading upward and now certainly as Champions. Although UCC finished strongly with three tries and 19 points in the final 15 minutes, the result was clear and well deserved 33-19 to champions Terenure.

Nobody on the Terenure team and bench gave less than their all but on the day, O'Neill, Hamilton, O'Dwyer, Dunlop, Smyth, O'Loughlin and Staunton stood shoulder to shoulder with winger Harry Moore as the pick of the heros for the hosts. For UCC O'Connell, McCarthy, Gallagher and Ryan were constant threats in the forwards and Sean Og Murphy supplied a stream of quality ball to his skilful backline, where Horgan, Dennehy and Sweetman all looked capable at playing at a higher level.

A great win for Terenure and due reward for the work of Coach James Blaney and his assistant John Coffey. Playing this brand of rugby their advent to Division 1B next Season will adorn that level and make them worthy opponents for the present incumbents