Clontarf 35 Lansdowne 36

 

Lansdowne U20s overcame Clontarf in dramatic fashion in Castle Avenue on Sunday to clinch the JP Fanagan Premier 1 League for the 5th time in 6 seasons.

In front of a large crowd, Clontarf, with the wind behind them and using their big pack scored twice to give them a 14-0 lead.

Lansdowne replied when Noah Maguire crashed over from close in for a try converted by Tom Bohan. Unfortunately, Lansdowne dropped the restart which gave Tarf a foothold in the Lansdowne 22 and they again used their pack to maul over for a converted try to leave it 21-7.

Not to be outdone, Lansdowne immediately responded with a well-taken try from Adam Deay which was converted by Tom Bohan to leave the score 21-14 at Half Time.

With the wind at their backs, Lansdowne grew in confidence, and tries from captain Tom Barry and James Doyle gave them a 26-21 lead. This was consolidated with a colossal penalty from centre Dylan O’Keefe to make it a two-score game at 29-21 and things were looking good for the Southsiders. Or so we thought. Clontarf came storming back to score twice in the last quarter to lead 35-29. And then, in the last play of what was proving to be a classic game of rugby, Lansdowne flung it wide for winger Jamie Maguire to score far out on the left.

From the touchline, with nerves of steel, out half, Tom Bohan coolly bisected the uprights to set off scenes of unbridled joy as the whole squad ascended upon him.   What a way to win the league for the third time in a row!

Match report: Mark MacMahon