CLONAKILTY RFC 20

SKIBBEREEN RFC 18

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

JIM Twomey’s late try and Eoin Downey’s match-winning conversion earned Clonakilty a hard-fought victory over Skibbereen in a Munster Junior League Division 1 derby at Shannonvale.

At times, it was difficult to tell who was aiming for a top-four finish and who was trying to avoid relegation, such was the closeness of the battle, but Clonakilty came from 18-8 down to win and consolidate their second-place position.

Yet, it was relegation-threatened Skibb who dominated territory for long stretches of a ferocious contest. David Shannon’s boot along with Oisín Dinan and Thomas Beare tries looked to have earned the visitors a merited win.

Last season this was a game Clonakilty would probably have lost. But the latest version of the Shannonvale club’s first team is a different beast.

Clonakilty's Eoin Downey kicks the winning conversion against Skibbereen. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘We’ve worked hard, trained hard, we know we’re not the biggest side in the league, but by God we have guts,’ winning captain David Jennings told The Southern Star.

‘We’re putting in the effort and reaping the rewards. Last season we got caught being a couple of points off in some games. This year we’ve developed our game and figured out how to win.’

Clonakilty’s elation contrasted sharply with Skibbereen’s frustration. The visitors were crestfallen at failing to see out a local derby that was there for the taking.

Head coach PJ Dinan knows Skibbereen, currently third from bottom of the table, are capable of finishing ahead of Thurles and Muskerry if they replicate last Saturday night’s efforts in their three remaining fixtures.

‘We probably weren’t clinical enough in the 22 or on the five-metre line,’ Dinan said.

‘Certainly, we got over the tryline but were held up. We had most of the ball but couldn’t score. We’ve been close in nearly every game. We know what our ability is and that, on our day, we can beat everybody.

‘Skibbereen fielded a Junior 2 team (on Friday night) with 19 players while 21 of our Junior 1s trained across the road. For us, that’s a massive achievement and something to be proud of.’

Clonakilty's David Jennings holds up Skibbereen's Michael Veale. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

To the game, David Shannon edged the visitors ahead with a penalty after six minutes.

Despite dominating the early exchanges up front, Skibb’s concession of a penalty resulted in a lineout deep in their 22, from which Clonakilty went wide. The ball was moved swiftly through the hands for Ben Lovell to dive over.

A missed conversion preceded another dominant Skibbereen spell in which the Clon defence was stretched to breaking point. The visitors were twice denied by some heroic defending on Clonakilty’s tryline.

Breaking from their 22, Clon earned a penalty from which Eoin Downey bisected the uprights to make it 8-3. Skibbereen finished the half strongly but were denied a try by an errant forward pass.

The intensity of this West Cork derby ensured plenty of physicality and the game’s first yellow card for the host’s Rory White arrived shortly before the break. Skibb took full advantage as Conan Farrell touched down to level the score in first half injury-time.

Clonakilty's Tobias Oliver is tackled by Skibbereen's Thomas Beare. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Things got even worse for the home team at the beginning of the second period. A stray pass ended on the grass and Thomas Beare pounced to race clear for Skibbereen’s second try. David Shannon’s conversion pushed the visitors 15-8 in front.

Shannon punished a high tackle by kicking over another penalty after 59 minutes but that would be the leaders last score.

From that point onwards, Clon were the more incisive team. Niall Barrett finished off a terrific move by diving over in the corner. Skibb responded only to be held up, yet again under the posts.

A yellow card didn’t prevent Skibb from defending manfully and forcing two late turnovers.

This was Clonakilty’s night however, as the hosts kept their composure and worked the ball to Jim Twomey who touched down with time almost up. Eoin Downey nervelessly converted and Clonakilty celebrated a crucial win in their quest for a top-four finish.

Next up for Clon is an away game against St Mary’s this Sunday, while Skibbereen are home to Clanwilliam on the same day. Sixth-placed Bandon, who beat Muskerry 26-10 last weekend, travel to third-placed Richmond on Sunday.

Scorers 

Clonakilty: Ben Lovell (1 try), Niall Barrett (1 try), Jim Twomey (1 try), Eoin Downey (1 con, 1 pen).

Skibbereen: Conan Farrell (1 try), Thomas Beare (1 try), David Shannon (1 con, 2 pens).

Clonakilty: Tobias Oliver; Ben Lovell, Luke McCarthy, Matt Foster, Niall Barrett; Dara Walsh, Eoin Downey; Matthew McCarthy, Jack Ryan, David Jennings (captain); Peter Deane, Olan Deane; Rory White, Ciaran McCarthy, Agustin Aversa.

Replacements: Tom Doyle, William Tyner, Gearoid O’Donovan, James Mulcahy, Patrick McCarthy, Conor Hayes, Jim Twomey.

Skibbereen: David Shannon; Callum Hurley, Matthew Benn, Thomas Beara, Ciarán Coombes, Oisín Dinan, Matthew Sheehan; Michael Veale, Donnchadh Maguire, James Williams; Kieran Shannon, Kevin Coombes; Jonathan Benn, Christopher Benn, Conan Farrell.

Replacements: Jack Kent, Cathal McCarthy, Lorcan Carey, Tomak Lechtanski, Eric O’Brien, Rawiri Wereta, Joseph Hickey.

Referee: David O’Driscoll.