Ashbourne RFC 18 – 15 Monkstown FC
Match Report
Having halted Tullow in their league romp two weeks earlier, confidence was high in the Monkstown camp and well it should have been. A hard fought 20-20 scoreline away to the league leaders, meant Monkstown would go into their second last fixture of the 2012 schedule as pre game favourites.
Anyone who has graced the fields of the Leinster League knows that these divisions are, for the most part, tightly knit. And with that in mind, we were all too aware that marching down to meet the team residing second from bottom, actually counted for nothing. Ashbourne too must have been operating in the same mind set as they looked up the league table at us, for they started the feistier of the teams.
Right from the off they threw caution to the wind and attacked from almost everywhere. The conditions bordered on freezing and on a perfectly kept surface, that meant for a very greasy ball with plenty of life in it. With the lineout faltering early on it was a sign of things to come in the freezing conditions. Both flyhalves tested their opposing back three units early in the first half, and it was from this that Ashbourne secured an early try to settle the home side, though not without some raised eyebrows from the Monkstown support. When the Ashbourne scrum-half launched the ball high above the floodlights, it was Padraig Twomey who was on hand to secure it. The ensuing phase of play appeared to contain a collection of errors and knock ons by both sides, however play continued allowing Ashbourne to gather the ball amongst a now standing still Monkstown backline. Ashbourne touched down from 40 metres out and added the extras. It was not the start Monkstown were hoping for. With their tales up Ashbourne continued to be the dominant side and only for the boot of Dave McAllister, Monkstown may have drifted away by half time. With three penalties and a drop goal to his name, McAllister still had the travelling side in it in a half time score that read 18-12.
For all the home side’s dominance, Monkstown may have felt lucky that the gap was that close. The second half continued much as the first had left off with Ashbourne pinning Monkstown back. Any kick that was unleashed whether it was high or skimming along the deck was proving hard to deal with. It wasn’t until 15 minutes to go that Monkstown hit a Purple patch. By now McAllister, Stevenson, Morris and Bradshaw had all exited the fray and the fresh legs were making an impact. Leading from the front as he does, Omar Hassanein was picking well from the base while Dave Kilbride and substitute James Padden were making inroads in tight. All of this was eventually rewarded when a rare visit into the Ashbourne 22 resulted in a penalty to the Sandymount side. Kyle Kirkpatrick slotted it neatly and with minutes remaining and a scoreline of 18-15 hanging over a very one sided game, Monkstown sniffed a heist. They pounded the Ashbourne defence relentlessly but sometimes, it just isn’t your day. The home side held out to secure a victory that will ease their relegation concerns for now, while Monkstown had to make the journey home with just one point, allowing Tullow breath a small sigh of relief.
Monkstown Team
15. Padraig Twomey
14. Robbie Ensor
13. Rory Alwright
12. David Kilbride (c)
11. Kyle Kirkpatrick
10. David McAllister
9. Dave Morris
8. Omar Hassanein
7. Jeff Draper
6. Dermot Furry
5. Cian Duggan
4. Ross Bradshaw
3. James Clifford
2. Eoin Barry Stevenson
1. Cian Carroll
16. Philip Ellis
17. James Padden
18. Eoin Murphy
19. Arnie Mahon
20. Ivan Dunne
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