Energia AIL Rd 14 & Leinster Senior Cup Final: UCD 22 – 19 Clontarf

A delighted Collidge captain Jonny Guy lifted the Leinster Senior Cup after a pulsating encounter with Clontarf as wind and rain lashed the UCD Bowl as it had done for the duration of this absorbing encounter.

Given the strength of the wind (storm!) that Collidge had played with, would a half-time lead of 15-5 be enough? The signs were ominous when the visitors’ pressure was rewarded with two tries in the 47^th and 64^th minutes to put Clontarf 19-15 ahead. The Collidge first-half scorers were Alex Penny and David Ryan .. one converted by James Tarrant .. who also opened the scoring with a 3^rd minute penalty.

A Clontarf yellow card and a resultant penalty gave Collidge a rare foothold in the Clontarf half and after a maul and a series of rucks Ronan Foley burrowed under the Clontarf body-pile to ground at the posts .. Tarrant added the extras (22-19). Thereafter, Collidge superbly managed the remaining minutes with great composure, discipline and smart ball-retention.
Collidge remain in the 3^rd play-off place with 4 matches remaining Ballynahinch and Lansdowne at home and Young Munster and Trinity away.

Many congratulations to all the players and the coaching/management/backroom team of Kevin Croke, Brett Igoe, Mark McGroarty, Shane Geraghty, Daibhi O’Leary, Daragh Geraghty, Clive Kennington and docs Derry Daly and Joe Slowey.

UCD: 15 David Ryan; 14 Andy Marks; 13 Gavin Mullin; 12 Tommy O’Brien; 11 Barry Daly; 10 James Tarrant; 9 Paddy Patterson; 1 Emmet Burns; 2 Bobby Sheehan; 3 Sam Griffin; 4 Jonny Guy; 5 Charlie Ryan; 6 Stephen McVeigh; 7 Alex Penny; 8 Ronan Foley. Replacements: 16 Richie Bergin; 17 Rory Mulvihill; 18 Cian Prendergast; 19 Harry Donnelly; 20 Tim Corkery.

Next match: v Young Munster (away) 14/03