Old Belvedere Triumph Over Garryowen
BELVO CARVE OUT ANOTHER WIN
Old Belvedere 24 Garryowen 3
The final score disguises the nature of a hard fought battle in Anglesea Road on Saturday from which Belvo emerged winners by three tries to nil to maintain a three point advantage at the top of Division 1A of the All Ireland League.
Garryowen, coached by former Old Belvedere hooker, Paul Cunningham arrived full of determination following their recent defeat to Bruff in the Munster Senior Cup final. Belvo kicked off into a bitterly cold wind coming from the Anglesea Road end and an early penalty by Conal Keane gave confidence and an attacking platform to the home side. This did not materialise as Garryowen kicked an equalising penalty and proceeded to gain territorial possession through sustained close in ruck and maul play. Belvo’s line was threatened on a number of occasions and only resolute defence kept our line intact. The Belvo back line always posed a threat when they could gain some possession and a breakthrough was finally achieved in the 25th minute when the Garryowen defence was opened up on the right flank and Eddie Devitt was put away to score a try in the corner, ably converted by Conal Byrne to extend our lead. Garryowen regained the ascendancy for the remainder of the first half and missed a couple of penalty goal opportunities, leaving the half-time score at 10-3.
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Winger Eddie Devitt is pictured running in Old Belvedere's first
try during their Division 1A win over Garryowen on Saturday afternoon
It was expected that the home side would start to dominate the game playing with a reasonably strong wind behind them in the second half and they began bright enough with some searching kicks down the left touchline. However, Garryowen took up where they left off at half-time and dominated the first 20 minutes with sustained attacks on the Belvo line, eschewing kickable penalty opportunities that might have tightened the noose in favour of the quick penalty and a search for an elusive try. Belvo finally broke out in the final 15 minutes and a deft through kick by Kiwi Jason Risdon up the right touchline provided a line out opportunity in the Garryowen 22. An excellent throw by Mark Cooney to No 6 and a tap down to Samoan Leo Auva’a who steamed through the line out from no 2 provided an excellent text book try straight from the training ground. Thanks Matt Kennedy! Andy Dunne kicked a difficult conversion.
The nature of the game was immediately transformed as Belvo opened up with some excellent attacking back play and David Mongan was released on the left flank and scorched in for a spectacular try, again ably converted by Andy Dunne. Belvo had the bit between their teeth and almost immediately, a searing break by Andy Dunne and fast ball to the left put Danny Riordan in the clear for a certain fourth try but unfortunately the final pass was deemed forward by referee Dudley Phillips who had a fine game, ably assisted by Brian Montayne and Karl O’Meara on the touchlines.
Altogether a satisfactory day and a good team performance after the Christmas lay off. It is the first time Belvo has beaten four Munster sides in a row and it is only our second victory over Garryowen in the AIL League. As President, John Mahony said at a well attended pre-match lunch, we have been top of the league for seven weeks due to a combination of good play and poor weather and we will remain there for a further three weeks as the next AIL game is a top of the table clash away to Cork Constitution on January 29th. We were unlucky to lose the corresponding clash in Dublin through a last minute penalty so let’s have a monster attendance in Cork to support the lads for what will be the game of the season and the defining moment of the league campaign. A special word of welcome to the Risdon parents, who came all the way from Wellington to watch their son play.
By Niall Pelly
Posted on 10 January 2011.
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