Sundays Well RFC

Cobh Pirates (34) vs Sundays Well (21)

Musgrave Park, 14:30PM

The Minors ended their 2009-2010 season with a loss to Cobh in the semi final of the Cup. The game was a lot closer affair than the scoreboard would suggest with the home side pushing the visitors right to the death.

The ‘Well led early on 6-0 with two penalties from Niall Horgan. The home side were unlucky not to be further ahead with a number of line breaks from Crew, Niall Horgan, Jacko and Colm Hayes ( he’s still alive and playing !).

Pirates drew level with two penalties of their own only to strike in quick succession with two tries one of which was converted. The first try was very disappointing in that it resulted from a reversed penalty from which Pirates didn’t make touch. However, for the ensuing ruck they turned over the ball to score beneath the posts. Still reeling from this the visitors struck again.

At 18-6 at the half time break the ‘Well threw everything at the visitors with outsanding performances by the front five Boylan (John and Paul), Willie Mc, Buster, Shane Hennessey, Harvey Duane and Marc Lievermont in the set pieces. The ‘Well dominated the scrums and stole three of Pirates line out balls in a row immediately after half time.

This sustained pressure led to Crew touching down to bring the score to 11-18. A rare break out by the visitors and poor discipline by the home side resulted in two penalties by Pirates to effectively cancel out the try 11-24.

The ‘Well rallied once more with Conal controlling the pick and goes with Dan , Niall and John Kelly piercing the visitors defence at will. This sustained attacking led to a try by John Kelly (his last for the ‘Well as he joins Waterpark next year). The conversion was missed again which proved costly 16-24 leaving an 8 point led.

Once again the ‘Well went back for more and the visitors were under severe pressure. Out of desperation to relieve this pressure a hopeful cross field kick paid off handsomely for them as the ‘Well full back Mark Hayes pulled a hamstring while going back to cover it allowing the Pirates winger to go in unopposed to score.

31-16 had the home side having to dig deep once more with 11 minutes to go. And dig they did. Darcy emptied the benches with Eoin, Peter and Joe Donovan coming on adding to the spade work of Harry Lane, Traylough (now at 10 ), Buster and the loose ‘um two some of John Kelly and Dan Horgan.

Willie McCarthy the smallest of the Boylan triplets touched down to clinch top try scorer for the season with an impressive haul of 8 tries, 4 pyroettes and a half ‘Willie’ Nelson for the season!

Unbelieveably Niall missed the conversion (in the referees and the two touch judges eyes according to Niall) leaving the ‘Well trialling 21-31 with 4 minutes to go.

The gap proved too much for the home side with Cobh tagging on a penalty at the end (more back chat!) leaving it 21-34.

Many thanks all season to:

Darcy for his words of wisdom, the Bulmers, for his rare appearances and for his ‘ageism’ selection policy of older / grumpyer players!

Skippy for his medical bag – he lost no one this season!

Con Horgan for the two lads – Niall and Dan- and of course the soup, sandwiches, pints and snuff!

Frank McGough for his “Minor” miracles in the last couple of weeks

Claire the “strapping” physio yesterday

All our supporters over the year

Last but by no means least the players – we didn’t have a great season on the pitch this year but it was good to see yesterday that there’s still fight in the old dog!

Off the pitch it was a different story with too much craic – next year we’re thinking of bottling it and taking it on tour – suggestions welcome!