WITH FADED soccer markings still visible and Lansdowne struggling in vain to peg back Garryowen on Saturday, no one needed reminding that Headquarters has not been the kindest.. of residence to its various tenants, in recent weeks.
Lansdowne came into this game buoyed by a healthy league position and mindful of their ambush of Garryowen at Dodradoyle in the corresponding fixture last season. Despite the midweek loss of Eric Elwood, captain Brian Glennon and influential flanker Jim Sharkey, they held concrete the belief that they could overturn the league leaders and in doing so, retain faint hopes of mounting a late charge towards the title themselves.
For their part, Garryowen came shouldering the mantle of championship favourites. And, not only because they were joint. top of the table alongside Shannon with a game up their sleeves. Trimmed of some of their high profile names from last season. The current side makes up for in team spirit and organisational ability what it lacks in star quality. Although, in the end, it was a burst of inspiration from international winger Richard Wallace that proved decisive.
As fate would have it both St Mary's and Cork Constitution fell to Young Munster and Ballymena respectively on Saturday, as reigning champions Shannon kept up the pace by churning out the expected win over Old Belvedere. So now, the visit of St Mary's to Dooradoyle on April 20 takes on greater significance.
From the off, Lansdowne began as they meant to continue. Slow starters Garryowen were immediately hit by a black, red and yellow hooped whirlwind. Concerted driving from Colin McEntee and hooker Mark McDermott, supported by a marauding supporting pack, eventually enabled centre Roddy Corrigan to slice through the flatfooted Killian Keane and Dan Larkin for the opening try after one minute. Kicker for a day, or so it seemed, Fergus Aherne was wide with the conversion.
Corrigan almost repeated his earlier feat after 17 minutes, only to be engulfed by Paul Murphy's smother tackle. Following up. second, row Shape Leahy was halted just short of the line. However, it merely delayed the inevitable as the Lansdowne front five proceeded to dismantle the Garryowen eight in the ensuing five metre scrum It was all too easy for number eight McEntee to force the touchdown. This time Aherne made the conversion. Lansdowne had Garryowen trailing by 12 points to nil.
Kenny Smith went some way towards putting the wind back into Garryowen's sails when kicking a 22nd minute penalty after Lansdowne had wandered offside.
Half an hour in, a well-rehearsed Garryowen back row move, involving a Paul Hogan-Andrew Bermingham wedge, ended with second row Mick Coughlan rolling his way over the line. The reliable Smith easily converted to leave the men in sky blue 12-10 in credit at the break. This had been an admirable revival given Paul O'Connor's line-out domination and Lansdowne's powerful scrummaging.
On the resumption, Garryowen sickened Lansdowne with a little of their own medicine. It was the Limerick men who were quickest from their blocks this half. From a ruck near the right touchline, scrumhalf Stephen McIvor's long pass found Barry Everett infield on halfway. The out half quickly transferred to Keane and on to the diminutive Murphy, whose perfectly timed pass put Wallace into space. With Smith covered outside him, Wallace determinedly shrugged off the groping, attentions of Darragh O'Mahony, and Alan Reddan en route to the line. Once again Smith converted. Suddenly, Garryowen had seized a lead they were never to relinquish.
A 47th minute Fergus Aheme penalty, a result of O'Connor being taken out at the line-out, reminded Garryowen of the severity of the loser's desire. While many more openings were created, Smith's 72nd minute penalty from 32 metres, which went over off the right upright, closed out the game in what turned out to be a stern test of Garryowen's mettle.
Garryowen coach John McDonald certainly recognised that. "This was not one of our better displays, but if there is one thing this team has, it is character," he said. "Before the break, we came from behind in five of our six matches. With some high profile players lost to us this season, the new lads have come in and done really well. It just shows our strength in depth and team spirit."
Captain Dara O'Sullivan was cautious in victory. "We gave away 12 points at the start and were playing catch up rugby from there on but, at the moment, our attitude is good. We take each game as it comes and our next game against St Mary's at Dooradoyle is really important."
