Kilfeacle dig deep for bonus point win in derby game v Thurles
After last week’s away loss it was vitally important to continue with a win in the league. At 2.30pm on Sunday 13th of October the sun was shining but it was bitterly cold and the visiting side had the advantage of a strong breeze for the first half. Kilfeacle started the game well and immediately pushed Thurles back into their own 22 and after two minutes had opened the scoring when a sublime pass by Luke Heuston released Jacques van Wyngaardt untouched into the Thurles 22 and under the posts to touch down. Luke Heuston added the two points and Kilfeacle had the early lead 7-0.
Kilfeacle were having the better of the early exchanges and on the 15th minute mark Timmy Clarke finished off an excellent whole team man oeuvre to dive over in the corner. Luke Heuston’s conversion attempt against the breeze was unsuccessful and Kilfeacle’s lead was now 12-0.
A long range penalty from Thurles in the 18th minute steadied the ship and opened their scoring. The score was now 12-3.
Kilfeacle had dominated the first 20 minutes but the roles were reversed for the second 20 minutes and Thurles came roaring back into the game taking advantage of a badly misfiring Kilfeacle lineout. It was a Kilfeacle attacking lineout that laid the platform for first Thurles try. Thurles capitalised on the poor lineout and excellently turned defence into attack. Some quick passing and strong running saw Thurles finish a fine team effort by crashing over Kilfeacle’s line and scoring their first try of the game. The try was converted and now the score was 12-10 to Kilfeacle.
Thurles were in the ascendency and were now dominating the lineouts, which were providing them with some excellent platforms to build up phases of attacking play. In the 28th minute Thurles once again breached the Kilfeacle defence to score their second converted try and wrestle the lead away from Kilfeacle, 17-12.
Kilfeacle’s management decided to make some tactical substitution to steady the ship. The ‘boys in blue’ did manage to stifle Thurles in attack but the misfiring lineout was still causing problems. The half ended with Thurles increasing their lead to 20 points to 12 with a superbly taken long range penalty.
From the restart, Kilfeacle immediately took the game to Thurles and gained territorial advantage however many of the forced and unforced errors that blighted last week’s second half performance had reared their ugly head once again. Kilfeacle had all the possession and all the territory for the first 15 minutes of the second half but just couldn’t score.
After countless phases of play the home team scored their third try after some fantastic work by both backs and forwards and scored by Kevin Kinnane. Luke Heuston converted from in front of the posts and Kilfeacle now trailed 20-19. Thurles held their nerve and did not capitulate in fact pushed Kilfeacle back and in the 62nd minute stretched their lead further with a well taken penalty. The score was now 23-19.
The game was in the final quarter and Kilfeacle were now in pursuit of a bonus point try to take back the lead from their opponents and there was little Thurles could do to stop the onslaught. Kilfeacle were camped inside the Thurles 22 and only some excellent last ditch defending by Thurles kept them at bay.
Eventually in the 70th minute Kilfeacle’s Gavin Heuston crashed over after some excellent work by his forwards to score Kilfeacle’s 4th try. Luke Heuston easily converted and the home side now led by 26-23. Kilfeacle then emptied the bench to give squad members more game time and the intensity dropped with all the positional changes. Thurles to their credit never gave up and caused some worrying moments for the home side as they went in search of a penalty to draw or try to win. The Kilfeacle defence stood strong and the final whistle sounded with score in favour of the home side at 26-23.
ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CUP UP NEXT
Kilfeacle’s next game is a tough away game against Cooke R.F.C. in the first round of the Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup on 26th October. We know that our boys in blue will give everything they have to the cause and not be left wanting, and what more can we ask for.
The team as ever are proud and humbled by the amount of support they receive and hope that their supporters will continue to come along and support the team for their remaining fixtures.
Kilfeacle’s squad consisting of 1 Bobby Purcell, 2 Brendan Barron, 3 Richard Whitney, 4 Darragh Kennedy, 5 Adam Crowe, 6 Thomas Fogarty, 7 Beau Walker, 8 Gavin McCormack, 9 Gavin Heuston, 10 Luke Heuston, 11 Killian Noonan, 12 Anthony Foley, 13 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 14 Dubhan O’Grady, 15 Timmy Clarke, 16 Daniel Lambe, 17 Paddy Finnan, 18 Cormac Ryan, 19 Kevin Kinnane, 20 Brian Barlow, 21 Cathal Hallissey and 22 Mikey Fitzgibbon.