Cashel dig deep for important AIL win away to Old Crescent

ALL IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2A

OLD CRESCENT 17 CASHEL 19

Playing their fourth game in as many weeks at Rosbrien, Limerick, on Saturday last Cashel took on Old Crescent, who were playing their second game over the same period due to the vagaries of the weather.

It looked like the heavy schedule was impacting the visitors, as for long periods in the game Old Crescent dominated and only a mighty effort late in the game rescued a brave win for Cashel and kept them in touch in an ever-more competitive race to the finish.

Cashel lost Brendan Crosse and Ryan O’Sullivan to injury in the narrow defeat to Queens the previous week.

Conditions were overcast and misty. Cashel went about their business early on and had the ball for the first four minutes but a misplaced pass in mid field gave Crescent the ball and they swiftly ran to the wing, from where their very impressive centre Stephen Kiely raced to the line to score. Ronan McKenna converted from the right hand touchline.

It was the first glimpse we had of the potential Crescent had behind the scrum.

By the ten-minute mark Cashel had been penalised four times and looked sluggish but were scrambling in defence, forcing Crescent to knock on five metres out. Crescent had the capability to kick long and kept Cashel pinned back at every opportunity. On 17 minutes a kick from half way rolled over the Cashel try line but was knocked on by Cashel, resulting in a five metre scrum. Crescent swept the ball to the left and scored their second try, credited to Jason Aylward. Ronan McKenna converted from the touchline and it was clear Cashel would need to limit the kicking opportunities available to him.

Approaching the second quarter, Freddie Bergada made a telling run from inside his own half but was taken out as he chased his kick. A Crescent player went to the bin and Cashel kicked a penalty to the Crescent 22. Another penalty came their way and as they went through the phases Cormac O’Donnell charged over for a try.

Aidan O’Connor showed some fancy footwork as he made a good break from half way. Cashel were coming more into the game but lost a man to the bin just before half-time for a deliberate knock-on. As the clock went red before the break, Crescent were awarded a penalty on the Cashel ten metre line and McKenna added three more points to push Old Crescent ahead by 17 points to 5 at the break.
Cashel had not played up to their usual standard but Old Crescent, powered by the three Monaghan brothers, had the upper hand and Cashel had made too many mistakes.

Crescent started the second half as they finished the first and were camped inside the Cashel 22. Good defence kept them out and as they cleared their lines the touch judge intervened and a Cashel player went to the bin.

Cashel weathered the storm and were on the attack but as they drove to the line they were pulled back and penalised for truck and trailer. Freddie Bergada was taken out as he went on another run and another Crescent player went to the bin.

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On 50 minutes Cashel had a scrum on the Crescent 22. The forwards went through the phases and eventually the ball went through the hands to Jack O’Rourke on the wing and he finished an excellent try. Aidan McDonald added the points with a wonderful kick from the right hand touchline and Cashel were back in the ball game.

At this stage the Cashel pack had found their mojo. James Ryan was a warrior at number eight. Aidan O’Connor and Ciaran Ryan were rampaging and Fearghail O’Donoghue and Brian O’Connor were lording it in the lineout. Five front row forwards contributed to the effort. Cormac O’Donnell is having a great season, Kelan Murphy started and played well at hooker and another warrior Niall Fitzgerald played very well when he came on, as did Cathal Ryan, just back from a serious knee injury. Brendan Ryan at tight prop is a colossus and when he and his twin brother Ciaran are on the rampage they are very hard to stop.

In the backline Michael Hickey played his usual solid game at scrum half and Ciaran McDonald played extremely well at out half. Captain Conor Cashman and Ben Murray were solid in defence, as were Jack O’Rourke and Richard Kingston. Freddie Bergada was busy in attack and solid under the high ball. Richard Moran, also back from injury, made an appearance late in the game.

With 15 minutes left and Cashel on top they were almost over but were once again penalised and the frustration began to show. As time ran out the forwards went for the line again. Ciaran Ryan crashed over for a try to level the game. Aidan McDonald held his head and calmly slotted the conversion to put Cashel two points ahead. Crescent were not finished and launched another attack but the Cashel defence held out until the final whistle.

The final score was Old Crescent 17 Cashel 19.

Crescent were disappointed that they did not hold onto their 14 point lead but credit must go to Cashel, who stuck to the task when things were not going their way. It was an important win, as Nenagh beat Queens University and are now only three points behind Cashel.

The league takes a break for a few weeks as the Six Nations Championship kicks off this weekend.

Cashel team (1 to 20): C O’Donnell, K Murphy, B Ryan, B O’Connor, F O’Donoghue, C Ryan, A O’Connor, J Ryan, M Hickey, A McDonald, J O’Rourke, C Cashman (captain), B Murray, R Kingston, F Bergada, N Fitzgerald, C Ryan, R Moran, L Shine, D O’Neill.