Tipperary rugby club Fethard reach the promised land with thrilling victory

Fethard 34 Cobh 32

What a day last Sunday was for Fethard RFC, as they travelled to Virgin Media Park in Cork to play Cobh in the Munster Junior Plate final.

A very warm day with very little wind provided ideal conditions for open rugby.

Fethard were slow to settle and were put under a lot of pressure by a big Cobh pack and the Cork team were soon 3-0 ahead. A lineout on the Fethard 22 saw Cobh move towards the line and a quick back row move saw them in for a try in the corner.

This woke up the Fethard team and a few stern words from the forwards player coach Philly O’Connor gave them the boost they needed.

A piece of brilliance from the Fethard full back Jack Kealy saw him gather his own chip ahead and sprint clear to score a try in the corner. A brilliant conversion was landed by Peter Wall.

Fethard then put about 30 phases together and eventually Robert Wall scored another try, converted by his brother Peter.
Cobh were not to be outdone and their speedy winger got over in the corner, leaving the half-time score 14-13 in favour of Fethard.

Cobh started the second half very strongly and scored two very quick tries.

Following another sequence of phases, the Fethard prop Nigel O’Connell burst over for a try. Time was against Fethard, as Cobh landed another penalty to leave the score 32-19 with 12 minutes remaining.

A great box kick by scrum half Conor Kavanagh saw Fethard regain possession and the powerful Tom Keaveney crossed for a fine try converted by Wall.

More pressure from Fethard saw a lineout on the 22. Philly O’Connor gathered at the front, drove towards the Cobh line and offloaded to Michael Gaynor, who touched down in the corner. The conversion was narrowly missed, so it was game on at 32 -31.

With time almost up, brilliant work from Conor Pearson saw Fethard just make it into Cobh half. A series of phases was met with resolute defence by the Cork team, but Fethard were awarded a penalty on the halfway line. This was it, one last chance. Up stepped Peter Wall, and the Fethard supporters could not even look; Peter’s father went out behind the stand!

Then came a massive cheer as the ball sailed inside the left post. Fethard had taken the lead, 34-32.

In injury time, Cobh kicked into the Fethard 22 in the last play. Richie Carroll gathered, Conor Kavanagh kicked the ball into the stand and there were unbelievable, joyous scenes from the large contingent of Fethard supporters.

The introduction of the evergreen Philip Ivors and Eoghan Fitzgerald was a master move by Fethard coach Shane Luby.

It was a great, great day for Fethard, who won their first-ever Munster title.