Carlow 28 Cill Dara 0
Carlow men’s rugby team got back to winning ways on Sunday when they dismissed Cill Dara by 28 points to nil in the Leinster League.
Weather threats had led to the match be postponed from the previous week but some of Sunday’s game at Oakpark was still played in a hurricane of wind and rain.
With the aid of the elements Carlow dominated the first half running in three converted tries.
The question at the interval was whether this 21 – nil lead was enough or would Cill Dara, who had showed some flair playing into the wind, make a comeback.
For the first 15 minutes the visitors held their own. But then a Cill Dara penalty failed to make it to the touchline. Instead it was caught by Carlow’s Rhys Edgehill who hared towards the tryline through scarce defenders. He was stopped but the recycled ball came to Ross Elmes who burst through beside the posts. Elmes was over the line again five minutes later but was called back when the referee deemed that the final pass was forward. This was followed by a Richard Whyte penalty attempt which the wind pushed to the wrong side of the posts.
On the half hour Rhys Edgehill was on the end of a try that involved Elmes, Richard Whyte and Shirley. And just before half time Richard Whyte intercepted in his own half and ran in under the posts. The Carlow captain then secured his third simple conversion.
In spite of the first half gale Cill Dara had executed some good passing amongst their backs. Their number 8 Michael Lawlor had made a number of charges up the park. But the expected Cill Dara second half comeback never materialised. While Carlow spent most of this half around their own 22 their defence was never breached or never even looked like being breached. In the squalls Cill Dara seemed to lose the cohesion and accuracy they showed in the first half.
Carlow brought on subs Larry McGrath, Harry Hennessey, Martin Mullins, Jack Hickey and Sam Dunne who all played their part in tackling and carrying as did the Edgehill cousins, Ross Elmes and John Lyons. In the final minutes Carlow had worked the ball up the visitors 22 when Owen Edgehill emerged into the clear from a ruck and raced in under the posts for Carlow’s 4th and bonus point try.
The referee then took mercy on the shivering players and blew the final whistle possibly a few minutes early.
Carlow’s Junior 2 side were also due to play against Cill Dara on Sunday but the visitors ceded the game and the league points. Their players had likely been listening to the weather warnings.
Carlow
Peter Hennessey, Sam Cullen, Daithi Murphy, Pat Connors, Calum Murphy, Richard Whyte Capt, John Whyte, Owen Edgehill, Evan Gordon, John Lyons, Wes Shirley, Thomas Whitney, Rhys Edgehill, Ross Elmes.
Subs, Larry McGrath, Jack Hickey, Martin Mullins, Harry Hennessey, Sam Dunne.
Cill Dara
Robin Dempsey, Adam Flood, Philip Kenny, Conor Malone, Conor O’Loughlin, Johnny Grey, (capt) Cathal Mahon, Sinon Cahill, Aaron Kane, Eoghan Brannock, Fergus Cahill, Shane McNamara, Alex Smyth, Shane Dempsey, Michael Lawlor.
Subs
Jack Kennedy, Andrew Page, Thomas Kerrigan, Sean Moore, Alan O Rourke.
