Munster J1 League – Charleville 14 - Thurles 17

Thurles first fifteen were back on the road again in gameday six of the Munster Junior One league last Sunday, making the hour half and half trip to newly promoted Charleville in North Cork. These were familiar opponents two years ago when both teams were still plying their trade in the Second division of the Munster Junior league and in fact it was at this same venue two years ago that Thurles suffered one of only two defeats in league or cup competition in an otherwise flawless campaign, losing narrowly in a Junior Cup Round One game.It was therefore with some trepidation that Thurles approached this game knowing that despite their relevant positions in the current league they would be pushed all the way here to come away with a win, and this was how it transpired.

Thurles received the kick off which was being played in cool dry conditions perfect for rugby but not so pleasant for the few hardy locals and hardcore Thurles supporters who made the long trip. The travelling side were very quickly into this game, and it took just seven minutes for Thurles to register the first try. A series of phases and pods in the Charleville twenty-two set up a mid-field ruck, Thurles spotting an overload, reversed the play down the blindside with the forwards handling and putting Mark Cummins through a gap to outstrip the cover and touch down wide on the left. The conversion was narrowly missed to leave the score 5 – 0. The first quarter of the game was dominated by Thurles with several ventures into the home teams twenty-two and it it only looked like a matter of time before the away team would add to their total. The closest Thurles would get was when Paddy McGrathburst onto a short ball from James Maher beating two tacklers with the line beckoning, but just misplacing an attempted pass to winger Noah Mellor, who had the line at his mercy. On another occasion during this period Thurles had managed to cross the Charleville line only for Luke Kelly to deemed held up giving the home team a goal line drop-out to enable them to clear their lines. In addition, Thurles backing their phase play game went for the jugular in the opening quarter, choosing to take a penalty tap move which was repelled by a very combative home defence, who were particularly effective at defending close to their line. Another close in penalty was kicked to touch during this period and a period of sustained Thurles pressure close to the Charleville line again resulted in no points for the away team. In hindsight, Thurles maybe would have opted to take two easily available three pointersduring this period that have pushed them out to eleven pointson the scoreboard and those decisions may have been different if Thurles could have predicted the reaction from the home team in the last ten minutes of the half, which was emphatic. The home team had not until this period, had any meaningful time in the Thurles twenty-two. The warning signs were there when after a good lineout rolling maul drive from five metresthat the Thurles pack managed to stop and from the ensuing ruck Luke Kelly effected a great turnover, enabling Thurles to clear their lines. Undeterred the home team punted to within five metres from yet another penalty conceded by Thurles, on this occasion, with 31 minutes on the clock a good rolling maul breached the Thurles line and the Charleville number twelve converted from wide out on the left. 7 – 5 in favour of the home team with 31-minutes on the clock. Thurles responded well and pushed hard to get the lead score before half time but the last phase of play before half time summed some their frustrations for this half. Some hard carries by the pack multiple phases failed to tie down sufficient opposition numbers and when James Maher called for the ball to feed his backs, although handling well and getting the ball wide to the left wing, the home team had plenty of cover and easily snuffed out the move, bundling Luke Fogarty into touch at the half time whistle.

At the half time talk it was clear to players and the coaching team that Thurles had left points behind in that half and whilst the score may not have been reflective of their efforts it was very clear that this was going to be an arm wrestle until the final whistle. A return to some more structured ball carrying by the Thurles pack and an increase in intensity and line speed by the Thurles defence was required to gain the ascendency in this game. Thurles employing this more direct approach were first to register a score in the second half. With 10 minutes gone in the second half, James Maher, excellent with his penalty kicks from hand, punted Thurles to five within metresof the Charleville line. A great lineout take set up a rolling maul, which was stopped just a couple of metres short of the line. The home team were lucky not to concede a penalty for collapsing the maul, but Thurles recycled, spinning the ball to James Maher who carried well – two further latch-on carries by Sam Quinlan and Colin Nolan both driven hard by Shane Nugent and Gerry McCormack went very close. A quick recycle fed Sonny Dwyer who with quick hands found CathalHayes who pirouetted out of a couple of would-be tacklers to touch down just right of the posts. James Maher hit the post with the conversion leaving the score at 10 – 7 in favour of Thurles. This was to be only momentary respite for the travelling side. The home team responded almost instantaneously. A penalty kick forty metres out was punted into the Thurles five metre line by Charleville. The home team’s lineout and rolling maul was effective all day and whilst they did not score directly from the maul, they set up a series of rucks close to the Thurles line before eventually forcing there way over. This was well converted by the Charleville to put the score out to 14 – 10 in favour of the home team with approximately fifteen minutes gone in the second half. Loads of time remained for either team to grasp the initiative in the closing stages of this game. It took Thurles just six minutes to respond and post what would be the winning score and this epitomised everything good about this hard-working pack and the direct rugby employed by them in the second half. A penalty tap from five metres was tapped and fed to Conor Moloney (who had replaced Peter Kinane due to injury on 50 minutes) who barrelled his way to a meter short. The Thurles pack then went to work and seven phases later, Luke Kelly having carried hard previously, side stepped the tiring home team cover to waltz in under the sticks. The lead up to this try demonstrated the work rate of the Thurles pack, Conor Maloney carried twice, Colin Nolan twice, Stephen Kirwan, Luke Kelly and Sam Quinlan all carried, Gerry McCormack and Shane Nugent were tireless in clearing rucks to secure possession and latching on the ball carriers,before Luke Kelly got in for the pivotal score. Ten minutes remained as James Maher slotted the conversion. Thurles had some further good chances to seal the game in the last ten but equally they were in no mood to cough up any further scoresthemselves. The Thurles defence was suffocating Charleville who battled all the way in this last phase of the game – theirhard-working pack handling everything close to the breakdown, with Captain Sonny Dwyer in the centre ably supported by his partner in the midfield Luke Fogarty, cutting down everything on or behind the gain line in the closing exchanges. Dwyer in particular, will have created some brisk business for the physios and chiropractors in the Charleville area for the next few days. But this win was fashioned up front, Gerry Mc Cormack( replaced by Jack Kavanagh on 75)and Steven Kirwan(replaced by Dan Diamini on 75 mins) putin huge efforts as did Shane Nugent in the front row, Thurles back five of Luke Kelly, Colin Nolan, Peter Kinane. Sam Quinlan, Mark Cummins, Conor Maloney(sub for Kinane on 50) and Donnacha Ryan( Sub for Cummins on 65) were immense in their efforts throughout. Whilst last week was arguably the most complete performance by Thurles so far this year this will rank as one of those that could have got away but didn’t and is more satisfying for that. Whilst Thurles may have felt they were a bit off in accuracy on the day, thiswas in fact due to a very able, fit and combative home side who are fighting for survival and are just adjusting to the step up in divisions. This is a situation Thurles can empathise with having gone through this themselves last season. A specialmention for Dan Diamini making his first team debut in the closing moments and winning the final penalty to close out the game with a great tackle.

Thurles will play Muskerry at home next week in their final game of the league before Christmas

Thurles lined out as follows:

Ger McCormack, Shane Nugent, Stephen Kirwan, Luke Kelly, Colin Nolan, Mark Cummins, Sam Quinlan, Peter Kinane, Seamus Holahan, James Maher, Cathal Hayes, Sonny Dwyer, Luke Fogarty, Noah Mellor, Paddy McGrath.

Subs: Ciaran Murphy, Jack Kavanagh (for G. McCormick), Dan Diamini (for Steven Kirwan), Conor Moloney (for Peter Kinane), Donnacha Ryan (for Mark Cummins), Sean Ryan, Jack Flanagan.