Thurles made the short journey to local Tipperary rivals Clanwilliam last Sunday for round 6 of the Munster Junior League. On their last outing here in the league three years ago, and in their first year back in division one, they faced the same opposition in a clash that would determine their division one status and they just managed to edge the victory with  last minute penalty kick from James Maher. Ironically almost the same scenario arose this time with James Maher having a shot at Thurles redemption with the last kick the game albeit for a 45m and in to stiffening north westerly breeze. Sadly for Thurles the kick fell short which some what sums up their efforts over the last three games

The opening exchanges of the game even matched with neither teams exerting any dominance what was clear however is that Thurles had the edge in set piece at both lineout and scrum from an early stage. Early signs for Thurles were the ease with which Clanwilliam made significant ground through their back three when the ball was kicked deep with several missed tackles across the backline. It was the home side who struck first, and after a couple of close in penalties from Thurles indiscipline gave them good field position. It didn’t take Clans hard carrying forwards long to break down the Thurles defence and score the first try close to the posts, converted, after 15 minutes to leave the score at 7 – 0 in favour of the home side. Thurles responded well and gaining field position in the Clan twenty-two went to work their lineout maul. Clan infringing twice in a row and gaining themselves a yellow card. The Thurles pack again went through phases sucking in the Clan defence before spreading the ball wide to Cian Ralph for an easy overlap score from close in. James Maher landed the conversion to tie up the scores a 7 each with 18 minutes gone.

Thurles next score was straight off the training park, a great line out win by Sam Quinlan followed by a peel by Jason Theron who fed Sonny Dwyer on a hard line from first centre who knifed his way through the Clan defence to score close to the posts. The conversion was added by James Maher to leave the score at 14 – 7 in favour of Thurles. Thurles added to their first half tally with a penalty kick James Maher on 37 minutes, 35m out from straight in front. But Clan were not done either as half time approached and a penalty for a high tackle 15 m out, after a couple of penalties gave them good field position,and they had started to make in roads against the Thurles defence, gave them easy penalty chance with the last kick of the first half to leave the half time at 17 – 10 in favour of Thurles.

Thurles started the second half well with some good attacking phases initially undone by a ball stripped out of contact close to the Clan line. But it didn’t take them long to register the first score of the second with the foundation laid by the Thurles pack. A penalty kick to within 10m, and from the ensuing lineout Thurles went side to side through several phases before James Maher spotted a gap to dash through from 5 meters out to score close to the posts. Unfortunately for Thurles, as the game transpired, the relatively easy conversion was missed to leave the score at 22 – 10 in favour of Thurles.

Clan had not read the script and despite being 12 points adrift with 56 minutes on the clock, and Thurles dominance for the opening exchanges of the second half they felt that there was still something in this game for them. A string of penalty possession gave them good field position and some hard carrying by their forwards got them close to the line before they swung the ball wide to their backs where some pro defence by the Thurles backs allowed their winger to wriggle over in the corner. Conversion missed this left the score at 22 – 15 in favour of Thurles with 57 minutes gone. Thurles used their bench at this stage with Donnacha Ryan making way for Evan Ryan, James o Mara replacing Seamie Holohan and Ed O’Gorman on for Sean Lloyd. It didn’t take Clan long to haul Thurles back in and restore parity, a long penalty kick clearance missed touch and continued on into the Thurles goal line area, Thurles attempted to run the ball out – but some indecision led to them being tackled just 10m out from their own line. Thurles pack regathered and managed through a series of hard carries work the ball out of their twenty-two and present the ball back to out-half James Maher, to clear or even run the ball with a stacked backline outside. The attempted clearance kick was blocked down and bounced straight into the blocker’s hands for him to coast in under the sticks for the equalising score. Thurles to their credit regathered their composure and again through tehri industrious pack won a good lineout on the Clan 10 meter line before going through some phases. Ciaran Ryan, Thurles best player on the day, cut a wonder full hard lie onto a James Maher pass to slice through the Clan midfield before biding his time before feeding the supporting James Maher who beat the remaining defence to sprint in for Thurles fourth try and dot down 10m from the posts with 74 minutes on the clock. Crucially again for Thurles the relatively easy conversion was missed to leave the score at 25 to 20 and leaving the door slightly jar with 6 minutes remining for a smash an grab by Clan who duly obliged. A Knock on form the drop of after the Thurles score gave Clan a scrum platform. They attacked consistently and put pashes together Thurles conceded a couple of penalties. Clan worked the Thurles defence side to side before a sleeping Thurles defender at pillar, allowed the Clan tight head to swivel and walk in from 10 metres for the crucial score. The clan 13 lined up the and unerringly dispatched it to edge Clan in front with 3 minutes to go. Thurles had one more shout and earned themselves a penalty kick 45m in front into a stiff north westerly, which was just beyond kicking range and which just fell short.

This was a ding dong game of rugby played in tough conditions, the Thurles pack again fronted up and had a very good day at set piece, the backline have some work to do in relation defence and communication in relation to defence.Thurles will rue some costly errors and misses and will have to dust themselves down quickly before they entertain Muskerry at home next week in another must win as are all of the games in this league given the narrow spread between midtable and the bottom placed teams.  

 

Jack Kavanagh, Shane Nugent, John Shaw, Colin Nolan ,Jason Theron, Donnacha Ryan , Sam Quinlan Ciaran Ryan, Seamie Holohan, James Maher, Sean Lloyd, Sonny Dwyer,Fionn Fogarty, Cian Ralph, Paddy McGrath.

Subs: Steven Kirwan (for Jack Kavanagh)Tom McNamara(forShane Nugent) , Ciran Murphy, Evan Ryan (for Ciaran Ryan),Rob Donovan (for Colin Nolan) James O’Mara(for SeamieHolohan), Ed O’Gorman(for Sean Lloyd)