Narrow win for Kilfeacle on the sort of day that encouraged Noah to build an Ark

Kilfeacle 5 Newcastle West 0

Last month’s away win against Mallow seemed to indicate that Kilfeacle were maintaining a consistency in performance. It seemed that they were finally exorcising demons, while all the time building as a squad. They were confident that they were a threat to any team, regardless of who they were, home or away.

Confidence is vital for any individual and for every team but only when it is grounded and kept in check. These encounters are always intense affairs where old rivalries are renewed, slagging reignited and bragging rights played for. Throw in the added fact that both sides needed the points, Kilfeacle to maintain their lead at the top of the table and Newcastle West to move away from the inevitable dog fight at the wrong end of the table.

On Sunday last in Morrissey Park the weather was cold, wet and windy but the atmosphere was scalding hot in the cauldron of Munster Junior Rugby and neither side would have it any other way.

To say the weather was inclement and played a huge part in the game would be true but to say that this was the deciding factor in the result would be wrong. This was the sort of day that encouraged Noah to build an Ark. The weather brought the teams down to the same level. Every tackle had to count, every decision was vital and one mistake would win it or lose it, depending on the colour of the jersey that hung over your heart on the day.

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Kilfeacle played against the wind for the first half. Newcastle West started with the wind and rain at their backs and the target was to build up a sizeable lead, as playing against the wind in the second half would be a very difficult and exhausting task.

The vast majority of the first 20 minutes was played in the middle half of the pitch. Only in the second 20 minutes of the half did Kilfeacle manage to have sustained pressure in the Newcastle West half. But for all their possession and territorial advantage, the home side found it very difficult to build up good phases of play and their endeavours were plagued with handling errors, mostly induced by the playing conditions.

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Kilfeacle’s defence was admirable but in attack they kept making errors, which was partially due to the pressure that the Newcastle West team was exerting. As the half wore on both teams became more and more anxious to score. Newcastle West knew they needed to score and make more use of the wind. However they were also wary that a score by their opponents against the wind and driving rain would be devastating. The half remained scoreless and at half-time the score was 0 – 0.

The break was short and neither side complained, as the conditions were not conducive to standing around. In that brief time both coaches communicated their message to their charges and could be heard doing so over the noise of the storm that was blowing, as the conditions began to worsen.

Kilfeacle started the second half well. However handling errors, lost footing, misplaced passes and loose ball seem to be the order of the day. After 15 minutes of concerted pressure the Kilfeacle team started to come to grips with ever-worsening conditions and started to build good phase play, and used the weather to their advantage. Every time Newcastle West made it out of their own 22 any error or misplaced kick saw the ball return over their heads to relinquish any ground gained.

The second half mirrored the first with the roles reversed. After 16 minutes Kilfeacle won themselves a lineout and a subsequent rolling maul pushed the opposing pack a full 20 yards before it collapsed. This was an example of the monstrous effort and commitment shown by all on the day.

Two minutes later the visiting side had 17 phases of play, starting on the halfway line and ending with an unconverted try scored by Jacques van Wyngaardt. The conversion attempt was missed and the score line was now 5 points to 0.

Newcastle West were hanging on but knew that they were only a converted try away from victory. Truth be told, try as they might they were unable to break out of their own half. A losing bonus point was an admirable reward for an unbelievable defensive display.

By the time the referee sounded the full-time whistle, to the joy of Kilfeacle and the relief of all who were there, it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the two sets of players.

Both sets of players and supporters deserve praise just for being there in those conditions. On days such as this it was a bit of a lottery and on the day Kilfeacle had the winning ticket. The team as ever are proud and humbled by the amount of support they receive and hope that their supporters will continue to come along and support them on the day. They wish Newcastle West the very best for the rest of the season.

Kilfeacle’s next game is away to Thurles in the Munster Junior League on this Sunday January 18.

Kilfeacle’s squad: 1 Adam Farrelly, 2 Richard Whitney, 3 Daniel Lambe, 4 Bob Purcell, 5 Adam Crowe, 6 Rian Doody, 7 Bryan McLaughlin, 8 Kevin Kinane, 9 Kelan O’Connor, 10 Luke Heuston, 11 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 12 Keith Bourke, 13 Muiri Lambe, 14 Kevin Doyle, 15 Darren Lowry, 16 James Ryan, 17 Diarmuid O’Donnell, 18 Simon Barry, 19 Thomas Fogarty, 20 Ben White, 21 Killian Noonan and 22 Ben Farrelly.