Rugby: Cashel see off Dolphin in the All-Ireland League

Dolphin 19
Cashel 24
The tension was palpable in Musgrave Park, Cork, on Saturday last as Cashel took on Dolphin in round 6 of the All Ireland League on the artificial pitch.

The game was played in perfect conditions with a strong wind favouring the home team in the first half. Dolphin started in lively fashion and had their own ideas on how to break down the Cashel defence. It took them four minutes to register their first score. Cashel knocked on deep in their own half and from the resulting scrum the Dolphin out half chipped the defence and a forward beat the defenders to the touchdown. The conversion put them seven points ahead.

Cashel gradually got into the game and on eleven minutes Brendan Crosse picked on the half way line and made thirty meters. Brendan Ryan picked at the back of the ruck and raced in for a try which Josh O'Dwyer converted.

Cashel were making silly mistakes and Dolphin were capitalising on those to gain field position. It takes time to adjust to the artificial pitch and this may have been the reason for some of the mistakes.

Dolphin kicked another penalty to the corner on twenty two minutes and mauled over for a try to go ahead. Dolphin kept Cashel pinned back in their own half until the thirty second minute with high kicks aided by the wind. Ciaran Ryan picked at the back of scrum inside his own twenty two, Josh Pickering hacked the ball to half way, Brendan Crosse gathered and carried to the five meter line. Brendan Ryan was on hand again to level the game with a try.

Following Brendan Ryans try Josh pickering caught the kickoff and launced a huge kick into the Dolphin half which resulted in a 50/22 and an attacking lineout for Cashel which they did not waste. As they drove over the line Niall Fitzgerald was on hand to touch down.

Cashel were now in the driving seat but Dolphin responded immediately. Cashel did not secure the kickoff and were penalised . Dolphin went to the corner and when the ball came to their out half he lofted a high kick across the field to the right wing. Their winger won the aerial battle, they converted and went ahead again.

The half time score was Dolphin 19 Cashel 17.

With the wind at their backs Cashel dominated possession in the second half. The Dolphin defence was outstanding and they repeatedly resisted everything Cashel threw at them. James Ryan left the field early in the second half with an injury and his leadership was missed. Richard Moran was also mising due to injury.

Sixty five minutes Cashel kicked two penalties to the corner but lost the lineout. The mistakes and the Dolphin defence were killing the Cashel effort and it looked as if it would not be their day. As injury time approached Cashel won a lineout inside the Dolphin twenty two. The pack went through multiple phases and could not break down the defence.

Eventually the ball was whipped through the backs and Alfredo Bergada sliced through the Dolphin defence to score. Josh O'Dwyer converted. Time was almost up and all that was needed was to secure the kickoff. However the ball was knocked on and Dolphin had another opportunity to go for they win.

They launched an onslaught and now it was Cashels turn to defend and to their credit they withstood five bruising minutes before Fearghaill O'Donoghue robbed the ball at a breakdown and kicked it into touch to end the game.

This was another high quality game and while it was not vintage Cashel they did dig very deep to come away with five valuable points. Dolphin to their credit threw everything they had at the visitors and just came up short. If they continue to play at this standard thet will progress up the table. Round seven takes place on November 26th when Cashel host Old Crescent at Spafield.

Cashel team (1-20) C O'Donnell, N Fitzgerald, B Ryan, B O'Connor, B Crosse, F O'Donoghue, J Ryan, C Ryan, J Pickering, J O'Dwyer, Jack O'Rourke, C Cashman (C), B Murray, R Kingston, A Bergada, D Foley, A Shirley, L Shine, A O'Connor, A McDonald.

Munster V South Africa.
Pairc Ui Chaoimh rocked on Thursday night last as Munster had a thrilling victory over South Africa. There was a major Cashel input on the night.

Denis Leamy is a key member of the coaching staff and was very pleased with the performance of his charges.
Cashel's Diarmuid Barron was the hooker on the night and capped a wonderful performance with a very important try just before half time. He is establishing himself as a very important member of the Munster squad.

Pride of Place
Pride of place goes to the Cashel under eleven team. They played Castleisland at half time before 41000 people and turned in a very classy performance. Ben Maher scored the only try of the game. His teammates were Freddie Lehehan, Nikita Yashchuk, John Ed O'Connor, Andrew Walsh, Jack Kennedy, John Thompson, Tadgh Corcoran, Adam Kearney, Eanna O'Connor, Toby Barry, Robert Leamy.

The team was coached by John Ed O'Connor, Michael Kearney, Seamus Kearney and Clara Brosnan. On Sunday the under 14s defeated Mallow and the under 13sbeat Clanwilliam.