Thomond on top in Gleeson thriller
Christian Meehan, Thomond, breaks through the Garryowen defence at the Gleeson League Final in Annacotty.
During their junior status days, Thomond were regular winners of this title but they bridged a gap that goes back to 1997 in Annacotty last Saturday when they beat Garryowen 19-12 in a thrilling final.
During their junior status days, Thomond were regular winners of this title but they bridged a gap that goes back to 1997 in Annacotty last Saturday when they beat Garryowen 19-12 in a thrilling final.
Played before a very big crowd, there was only a score between these two great rivals for most of the game with place kickers Christian Meehan (Thomond) and Kevin McEvoy for Garryowen giving master classes. Three first half penalties each by McEvoy and Meehan saw the sides locked together at 9-9 at the break and the second half was already set up to be a fine contest.
Christian Meehan’s fourth penalty edged the royal blues 12-9 ahead with 20 minutes remaining, giving them a lead that they were not to relinquish. Ten minutes from time Meehan got a chance to put two scores between the sides but sliced his penalty wide of the left hand post but in the next phase, Thomond used their pack to get good field position, they swept the ball to the left and replacement David Guerin scampered over near the flag. Meehan’s conversion was superb and although Garryowen responded with a fourth successful penalty from Kevin McEvoy, they failed to impose their advantage against a Thomond side that had been reduced to 13 men.
At the end of what was a wonderful rugby occasion, junior vice president of the Munster Branch, John Hartery presented the trophy to Thomond captain Phonsie Meehan.
Thomond - Christian Meehan; Leon Scanlon, Eoin O’Dwyer, Eoin McNamara, Kenneth McNamara; David O’Mahony, Tommy Meehan; Mike Flynn, Dean Kerley, Alan Airey; Noel Griffin, Jeffrey Slattery; Mike O’Riordan, Stephen Melbourne, John Ryan. Replacements: Phonsie Meehan, Keith Kiely, Glenn O’Callaghan, David Guerin.
Garryowen - Ger O’Donovan; Cian Leahy, Declan Nash, Kevin O’Riordan, Anthony Gahan; Kevin McEvoy, Charlie Colling; Daniel Lenihan, Michael John O’Hurley, Mark O’Neill; Finnian Chesser, Diarmuid Furey; Leon Charnley, Karl Tuffy, Mark Hanrahan. Replacements: Rob Downey, Ian Shire, Corey McNamara, Fergus Sheehan, David McInerney.
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