Ratoath 29

Tallaght 1sts 17

Tries: Aaron Shanahan, Dave Clarke, Niall Mahon
Conversion: Rob Hudson

Leinster League Division 3
Tymon Park

14/11/2021

After winning their first league game of the season last week, Tallaght travelled to Meath to take on Ratoath hoping to build momentum.

Tallaght started well and despite conceding three points to a Ratoath penalty, they scored the first try of the game after ten minutes. After strong inside carries by the forwards, Simon Collie and Rob Browner combined to put wing Aaron Shanahan away to score an excellent try to make it 5-3.

However that was as good as it got for Tallaght in the first half. Ratoath took advantage of some poor tackling to score two tries and they converted one of them to lead 15-5 at half-time.

Tallaght dominated possession and territory in the second half but the Ratoath defence was resolute. Fine tactical kicking from Adam Nolan and Rob Hudson kept putting Tallaght in good positions but they failed to capitalise.

Eventually the pressure told though and Rob Browner spun a fine pass out wide to out-half David Clarke who squeezed into the corner for a try to make it 15-10. Tallaght kept the pressure on and were camped in the Ratoath half. But a loose pass was gathered by Ratoath who broke out of defence to score a superb length of the field try to make it 22-10 to the home side.

Tallaght kept fighting and flanker Niall Mahon broke through for a fine try to make it 22-17. Tallaght kept looking for the winning score but suffered a sucker punch when Ratoath scored a converted try with the last score of the game to make the final score 29-17 denying Tallaght a losing bonus point in the process.

Tallaght backs coach Gary Brennan commiserated with the players. “We played some good stuff at times and scored some fine tries but our tackle technique let us down for their tries. Ratoath were very strong in their ball carrying but we fronted up physically. We improved in the second half and fought to the end and were unlucky to concede on the last play of the game to give us nothing. We’ve a week off now before taking on Ardee at home in two weeks time. We’ll use that time to work on aspects of our game that can be improved.”

Man of the match: Aaron Shanahan

Tallaght RFC

1. Alan Sower
2. Ken McGovern
3. Tony McManus
4. Al Moore
5. Patrik Toth
6. Niall Mahon
7. Jack Russell
8. Adam Nolan (Captain)
9. Andy Rudd
10. David Clarke
11. Aaron Shanahan
12. Simon Collie
13. Rob Browner
14. Karl Segrave
15. Daryl Keogh
16. Andy Caswell
17. Gary Kinsella
18. Aaron Hickey
19. Colin Morrison
20. Rob Hudson
21. Mick Corrigan

Report: Jim O’Connor
Photo: Conor McDaid