Clane 5

Tallaght 1sts 15

Try: Rob Browner, Rob Hudson
Conversion: Rob Hudson
Penalty: Rob Browner

Leinster League Division 3
College Wood
29/01/2023

Tallaght’s men’s first team travelled to Kildare to take on Clane in Leinster League Division 3 in a rearranged fixture. It was their final league match of the season and Tallaght were looking to win to secure second place.

Tallaght started well when Aaron Hickey made a fine run from a lineout to get Tallaght deep into the Clane twenty two. The ball was recycled and Daryl Keogh grubber kicked through and full back Rob Browner chased up to touch down for a try. Rob Hudson converted to make it 7-0 to Tallaght.

It wasn’t long before Tallaght were on the scoreboard again and again it began with a big run from Aaron Hickey. Then the ball was worked wide and Rob Browner played an inside pass to allow Rob Hudson to cut back and score a fine try to make it 12-0 to Tallaght. To their credit Clane hit back with a fine try of their own from a lineout to make it 12-5.

After that, the game petered out somewhat. Both defences were on top and Tallaght got the only other score of the match when Rob Browner kicked a second half penalty to make it 15-5 at full-time. The win secured Tallaght second place in the table, their highest finish so far in the Leinster league.

Tallaght coach Matt Gill was proud of his squad. “It was a bit of an odd game today. We got off to a flyer but then it was all about defence and in that regard man of the match Scott Hyland was outstanding. Because of re-arranged fixtures, we had fixtures four weeks in a row in January. Three of the games were on the road and we won all three of them. We had to use a lot of different players from the squad too and they all came in and made massive contributions. Fair play to North Meath, who are deserved champions, but we feel the team has learned a lot from this league campaign, especially the ability to grind out wins on the road. The players have a couple of weeks off now from competitive action but we’re excited about the two cup competitions we’ll be competing in.”

Man of the match: Scott Hyland

Tallaght RFC

1. Alan Sower (Captain)
2. Andy Grace
3. Tony McManus
4. Patrik Toth
5. Alan Moore
6. Colin Morrison
7. Scott Hyland
8. Aaron Hickey
9. Rob Hudson
10. Daryl Keogh
11. Pedro Silva
12. Ciaran Rudd
13. Simon Collie
14. Ken Lynch
15. Rob Browner
16. Kevin Quinn
17. Rosemar Alves
18. Graham Timmins
19. Mark Keogh
20. Dave Mahon
21. Sean Smith
22. Ezequiel Roldan Olivera

Photos: Mark Luttrell