Metro League 4 – Old Wesley 27 Blackrock 25 by Ken Mcloughlin
Friday night, Cabinteely football club, several absentees. The quintessential banana skin in a season that’s seen more twists and turns then Mondello park . Missing several of the more seasoned pros, McLaughlin was entrusted with the captaincy. He stood back and allowed Sir Henry Swaine give a bone chilling team talk. McLaughlin led by example, 5 from 5 off the tee. Wesley stuttered through a forgettable first half. O’Mara aggravated an old injury and cried off with cramp in his little finger. Emo was moved to the wing, a change he described as moving from the Southside to the Northside. His second half display indicated where his preferences lay with a stellar performance on the wing. Meanwhile, Stano slumped into a warm bath after waxing his legs and Petrie finished painting Josh Van Der Flier’s house in return for a mention in The Irish Times.
Half time and with an uphill second half into the wind, it was all to play for. Kinners explained how to change a car from second gear into third. It did the trick. The Perfect hill start. John Wallace provided the horsepower and a giraffe like run down field from Davis set up prime field position. A rolling mall.. Try time! High fives all round for a good 10 minutes. McLaughlin split the posts with the conversion. Deliberation behind the posts and although the ref and resident DJ of McSorelys was checking his lotto numbers, it was awarded. Shortly after, quick thinking by McLaughlin caught the defence napping, he indicated to kick to touch, fooled the defence and pinged a superb spiral straight into the Blackrock second rows ball sack. Textbook, football in the groin. A tense finish to the game when Blackrock snuck in for a try in the corner. Blackrock’s outhalf, drafted down from the first XV, showed how difficult kicking conditions were and how good McLaughlin’s kicking was, missing 3 conversions and crucially missing the final conversion, leaving the score 25-27.
Last play – knocked on by Rock. Advantage to Wesley. With nothing to lose and a clear run-in to the line, Leeso’s cousin and farm assistant – O-leg Keating decided against scoring the fourth try and bonus point and instead sent the ball into row Z. Luckily enough Johnny Willis wasn’t keeping the score, Wesley win. Job done.