29th Sept 2024 – All Ireland League – Shannon 23 – Old Wesley 13
Our first away game of the season saw Old Wesley take on Shannon in the first leg of the McCoy-Tucker Trophy. Conditions were perfect on the back pitch in Thomond Park and the healthy crowd were hopeful of an exciting free flowing game. Unfortunately, that never materialised as the game became a penalty dominated affair.
Shannon started the first half well as Wesley struggled to gain any possession or territory in the first 10 minutes. The early pressure led to a penalty for Shannon which was duly converted by John O’Sullivan to give the hosts a 3-nil lead. Wesley struck back almost immediately with a penalty of their own following a high tackle on Will Fay. Cassidy kicked the points to make it 3 all. This settled the visitors as they started to have some sustained possession of their own. On the 19th minute Nathan Randles was set free following some smart hands from Deegan and Murphy. It was only a desperate last-ditch tackle from Sam Browne that could stop the Wesley winger scoring against his former club.
A big left hand from second row Shane Cawley turned over the resulting lineout. Wesley moved the attack to under the Shannon posts with Cathal Kelly getting the first try of the day with an opportunistic snipe off the base of a ruck to dot down to left of the posts. Cassidy extended the lead to 10-3 with the regulation conversion. From the restart Josh Pim was penalised for a roll on the ground and O’Sullivan reduced the arrears to 4 points. The game then went into a lull with neither team able to take advantage of a series of penalties to be awarded. It wasn’t until the 27th minute when Reuben Pim received a yellow card for a misjudged aerial challenge that the game came back to life. Shannon then ventured into the Wesley 22 but their momentum was halted with a superb tackle by the Wesley captain Josh Pim that forced a handling error. It was then Wesley’s turn to go on the attack.
Following some strong running from front row duo Noonan and Gleeson, Shannon were penalised in a kickable position for Cassidy. Again, the outhalf obliged with another 3 points. This extended Wesley’s lead to 7 points giving them a 13-6 lead at the interval.
During the halftime break Wesley were dealt a double blow with the loss of backrow duo Cathal Kelly and captain Josh Pim through injury.
A strong start to the 2nd half saw Wesley enter the Shannon 22 following some patient phase play. What looked to be a certain try was foiled by a Jack O’Donnell intercept from an Eoin Murphy pass as he looked put hooker Kieran O’Shea over in the corner. With 30 minutes left on the clock Wesley won a scrum penalty just inside the Shannon half. As the players broke away from the scrum the Shannon second row somehow ended up on the turf. Following consultation with his assistant the referee interpreted the incident to be a 2nd yellow card offence for Reuben Pim and therefore a red for the Wesley man. The red card was compounded 4 mins later when replacement Mahon Ronan received a yellow card for a high tackle. With Wesley now defending with 13 men Shannon opted for a kick to touch. The decision was rewarded when Shannon hooker Adam Maloney was at the bottom of the resulting maul to bring Shannon back to within 2 points of the visitors. O’Sullivan converted expertly from the touch line to bring the scores level at 13 apiece.
The 13 men continued battle, and as we reached the midway point of the half Wesley earned another penalty inside Cassidy’s range. The subsequent kick sailed just to the left of the upright leaving the scores level as Wesley returned to 14 men. Shannon, however, sensed the opportunity to increase the pressure with the backing of a vocal home crowd. With the game heading into the final 10 minutes Jack O’Donnell was this time involved in an attacking capacity crossing the line after a fine passage of play. O’Sullivan again added the conversion to give the home team a 7-point lead.
With 3 minutes to go any hope of a Wesley comeback ended. A Shannon scrum penalty was again executed with precision by O’Sullivan who ended the game with a 13-point haul from the tee. A disappointing day on the road but we’ve a chance to go again next week when we welcome an unbeaten Nenagh Ormond to Donnybrook.
Scorers: Try: Cathal Kelly; Con: Ian Cassidy; Pens: Ian Cassidy 2
Team: Tom Larke, Eoin Murphy, Alex Molloy, Eoin Deegan, Nathan Randles; Ian Cassidy, Willem Johnstone; Harry Noonan, Kieran O’Shea, Cronan Gleeson, Shane Cawley, Reuben Pim, Cathal Kelly, Josh Pim (capt), William Fay. Replacements: Rian Handley, Sam Kenny, Charlie Meagher, Mahon Ronan, Andrew Doyle, Tommy O’Callaghan.
