It’s do or die for Turks as they bid to stay in top flight

AIL Rugby League: Seapoint 19 Kanturk 13

WITH two minutes left on the clock, Kanturk’s Conor Cremin stands 30 metres from the posts on the right hand side of the field. A converted penalty means a critical bonus point to ensure the relegation dogfight continues until the last league fixture of the season.

A swirling wind coming off the Irish sea, bright sunshine - it’s like kicking a ball in front of the white topped waves on a summer’s day at Banna beach. Cremin, with the sun on his back, strikes it powerfully, judges the breeze instinctively and the ball goes straight through the posts, leaving the final margin of six between the teams. A hard earned bonus point in Dublin for Kanturk. Next week Kanturk will fight for survival in Ireland’s top rugby league. The permutations mean if Kanturk win at home against Midleton, and score four tries, and Boyne lose away to Bruff, the Turks will head for a play-off; lose or draw and the North Cork side are relegated.

Next week could be the final time a rugby side from North Cork plays a fixture in the senior ranks for a generation. The stakes could hardly be higher.

The game itself last Saturday was played on a dry, hard pitch, ideal for running rugby.

Seapoint took the initiative in the early stages with Kanturk struggling to get to grips with the game. This upshot of this was a pair of easy tries within the first 10 minutes. These scores, in the end, were to prove very costly for Kanturk.

From this point forward, it was Kanturk who controlled possession but faced a stubborn flat line defence and a stiff breeze. The Turks’ situation was not helped when Dan McCabe limped off with what looked like a horrible ankle injury, a few minutes before half time.

While the score was 14-0 at half time, away supporters were encouraged with the North Cork side’s performance.

The Turks began the second half by scoring a try and penalty from brothers Sean and Conor Cremin respectively. However, then came Seapoint’s purple patch and goaded on by their coach and former Lion and Irish international Eric Miller charged down the field to score the decisive try.

Ben Martin’s decision to unload the bench proved crucial and many of the replacements, such as Olan Daly, were instrumental in that vital penalty for Conor Cremin who bravely slotted over. Who knows how valuable those three points may turn out to be.

A monumental game in Knocknacolan on Saturday next, if a team needs support this weekend it has got to be this one!

Team; B Kelleher, D O’Dounghue, O Daly, B Daly, J Bradley, D McCabe, C Boyce, C O’Sullivan, C Cremin, S McAullife, S Cremin, D Fitzpatrick, K Buckley, M Mullaly, R O’Brien. Maof the Match, C Cremin.

Fixtures: April 15, Kanturk v Midelton.