Fine showing from ’Stones in semi-final Big crowd in Dr Hickey Park
Semi-final
Huge pressure on Blackrock at the ruck. So much so that they infringed and a penalty was awarded to Greystones. Andrew Kiely was successful. 8-5 to Greystones
The next 10 minutes of play was tit for tat with neither team making any great in-roads.
This changed when Killian Marmion saw the opportunity for a cross-field kick right just outside Blackrock 22, Jack Keating competed in the air to cleverly pat the ball back to Craig Hazelton who ran in for the try, converted by Andrew Kiely with 27 minutes on the clock. 15-5 to Greystones.
Greystones nearly had another try off the restart.
Hooker Mike Lea takes the ball and bullishly moved forward with about three Blackrock players trying to take him down.
The ball was recycled quickly. Andrew Roberts was quick to the ruck feeding Killian Marmion who, with an amazing step, ran most of the pitch, passed back inside to Roberts who was tackled at the 10 metre.
The ball was recycled and with quick passes out the left wing it was knocked on by a Greystones hand. So close!
A Blackrock scrum saw them kick for touch, giving Greystones a line-out
A great burst by Craig Hazelton off line-out and the ball was passed with Padraig Geoghegan getting a sweet try after 29 minutes. Converted by Kiely. 22-5 to Greystones. The Greystones backs were on fire and look dangerous.
This was heading for a white-washing.
The first half finishes 22-5 to Greystones
Greystones get a penalty off their own restart. Andrew Kiely scored with 41 minutes gone to make it 25-5
The Greystones defence was truly solid all day. They had to deal with some big powerful forwards running at them along with some very speedy backs.
Blackrock have butchered a fair few chances, to be fair to them. They had a least two clear opportunities to score, with passes going astray or an unfortunate knock on in the red-zone.
Just inside the Blackrock half saw some great hands by Mike Lea, who put Roberts down the wing. Roberts gets the pass back inside to Ferdia Kenny in space. Try for Ferdia after 50 minutes. 305, converted Andrew Kiely: 32–5.
Pressure had to come from Blackrock at some stage and on 64 minutes a penalty try was awarded from scrum on the Greystones line. Blackrock try. 32–12
The show wasn’t over, however. Captain Bobby Clancy makes a signature break right through the middle of the ruck.
He was stopped five metres short.
But the ball was recycled quickly and it was rounded off with another try for Stones with 79 minutes on the clock to leave the score reading 39-12.
The match ended on that same scoreline: 39–12.
Greystones RFC: 15. Andrew Kealy, 14. Jack Keating, 13. Congall Callan, 12. Craig Hazelton, 11. Padraig Geoghegan, 10. Killian Marmion, 9. Andrew Roberts, 1. Bobby Clancy, 2. Michael Lea, 3. Conor Pearse, 4. John Campbell, 5. Barry Fitzpatrick, 6. Cormac O’Donoghue, 7. Alan Dempsey, 8. Daniel Mannion. Subs: 16. Michael Douglas, 17. Shane Mulvany, 18. Eoin Marmion, 19. Michael Kirk, 20. Ferdia Kenny, 21. Calvin Jordan, 22. Barry Treanor.