Keating treble has ‘Stones on cloud nine

all the early pressure running at the Wanderers defence at every opportunity.

Clancy’s try came in typical fashion with a charging burst through the Wanderers defence from ten metres out. The second, finished by Mannion was down to man of the match Keating’s brilliance.

Taking the ball in his own half he broke several tackles making over 50 metres of ground before being finally stopped just short of the line.

Before Wanderers could marshal their defence, Mannion following in support gratefully accepted Keating’s off load to finish the move in the corner.

Uncharacteristically for full-back Andrew Kealy both conversion attempts hit the upright and rebounded back.

The third try followed when Keating repeated the dose with another break two minutes later, this time breaching the line to score himself while Kealy recalibrated the sights to send the ball sailing between the posts.

Finding themselves three tries down Wanderers stirred and began to show why they are unbeaten for so long on their fortress home pitch and started to take the game to Greystones.

Playing a similar fast moving game they spread the Greystones defence to allow number eight Patrick Mallon to cross for their opening try followed by a second just before half-time when full-back Niall O’Donoghue found himself in space to run in under the posts unopposed.

Both tries were converted to leave the visitors just three points clear at half-time.

If there were any nerves in the Greystones ranks about the narrowness of the half-time lead they were restricted to the sizeable support that turned out to back the Wicklow men.

The players shrugged off any doubts and dominated the early part of the second half. Jack Keating who terrorised the Wanderers defence all afternoon made another blistering run after just four minutes to touch down for the bonus point try.

Barry Lynn added a fifth before scrum half Andy Roberts evaded the defence to touch down under the posts for a sixth.

Kealy added a penalty and two more conversions before Keating crowned the afternoon with the visitors seventh try and his personal hat-trick in typical fashion with yet another unstoppable break down his right wing.

Wanderers playing to the final minute never gave up and grabbed two second half consolation tries, the second coming deep into stoppage time to leave the final score at 46-29 to Greystones.

Greystones have been knocking on the door to promotion for the last number of years and this young exciting side are more than capable of making a big impression in the higher leagues should they achieve their just reward.

Cruelly denied in the final playoff match last season to Sundays Well in Cork they are determined to avoid the play-offs and finish the job next Saturday knowing a win with or without a bonus point will suffice to deliver the league Championship.

A huge Easter Saturday support is guaranteed at Dr Hickey Park for what is undoubtedly the biggest game in the club’s history for many years.

Greystones: Andrew Kealy, Jack Keating, Con Callan, Barry Lynn, Paudie Geoghegan, Killian Marmion, Andrew Roberts, Dan mannion, Cormac O’Donoghue, Bobby Clancy (Capt) Barry Fitzpatrick, Eoin Marmion, Conor Pearse, Mike Lea, Michael Douglas. Replacements: Kevin Moes, Barry Treanor, Robin O’Sullivan, Michael Kirk, Jason Curran