Jack on song with boot
shift expectantly in the seats.
It wasn’t as if the Clare defence were lording it over the Wicklow players, it was more a case of the Garden County side giving possession away time and time again, at least a dozen times in those 35 minutes.
A quadruple substitution was made after 50 minutes, Brian Nesbitt, Cillian McDonald, Oisin McGraynor and Declan Doyle coming in while Cathal Baker had emerged for the start of the second half.
Wicklow had a positive last 15, with Nesbitt showing some sense of ambition and lofting over two lovely points, Gearoid Murphy adding a dreamy effort off the outside of the right boot and Kevin Quinn firing over a free, but the goose was well and truly cooked at that stage.
There’s serious potential in this team, but they seem to be playing with fear. Open up the chests and go for it, lads. Nobody will fault you for going down fighting. Better to go out with a roar than surrender with a whimper.
U20 SIX NATIONS
FOUR conversions from the outstanding Jack Murphy from Bray helped the Ireland U20s to a thumping 43-8 victory over visiting Wales at Virgin Media Park last weekend.
Murphy was joined by his former Pres Bray students Finn Treacy and Billy Corrigan in steering Richie Murphy’s side to yet another win as they move in on another Grand Slam title.
A brace of tries Danny Sheahan and singles from Sean Edogbo, Hugh Gavin, Henry Walker, and Ben O’Connor reflected a night of dominance for the Ireland side who now move on to a big test against the English.
IRELAND U-20: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/ Leinster); Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/ Leinster), Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/ Munster). Replacements used: Alex Usanov (Clontarf
FC/Leinster) for Howard, Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC/Munster) for Bell (both 51 mins), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster) for Walker (54), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster) for Hopes (61), Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster) for Gavin (64), Tom Brigg (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster) for L Murphy, Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster) for Coffey, Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht) for J Murphy (all 67).