Roots & All is a project where we pick a few teams that don’t normally make the spotlight week in week out and feature them regularly throughout an entire campaign.
Iveragh seniors travelled to Clonakilty last Sunday in the second round of the j2 Munster cup. Having gotten away all year with no more than 3 subs at any given match, numbers finally caught up with us as we were down to the bare 15.
With 2 players starting carrying injuries Clon struck for an early try with only 2 minutes on the clock with the ball going through the hands of their speedy backs. Iveragh scored a try off a quick peno that caught the Clon defence unaware 2 mins later. Clon scored again through a chip chase and full back Brian O'Leary replied with a peno to make it 12-10 after 20 min of a high tempo game.
Iveragh’s patched up team was beginning to settle and had total control of the scrum and forward play, but the lightning fast Clon backs were a constant threat and they struck for 2 more tries to leave it 22-10 at half time .iveragh controlled possession in the second half with the maul and pick and go yielding a try ,from flanker Austin Lyne making it 22-17.
With the game now poised to go either way, it was the Clon scrum half who secured the victory with a break off a ruck to leave the final score 29-17 to Clon for a well deserved win. Great facilities, pitches and hospitality down in Clonakilty and best of luck to them in the next round against Kanturk . With the shortage of players and a reshuffled backline, this was one of Iveragh’s best ever performances against all the odds and every player can be proud of his display.
