Page 54 - Lansdowne Yearbook 2020-21 Master Digital Edition

J1 METRO LEAGUE

DIVISION 1 REVIEW

Charlie Doel
P Lansdowne J1 Season Report 2019-20

The J1s got their season off to a fine start with a a penalty left the score 17 nil to the students.
bonus point victory away to Old Belvedere. This The turning point of this match came when
gave the impetus for subsequent bonus point the Lansdowne pack held onto the ball for 10
wins over UCD, Clontarf & Trinity to leave the J1s minutes to allow our players return from the sin
at the summit of the league table. However the bin and prevent further scores. With a return to 15
J1s fell victim to a try & conversion with the last players Lansdowne then launched their counter
play of the game versus a gritty Old Wesley side strike. Peter Hastie with his trade mark footwork
in Ballycorus. This led to a redoubling of efforts carved open a hole in the UCD defence and put
by players and coaches and saw the team go on a centre Willy Walsh in for a quality score.
6 match winning streak, consolidating their lofty
league position. During this period the side played More concerted pressure led to a try for no8
some scintillating rugby with tries and bonus Darragh Murphy who was having an inspired
points aplenty. However hubris reared it’s head day and left the score at 17-14 with Lansdowne
and the side was subjected to two consecutive pushing hard for the win. With Lansdowne
losses via last minute kicks courtesy of Old Wesley pounding away on the UCD line in search of a
& Terenure. Due to the highly competitive nature winning score the J1’s gave away a relieving
of this league these two losses put Lansdowne’s penalty which UCD used to secure the victory in
place in the end of season places in jeopardy. But what was a thrilling final.
in true Lansdowne form the J1s responded with a
ruthless performance against Trinity and finished Special mentions must go to Team Manager John
the league with a respectable 11 wins and 3 Kilroy who brings endless passion, Physio Ian
loses. This meant an away final against UCD who Hickey and the inspirational figure of captain
had gathered huge momentum post-Christmas. Conall O’Brien.

The Final played in a picturesque Belfield bowl
was a titanic affair. UCD piled on the pressure
early doors, resulting in two Lansdowne players
being sin binned. The concession of 2 tries and

54 YEARBOOK 2020-2021