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Coolmine fall at semi-final stage of Metro Cup
Seapoint 26 Coolmine 1st XV 11

Coolmine's Metro Cup run came to an end recently with defeat against Seapoint at the semi-final stage of the competition. An experienced Seapoint team dominated the second-half, with out-half Brian Keegan kicking sixteen points to secure victory. The final score somewhat flattered the victors, as Coolmine were definitely a match for their opponents in the opening half. However, a huge penalty count against Coolmine and an inability to secure quality possession in the second half cost them dearly.

Seapoint have been two-time winners of this competition in recent years and had accounted for St. Mary's in the quarter-final. They entered this contest as deserved favourites to reach the final. However, the opening exchanges saw Coolmine tear into their opponents, winning several turnovers from both tight and open play. A significant wind favoured Coolmine in the opening half, and the first score came from the boot of Conor Hayes after just a few minutes.

Andrew Barry yet again performed well and was a constant thorn in Seapoint's side, seeking out gaps and also kicking well. After ten minutes Seapoint turned down a three points from a penalty opportunity electing to kick for the corner, seeking to capitalise on a visit to the Coolmine 22 against the wind. The risk paid off as the maul was recycled effectively, and the Seapoint No.8 crashed over near the posts. The conversion made it 7-3.

This game saw an intense struggle for ball up front, and McGrath, Prunty, Murray and others worked overtime to hold onto ball for Coolmine. Seapoint fought for turnovers but it was Coolmine who had the upper hand here. The Seapoint maul was making ground but line breaks were few and far between in a gritty affair. After about twenty minutes Coolmine were hit with an injury as Niall Ganley was forced off, replaced by Dave Geraghty.

With half an hour gone, following a turnover at half-way, Hayes swept down the left and passed out to Alan Cousins, who put in an inch-perfect chip to the corner. The panicked Seapoint defence dealt badly with an awkward ball, and Cousins - with several tries to his name in this competition already - pounced to score. Hayes put the conversion just wide, and Coolmine now had the lead by the narrowest of margins.

It was a short-lived advantage however as Keegan struck another penalty. Seapoint then surged ahead to gain a foothold in the Coolmine 22. Some powerful scrummaging by Wood, Savage and Cawley drove the former champions off their own ball but Seapoint added another three points to lead by 10-8 at the interval.

The second-half opened with Seapoint almost scoring from the kick-off, their hooker finding a gap to burst clear and off-load. However some brilliant cover tackling and a crucial steal by Harley Murray led to a Coolmine penalty. Against the strong wind, Coolmine were finding it difficult to make ground. They conceded a penalty not long afterwards, and Seapoint's Keegan stepped up to strike three points with a fine wind-assisted kick from inside his own half, for a 13-8 lead.

Some excellent ball retention was beginning to reap rewards for Seapoint as Coolmine found possession scarce. In addition the elements were playing their part, as Coolmine could not get a territorial foothold. The defence was holding firm yet frustration was showing as the penalty count continued to rise; Dave Geraghty was sin-binned and Coolmine were down to fourteen men for a period. Keegan struck two more penalties, but Hayes responded not long afterwards, following an excellent Coolmine attack, making no mistake with a penalty in front of the posts.

On sixty-five minutes a Seapoint attack provided good ball for their backs who ran effective lines to put the full back into some space for a try. The conversion increased Seapoint’s lead to an unassailable fifteen points.

Try as they might in the closing quarter, Coolmine could not make headway as an experienced Seapoint brought on fresh legs to close out the game. Coolmine would not wilt however and the final moments saw them still pushing upfield with some good surges.

On the day, however, Seapoint were the better side. At the final whistle the scoreline of 26-11 may have flattered the winners even if the actual win was thoroughly deserved as the second-half had belonged to Seapoint. Having disposed of Trinity, Wanderers and Terenure in the Metropolitan Cup already this year, Coolmine can be justifiably proud of the rugby played to reach the semi-final.

This young side will learn from this defeat. They will also have another opportunity to face down the same opponents in the semi-final of the Spencer Cup in the coming week.

Coolmine 1st XV: 15. Rob Kiersey, 14. Tom Sharkey, 13. Ruairi Farrell, 12. Sean Mackay (Brian Smyth 70), 11. Alan Cousins, 10. Conor Hayes, 9. Andrew Barry, 8. Liam McGrath, 7. Harley Murray (Capt.), 6. Ollie Prunty, 5. Niall Ganley (Dave Geraghty 25), 4. Dave Toole, 3. Kieran Cawley, 2. Robbie Savage (Eoin Mullen 60), 1. Andrew Wood (Dave Ward 70). Subs: Dave Geraghty, Eoin Mullen, Mark Flanagan, Brian Smyth, Dave Ward.

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