Swords Edged out in Fingal Derby

Balbriggan RFC 17 Swords RFC 16

Life's a game of inches. The famous motto of Al Pacino's character in the American Football movie ‘Any Given Sunday' never rang truer than at Balrothery last weekend. But this wasn't just any Sunday. This was a New Year Fingal derby pitting two sides a matter of miles apart in geographical terms, never mind individual figures in league point terms.

In the end, through all the blood and thunder, it was a battle of the kickers and Swords had their chance near the death. However, Dave Cahill's effort drifted agonisingly to the left of the posts and that was it – inches off, a point apart, but polar opposite reactions from both camps. Balbriggan opened the scoring with a penalty five minutes in, before Swords countered straight from the restart and scored a try from scrum half James Kubran to go 5-3 up.
Richie Cowman's penalty to the corner gave Swords the lineout platform and recycled ball let Kubran squeeze through the narrowest of gaps.

Fullback Cahill missed the conversion but Swords were well on top in the opening 20 minutes and should have had a second try minutes later. Four times they went for the line in the subsequent attack, but eventually lost it in contact when better options were outside. Eventually Balbriggan broke through and scored in the corner, followed up by a penalty to go in at half time 11-5 up.

However Swords came straight back into the game with a converted penalty from Cahill and then a clever move saw them break the Balbriggan line for an unconverted try from second row John Condron. Swords backs ran a kick back from their 22 and made good progress up the right wing. The ball was moved left, where Cowman released his backs, along with Condron, who steamed home from 20 metres, to leave them 13-11 up.

Balbriggan countered though and added a penalty to inch Balbriggan 14-13 in front. Swords countered for 14-16 before Hoban sealed it with a long penalty that just crawled over the bar to leave the final score 17-16. Cahill twice had chances to win it, his aforementioned penalty followed up by an ambitious drop-goal, but Swords will kick themselves for not taking their first half chances, particularly when the had the upper hand in the backline contest.

Although this loss was a blow to the Swords' pride they are still very much in contention for promotion and it also should be noted that they were devoid of four of their starting pack, including the entire second row. A number of younger players stepped up to the plate and did well, particularly Martin McDonnell. Next on the agenda is CYM away in two weeks time.

Swords RFC: D. Cahill; R. Kiely, J. Gormly, L. Guyomarc'h, D. Gallagher; R. Cowman, J. Kubran; E. O'Donnell, F. McKevitt, E. O'Griofa; J. Leyden, J. Condron; M. McDonnell, M. Bradley, S. Mulligan (c). Subs used: J. Beikmanis, I. Anderson, A. Forkan, L. Price.