First win of the season for nine-try Carlow
Co Carlow's Ben Crootty was in fine form against Clondalkin at Oak Park.
County Carlow welcomed Clondalkin to Oak Park on Saturday afternoon in Division 1B of the Leinster League with both sides in search if their first win of the campaign.
Carlow picked up a four-try bonus point as well as a losing bonus point in their league opener, losing by a single point at home to De La Salle Palmerstown, and picked up another losing bonus point last time out when they fell away to Ashbourne - again by just a solitary point.
But their confidence will be through the roof after this game as Tom Crotty's men ran in nine tries to leave Oak Park with all five points. Clondalkin, having been well beaten at home to Ashbourne and away to Mullingar, remain without a point on the board having now suffered three heavy losses in a row.
The hosts were in the ascendancy early on and crossed for their first try off a rolling maul in the 7th minute, with Evan Jordan coming up with the ball. A brilliant conversion from Ben Crotty made it 7-0.
Clondalkin breached the Carlow 22 for the first time after quarter of an hour and should have been on the board, but Fionn Kenna's kick in front of the posts drifted just wide. Carlow punished them in a big way, running the length of the field where Dave McDermott crossed for his side's second try. Another Crotty conversion made it 14-0.
Clondalkin attacked the Carlow 22 once more, but the hosts held firm, turning over possession and clearing their lines. The visitors soon won a penalty and kicked to the corner, but Carlow again turned the ball over before clearing to halfway.
Sean Quinlan was imperious on both sides of the ball and just moments after a huge defensive intervention he found space out wide, releasing Johnny Crossley who went over in the corner. Crotty added the extras despite kicking from the sideline.
A tackle off the ball then from Eoin Brady saw the Clondalkin winger sent to the sin bin, and Carlow made the most of the resulting penalty, going to the corner then putting the ball through the hands until Quinlan eventually burrowed over. Crotty remained faultless from the tee as he landed a fourth consecutive conversion to leave Carlow 28-0 up at half time.
Clondalkin started well after the break, but Carlow hit them on the break with Caomhan Brennan going over in the corner. Crotty couldn't help but smile when another kick from the sideline found its way over, this time with the help of the upright.
The full back the got in for a scintillating try after some beautiful interplay between himself, Brennan and Quinlan. Ironically enough, Crotty's first miss off the tee came as he failed to convert his own try.
He did not have to wait long for his next kick, as substitute Josh Cope stormed through the Clondalkin defence for Carlow’s seventh try. Crotty's conversion made it 47-0 heading into the final quarter.
The scores kept coming for the hosts when Quinlan went over in the corner, deservedly becoming the first Carlow man to grab a second try. The onslaught continued when a splendid offload from Jordan released Crotty, allowing the full back to run in under the posts for his second try before landing his seventh conversion.
Clondalkin managed to run in a consolation try through Eoin Brady, with Fionn Kenna landing a great conversion from out on the sideline to bring the game to a close.
Carlow will enjoy home comforts again this coming Sunday when Gorey visit Oak Park.
Ben Crotty (2t, 7c), Sean Quinlan (2t) Evan Jordan, Dave McDermott, Johnny Crossley, Caomhan Brennan, Josh Cope (1t each).
Eoin Brady (1t), Fionn Kenna (1c).
Ben Crotty; Jonathan Crossley, Sean Quinlan, Evan Jordan, Caomhan Brennan; Matt Dempsey, Alan Owens; Patrick Rogers, Evan Gordon, Ross Byrne; Wesley Shirley, John Lyons; David McDermott, John Murphy, Conor Tracey.
Replacements: Scott Neale, Tadhg Ronan, Diarmuid Long, Noah Cope, Josh Cope, Thomas Atkinson.
Thomas Carter; Liam Redmond, Fionn Kenna, Lemeki Vaipulu, Eoin Brady; Niall Hilliard, Conor Loughrey; Alex Doyle, Josh Domican, Darren Madden; Padraig O’Ciardha, James Kenny; Eoin Delaney, Louise Dixon, Joshua Apps.
Jake Lusk, Thomas Duffy, Nikolaz Patsia, Alejandro González, Seán Murphy.
Ezequiel Roldan Olivera
