A FORTNIGHT ago, Alan McGowan, Blackrock's international outside half, left Anglesea Road rueing missed penalty opportunities when he failed to find the target from seven attempts in an All Ireland League match. Last night at the same venue he experienced the upside of the kicking game when he emerged as the match winner for his team in the final of the Smithwick's Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup.
McGowan kicked five penalties from six attempts and that enabled Blackrock to see off the spined challenge presented by Greystones in a match that proved worthy of the occasion for a very big crowd despite being played on a heavy surface.
Blackrock's win meant that they regained a trophy won for the first time in 1991, but it was disappointment for Greystones for the second successive year as they also lost the decider last season. But they put up a tremendous fight after trailing 9-0 at the interval and then 12-0, 10 minutes into the second half. From there they clawed their way back to draw level. It undoubtedly added to Greystones' sense of disappointment that they scored two tries and still ended on the losing side.
The heavy surface meant that it was basically a forward battle, not that there was a lack of willingness to try and move the ball across the back lines, but good defence allied to the treacherous underfoot conditions made it difficult for concerted back line movement.
Blackrock, with the cold wind at their backs, had the better of matters in the initial period and their pack, with Mike Brewer to the fore, won more possession and enjoyed a marked territorial advantage. But Greystones defended resolutely and Blackrock had to rely on McGowan to build their interval advantage which he did with three successful kicks from three attempts.
When he landed a fourth goal in the 50th minute things looked ominous for Greystones, but they hit back with a try when their hard working second row Jason Mullins blocked down an attempted clearance and got the score. Richard Murphy missed the difficult conversion and then Greystones lost their inspirational hooker and captain John Murphy. Their effort, however, was unrelenting.
It got further reward in the 65th minute when flanker John O'Beirne got over for a try after a pass from scrum half Stuart Hannon. Murphy converted and suddenly victory beckoned for Greystones.
But Blackrock, to their credit, rallied their forces and when they forced their way into the Greystones 25 with seven minutes remaining, Greystones conceded a penalty and McGowan extracted the full price to kick the match winning points. Blackrock held on to their precious advantage without having to endure too much anxiety.
