ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE/Blackrock ... 15 Terenure ... 16: The scenes of jubilation at referee Dave McHugh's final whistle could not have been more heartfelt. Terenure College, team and management, embraced with a fervour that encapsulated the emotion of not only a first victory of the season but a rivalry that is nurtured first at school and then at club level.
Prior to Saturday's match, Terenure had lost not only all five previous matches, but also their coach, Kim Thurbon, to family commitments in Australia. They lay marooned at the foot of the table, and most outside of Lakelands believed they might do well to even join in the relegation battle.
Victory at Stradbrook against the league leaders going into that match, Blackrock, is not the panacea for their troubles, but it represents a decent first step on a road to rehabilitation. For the new coaching axis of Des Lamont and former prop Peter Bruce it was a vindication for the simple beliefs and goals that they have instilled in their charges.
A smiling Lamont elaborated: "We went back to basics, placed an emphasis on keeping the ball in the pack and working the short-side. We don't have the backs yet to cut teams to ribbons so it was a question of concentrating on doing the things we are good at.
"We said to the players that we had to be great at what we were good at and competent at things we were not so good at if things were going to improve. Playing Blackrock needs no additional incentive for any Terenure player. It was a huge boost to score that try early on and allowed us to settle. We tried to put them under pressure up front."
Lamont conceded that Terenure were looking for a coach at present, an onerous task mid-season and one that in all honesty probably won't be appreciated by the players. Lamont and Bruce are putting in 40-hour weeks and in only their second match in charge have produced a positive reaction from the squad.
While Saturday's fare was high in intensity and combative, it was largely low quality with a plethora of handling errors. Despite the proactive nature of McHugh's officiating, in which he favoured the advantage law, his whistle was omnipresent as the ball squirmed loose time and again.
In this respect Blackrock transgressed more blatantly and could have scored two more tries but spilled ball over the line.
In reflecting on a huge opportunity missed the home side will rue a lack of a couple of the fundamentals, patience and precision. On several occasions in sight of the Terenure posts they tried to force the issue, playing ball out of the tackle when it simply wasn't on.
Emmet Farrell and Gary Brown, two of the home side's outstanding players this season, were both struck by the malaise: on the one hand they made some searing breaks or put players away, but more often threw a careless pass or kicked indiscriminately.
Indeed a contrast between Farrell and his Terenure counterpart, Richie Governey, summed up the afternoon. The latter kicked superbly from the hand and with the placed ball and, with less possession, enjoyed a bigger influence on proceedings.
Governey was ably assisted by the excellent Leigh Kennaugh. The Isle of Man-born scrumhalf had a fine game.
Arguably the two pivotal moments of the match involved yellow cards. Terenure flanker Peter O'Malley was first to receive one on 10 minutes, stupidly squabbling over the ball after a penalty had been awarded against his side. It marred an otherwise fine performance.
While he was reduced to the role of spectator, Blackrock rallied from 13-5 behind to lead 15-13 by the time that O'Malley was repatriated. Farrell kicked a penalty and converted a try by replacement scrumhalf James Ferris, the latter availing of some sloppy defence.
The momentum was now with the home side with 22 minutes remaining, but that came to a shuddering halt just seven minutes later when tighhead Malcolm Cuffe was binned at a ruck.
Governey posted the resultant penalty, an excellent strike, and Terenure dug-in awaiting the backlash. But Blackrock's response lacked coherence and chances were limited to a long-range penalty opportunity for replacement Conor Kilroy, which was tugged left and wide.
Terenure are now charged with proving this victory wasn't a fluke. For Blackrock there is the realisation that a fine set of young backs can't continually rescue a pack who struggle to offer any platform.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 2 mins: Egan try, Governey conversion, 0-7; 12: Governey penalty, 0-10; 25: Gilbride try, 5-10. Half-time: 5-10. 45: Governey penalty, 5-13. 50: Farrell penalty, 8-13; 58: Ferris try, Farrell conversion, 15-13; 68: Governey penalty, 15-16.
BLACKROCK: B Carey; C Buckley, G Brown, J Davis, P Drew; E Farrell, D Popplewell; A McSweeney (capt), G van der Vyer, M Cuffe; M Gilbride, J Fitzgerald; R Rogers, M Carroll, T O'Donoghue. Replacements: J Ferris for Popplewell (45 mins); C Kilroy for Carey (59 mins); S Byrne for Rogers (73 mins); M Cuffe for Byrne (80 mins); G McCarthy for Gilbride (80 mins).
TERENURE: S Cullen (capt); P Costello, M O'Kelly, M Sutherland, C Hall; R Governey, L Kennaugh; J Nolan, C Egan, S Nolan; E Fitzgerald, D Quinn; P O'Malley, C Long, B Kavanagh. Replacements: D McAllister for Cullen (41 mins); F Walmsley for J Nolan (42 mins); T Fanning for Kavanagh (51 mins); B Blaney for Egan (67 mins).
Referee: D McHugh (IRFU).
Yellow cards: P O'Malley (Terenure) 50-60 mins; M Cuffe (Blackrock) 67-80 mins.
