It’s been a while since I covered a club game but this nine try fiesta at the Dub on Saturday afternoon certainly whetted my appetite for more. Queen’s University overturned a first half deficit with five second half tries to win this AIL 2 game 44 – 25.

Clonakilty were first on the scoreboard early on with a penalty by fullback McCarthy. Queen’s, however went straight back up the pitch to score through fullback Chris Quinn. Ian Porter missed the conversion out wide to leave the score 5 – 3.

The Cork side enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first half and slipped back into the lead with another penalty from McCarthy and when second row Keohane forced his way over the line for a try, converted by McCarthy, it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for the University side with the score reading 5 – 13.

The visitors displayed some excellent close quarter play driving the ball up the centre of the park through their forwards and eventually they worked an opening for centre Lombard to score close to the posts.  McCarthy added the extras pushing the score on to 5 – 20.

Queen’s managed to get on the scoreboard again through a Porter penalty towards the end of the first half but Clonakilty looked well in control as the sides turned round with the score 8 – 20.

The students got back into the game at the start of the second half with winger Chris Colvin going over in the corner. Porter slotted the conversion from wide and it was game on with the score at 15 – 20. Porter quickly slotted his second penalty pushing the score to 18 – 20 and the visiting side looked rattled for the first time in the match.

A fantastic break by Queen’s fullback Quinn from his own 22 saw the speedster sprint clear for the match turning score with his second try. Porter converted and the students were back in front with the score at 25 – 20. It looked all over when, replacement hooker, Paul Jackson burst through to touch down under the posts for a well received try with the team still celebrating as Porter slotted over the conversion putting the home side into a 32 –  20 lead.

Unfortunately it was hero to villain in a matter of minutes  for Jackson as he found himself yellow carded shortly after and during his absence the visitors prop Ryan drove over the line to stem the onslaught. The conversion was missed but with the score now reading 25 – 32 the Cork side sniffed a chance of a comeback.

The University side were determined not to let his one slip and with David McIlwaine having a stormer, constantly looking hungry for work, it was the home side that looked more likely to score in the final quarter.

Sure enough, Dave McGuigan barged over after a break by David McIlwaine to push the score back out to 37 – 25 after Porter converted and when replacement scrum half Conor Spence darted over from the base of a ruck for an unconverted try out wide the students were home and hosed with a 44 – 25 lead.

Stuart McIlwaine worked another opening for Colvin to cross late on but with the referee calling the final pass forward the game ended at 44 – 25.

Queen’s: Karayiannis, Megaw, Dixon, Ferguson, McCaughey, Whitten, McGuigan, O’Neill, Porter, Pyper, S McIlwaine, Reekie, D McIlwaine, Colvin, Quinn, Jackson, McLaughlin, Rooney, Spence, Backus.

Clonakilty: Ryan, Falvey, Purcell, Keohane, Ohea, Keogh, Porpligia, Harte, Rees, Kirby, O’Sullivan, Lombard, Paurinin, Lynch, McCarthy, Cotter, Dignan, Landy, O’Riordan, Deasy.