Clonmel Warriors

Warriors 51 – Titans 34

The Clonmel Warriors travelled to Roscrea to take part in the later titled ‘Roscrea Bowl’ - a friendly match up versus the dominant teams in the Munster region: The Roscrea Falcons, Midland Soldiers, Tralee Titans and the Clonmel Warriors. The Warriors were pitted versus the team they opened their 2009/10 campaign against – The Tralee Titans.

The Warriors won the coin toss and elected to go on the offence first. Solid all round play defined the first drive of the game. Chris Noonan had a good run to open the game. Centre Luke Lonergan made his first catch of the season to set up the ball near the first down line, which Running Back Chris Noonan promptly converted. Wide Receiver Kevin Cunningham took a reverse run and broke off a damaging run which led to Dean O’ Regan finding a wide open Gary Crowe for the first touchdown of the game. The conversion slipped through Lonergan’s hands and was no good. On the Titans next drive a strange sense of déjà vu passed over the field as the Titans scored on their first play of the game, the same happened the last time these teams met. The conversion failed to leave the teams at 7-6.

The Warriors got the ball back but were unable to move it and Tralee were given the chance to get a potential score until Safety Gary Crowe intercepted a Tralee pass and returned it all the way back to the five yard line. On the next play, Quarterback O’ Regan fired a pass towards Cunningham, the receiver caught it well and the Warriors went up 12-7. On the conversion, O’ Regan’s pass was intercepted by a Titan defender and returned all the way. Tralee gained two points off the rare occurrence. Tralee, then were to go on offense. Two plays later, Crowe intercepted yet another pass this time taking it to the house for a score. The conversion was no good. Tralee came back on to the field with a vengeance. Two runs set them up in good field position and a long pass was hauled in for a great score.

The second quarter opened with a dangerous start as the Warriors fell into a 4th down. Facing a two man rush, O’ Regan dumped the ball off to Chris Noonan who raced for a 1st down. On the very next play, Noonan again took the ball and sped away from all Tralee defenders and scored. Centre Luke Lonergan caught a well thrown ball to tack on the conversion. Tralee being very resilient broke down the Warriors defence, fought back and scored again. The Warriors on offense added another touchdown onto the board. Dean O’ Regan flipped a pass across the middle to Noonan who took off towards the end zone cutting Tralee’s defence in half. It was O’ Regan’s third touchdown of the day. Crowe snagged the one point conversion on the left corner of the end zone.

Kevin Cunningham picked off an overthrown pass to end Tralee’s next drive but the Warriors couldn’t advance anywhere. The Titans failed to capitalize on their next possession. On the Warriors next drive, RB Noonan exploded. He had five carries on the drive, one for a first down and another he stepped in for a touchdown to finish off his great performance; it was Noonan’s 3 overall touchdown on the day. The conversion failed as Receiver Peter Cahill was hit by contact before breaching the end zone. Tralee on their next possession used a good mix of passes and runs to set up another touchdown to add to their total of the day. The score stood at 38-28 going into the fourth quarter.

Entering the fourth quarter, the game was very much alive with only 10 points separating the teams. It had been a tough and physical game to this point but whoever would emerge with a strong game in the early minutes of the 4th quarter would decide the outcome. The Warriors struck first. O’ Regan went to work with his trio of receivers. Noonan grabbed a short pass and Cunningham gained solid yards on the ground. O’ Regan, under heavy pressure all day stood tall and found Gary Crowe in the end zone for another touchdown for O’ Regan. The conversion was good to Cunningham to put the Warriors ahead 45-28. The Warriors defence held and O’ Regan got the ball back. Slot Receiver Declan O’ Halloran was open, made the reception and displayed a great burst of speed to tear into the end zone. Tight End Kiefer Lonergan fell just short of the conversion. The score gave the Warriors the go-ahead in the game with the score at 51-28. A late score by Tralee never threatened and the Warriors held out to leave the field winners at 51-34.

by Luke Lonergan