1915-16 SCT Campaign

WE opened our season by defeating St. Andrew's College by 9 points to nil at Donnybrook on October 23rd. Our team was a nicely balanced set, but showed want of match practice. The full-back, English, played a topping game, and showed any amount of class, although it was his first time appearing in public on the football field. The middle line was fair, and O'Connell and O'Leary went well as halves. The forwards were a heavier set than Andrew's, but did not play well together. The only score in the opening half was an unconverted try by Mackey. Andrew's were nearly making the score even, as a drop kick by O'Donel off a penalty struck the cross-bar and came back again into play. During the opening stages our team made a mistake in trying to play a back game with a slipperv ball. We had, however, all the best of the game in the concluding stages, as our tactics were changed to a forward game. O'Farrell got over twice in forward rushes, but neither try was improved on. Amongst our forwards, the pick of the pack were Falvey, Bowen, Gibbons, and O'Farrell. The next match was played against Mountjoy on November 13th on our own ground. This was a hard, well-fought match, as both teams were fairly balanced. Our forwards got in several good rushes, where O'Farrell, Falvey, Fitzgerald and Cullen were prominent. These kept Mountjoy playing a defensive game most of the time. Their backs played a much cleverer game than ours. The score at the end stood 9 points to nil in our favour.

After this match, we received a challenge from Clongowes to meet them in Rugby, and there was great excitement when it became known that it was accepted. Our team travelled down to Clongowes on the 7th December—it was our first time to meet them in Rugby, and a very exciting match was the result. We quote from the Irish Field :—

One of the hardest school matches seen for some time was witnessed on Wedensday, when Castleknock College met Clongowes College at Clongowes for the first time in a game of Rugby, the visitors winning by a goal and a try to a penalty goal. It was a rare sporting game, played in the best spirit, tackling on both sides being the feature of the game. The Clongownians held the advantage in the matter of weight, but the winners made up for it in the amount of vim and go they put into their work. Playing with the wind, Castleknock were soon attacking, but Fitzgerald sent them back with a useful kick to touch. Then from a scrum near half-way O'Connell broke away for the visitors on the blind side of the sccrum, and drawing McGilligan, sent Corbett over for a cleverly worked try, which Falvev found too difficult to convert. Clongowes for a good while after had the best of the deal, and with a bit of luck might have landed a couple of penalty kicks. Castleknock then had a turn, and from a scrum inside the " 25 " O'Connell slipped over for a try, which Falvey easily converted. In a general way Clongowes held the upper hand in the concluding period, and but for bad finishing should nave scored on a couple of occasions, Fitzgerald making praiseworthy efforts for his side. The only tangible result, however, was a really fine penalty goal landed by Crosbie.

Neither full-back made any serious mistake. The outstanding back on the winners' side was the captain, O'Connell. who. as well as having a hand in both scores, seemed to be everywhere, especially where trouble loomed. Corbett was the best of the three-quarter line, while O'Farrell was the most prominent forward on the field, being equally clever in defence and attack, and he was well backed up by Falvev. Gibbons. Brophy, Morrin and Cullen. As on the winners' side, the backbone of the Clongowes back division was their captain, Fitzgerald, who was easily the classiest three-quarter on either side, and, with better backing up. might have easily turned the tide. He has both head and hands, and knows how both to give and take a pass. Campion, on the wing, was also useful. It was a bit rough on the forwards that their efforts were not better availed of by those behind, and the pick of a rattling fast lot were Courtney. Maloney and the Walshes.

On the 12th December we played the " Past." The latter generally bring out a strong team, and this time was no exception, as they always like this annual match. Our team won by a goal and a try (8 points) to two tries (6 points). The match was all a forward game, not many good bouts of passing taking place. Not much can be said about the game, as neither side played their best. The " Past " take their beating well, and the two teams have a joyous evening, as is the custom always.

Castleknock met Mountjoy in a return match on January 29th at Croydon Park, where a keen and interesting game ended in a win by a goal to nil for the home boys.

Our next out-match was played here on February 5th against St. Andrew's. This match was played in fair weather, and resulted in a win for the home team by eight tries and one goal (29 points) to nil. Notwithstanding the big margin, our team did not play by any means a good game. The forwards played well on the loose, but did not seem to use their weight in the scrum against their much lighter opponents. O'Farrell, Morrin. Falvey and O'Neill were perhaps the pick of the front rank, O'Farrell putting five tries to his account, O'Neill getting one. Our next match came off on March 5th, and was played on the college grounds against Catholic University School (S.C.T.). Although the visitors were defeated by 3 goals and 2 tries to a try, yet they put up a plucky fight against odds in size and weight; in fact, the principal feature of the game was their tackling and stopping, but they showed want of knowledge of the game.

Soon after the last match we learn that O'Farrell, Morrin, Fitzgerald and O'Connell have been selected to play on the " Probables," and Falvey, Corbett and English to play on the "Possibles" in the trial match for the Inter-provincial team. This match came off on March 11th, and O'Connell, O'Farrell and Fitzgerald were amongst those selected to play against Ulster on March 25th.

In the first game of the Cup matches Castleknock qualified for the semi-final stage by defeating St. Andrew's 2 goals and a try to nil, after a very hard and interesting match. St. Andrew's, though beaten, kept up their reputation as great Cup fighters by making the winners go all the way. and in the second period gave quite as much as they got. Castleknock were somewhat disappointing, as they had a big pull in the matter of weight, but they were weak at centre three-quarters.

English at full for the winners, with the exception of a few misfields, did well. The middle line was the weak point of the team, owing to the bad use the centres made of their opportunities, their chief faults being passing without drawing their man— passing without looking where their wing man was. Corbett was the best of the line, and O'Reillv, who was deputising for Mackey. made few mistakes. O'Connell, the scrum half, was easily the best of the back division, and the team would have been in "Queer Street " without him, while Coughlan was fair at outside half. O'Farrell was the most conspicuous player on the field, and though not doing a lot of shoving, was invaluable as a sprinter, while Morrin. Falvev and Cullen all worked hard in the pack. " Irish F'ield."

On Thursday, the 50th March, we had a return match with Clongowes on our own ground. This fixture caused more intense excitement than any of the Cup matches. The team was in the pink of form and condition, and deserved their win.

The following is an account of the match taken from the Irish Field :—

Castleknock played their best game of the season on Thursday, when they defeated Clongowes at Castleknock in the return fixture by 2 goals and 2 tries to a goal. Their victory was the more pronounced, in that after the first 20 minutes they were without O'Farrell, which weakened a pack already lighter than the visitors'. They made up for the deficiency, however, in cleverness, being much better out of touch and quicker 10 come round. The Clongownians lime and again wheeled the scrums, but came away without the ball, while their heeling was also very slow.

English was seen to distinct advantage at full for the winners, his tackling being one of the features of the game, while the three-quarter line gave a vastly improved display to that against St. Andrew's. Coughlan was fair at stand-off half, but at times passed without drawing his man. while O'Connell was the backbone of the rear division both in defence and attack. Considering the discrepancy in weight, especially after O'Farrell's withdrawal, the pack covered themselves with glory. Sweeney, though palpably unfit, was nearly the best of them, and Fitzgerald, Morrin and Falvey all worked hard. Campion, though not very finished, never let his side down, and Fitzgerald fielded and kicked well in the centre, but failed to back up his halves quickly enough. The best of the line and the fastest back on the field was Wilkinson, who got in several telling runs. He has a grand swerve, and once beat English, only to be hand-tripped by Corbett when seemingly all was over bar the shouting. O'Meara and Hamilton were a nippy pair of halves, Hamilton several times cutting through, only to find himself without anyone to pass to. The pick of a robust, hefty front rank were Courtney. Moloney. Ryan and Fleming, while l.alor was very clever in the open.

The team in general must be congratulated for their brilliant display against Clongowes, and special praise is due to O'Connell, "our little captain," who led his men so gallantly to victory.

For the second time since we entered for the Cup first, in 1913, have we qualified to play in the final. We met Mountjoy S.C.T. at Lansdowne Road in a rather stiff match on April 5th, and gained a close win by a goal to nil. The following is from the Irish Field :—

The first match in the semi-final stage was decided in splendid weather on Wednesday at Lansdowne Road, Castleknock defeating Mountjoy by a goal to nil in a very close match. There was little passing on either side, the tackling being very keen, while both sets of backs indulged in loo much kicking. There was little to choose between the sides, but Castleknock were superior in the loose, and on the run of the game about deserved to win, though their solitary score was a bit lucky. The one exciting incident was at the very start, as following Falvey's kick off, Sproule fielded, but a couple of Castleknock forwards, following up fast, charged down his kick, and Morrin. picking up. shot over for a try. and Corbel! landed a good goal. Mountjoy then pressed for some time, good forward play by Lees. Kenny and Booth, supplemented by clever kicking by Jackson, keeping them in their opponents' side of half-way.

This match brought us into the Final of the Senior Schools' Cup, and on Saturday, 15th April, we repaired to Lansdowne Road to meet Blackrock. We quote from the Irish Field :—

Last Saturday the curtain was rung down on the schools' football season, when Blackrock added another victory to their long list, by defeating Castleknock by a goal and 3 tries to a try. Favoured by splendid weather, there was a fine attendance, who were repaid by witnessing a fast game full of interest from start to finish. Two nasty accidents occurred, Castleknock losing their out-half, J. Coughlan, owing to a broken collar-bone, while Blackrock were without T. Power after the first five minutes of the second period, a small bone in his ankle having been broken. The game was played in a splendid sporting spirit, without the semblance of roughness, and Blackrock were the belter learn in all departments except in the loose forward rushes.

Castleknock were the first to press, but play was mostly at the centre for the first quarter of an hour, when J. Coughlan had to retire, O'Farrell coming out of the Castleknock pack to take his place. Castleknock immediately attacked, and from a scrum near the Blackrock line O'Connell sent O'Farrell over for a try at the corner, but Corbett found the kick at goal too difficult. After Corbett had made a great attempt to drop a penalty goal, O'Cleary. Breen and O'Connor swept down the field. A scrum was formed at the Castleknock " 25." where O'Carroll passed to V. Coughlan. who, after putting in a clever run, let O'Clearv over for an unconverted try. Blackrock continued to hold the upper hand, and after Nolan had been pulled down just outside the line, O'Carroll went over, and O'Cleary converted.

Blackrock leading at half-time by 8 points to 3.

The game had not been re-started five minutes when T. Power had to be carried in, but it seemed to make little difference to his forwards, who continued to control the ball in the scrum. The backs were getting plenty to do. but bad finishing spoiled a' couple of chances, and then Sweeney, Morrin and Falvev dribbled down to half-way. English, the losers' full, tackled well, while Corbett was the pick of the middle line. O'Connell got through a nasty job with credit, stopping and tackling like a demon, and O'Farrell, considering he was out of his place, did right well, but of course would have been more at home in the open rushes Sweenev was about the best forward on the field being constantly prominent out of touch and in the open, while Morrin. Falvey and O'Neill also worked hard.

We have come at length to the end of the football season, which was, on the whole, a very successful one, and the team have a fine list of victories to their credit.

We must again sound the praises of Father Murphy and Dan O'Connell for the way in which they worked up football in the first club, neither sparing any efforts to keep the team in good form during the season.

P. K. MCNAI.LY.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS.

TOTAL: 11 matches played, 2 lost, 9 won; 121 points for and 36 against.

During the season D. O'Connell, B. O'Farrell and J. Fitzgerald got Interprovincial caps, and College caps were awarded to D. O'Connell, L. Corbett and F. Morrin.