Thankfully, having played Nenagh twice already, Clontarf were well prepared for the physical onslaught to come.
The game opened with both sides trying to play a bit and getting mullered for their trouble. First blood went to Nenagh after a superb carry by centre Blackmore was carried into the home 22 where Tarf conceded a penalty in front for 0 3. Nenagh promptly made a horlicks of the restart, inviting Tarf into their 22 where they conceded a pen and the lineout maul did the rest for 7 3.
5 minutes later Fionn Gilbert blocked a releasing kick in the Nenagh 22 which forced a knock on for a home scrum. A few phases later Tadhg Bird found Con Kelly on the loop and Tarf were in again for 14 3.
Towards the end of the first quarter Nenagh caught Tarf faffing around in their own 22 playing hot potato, turned the ball over, and after another great surge from Blackmore his centre partner Coffey broke umpteen tackles on his way to the line for 14 10.
With 5 to Half Time, Tarf set up camp in the Nenagh 22 and, after a couple of tap penalties, Jordan Coghlan got in to the right of the posts for 21 10.
Nenagh stayed true and after Tarf again made a mess of clearing their 22, the visitors turned it over and Matthew Burke scored near the posts for 21 17. Once again Nenagh couldn’t deal with the restart and conceded a scrum for accidental offside. Tarf won a penalty at the set piece, and drove the lineout to the line where Jordan got in again for 28 17 and Half Time.
It was rugby in awful conditions. Notably, there were no jackal turnovers in the first half for either side and the Clontarf handling close to the opposition line was flawless. A serious effort of ball control considering the cold and the wet.