A hat trick of tries from full back Brendan Burke and ten points from the boot of his brother, out-half Conrad, helped Barnhall inflict a first league defeat on Belfast Harlequins.
Prior to this encounter, Belfast Harlequins had already qualified for Division One, had averaged over 36 points per game and in their last outing had put 52 points on second placed UL Bohemians. And when Sheldon Coulter opened the scoring after just five minutes of the kick off there was more than a ripple of apprehension among the huge home support.
The response on the field was entirely different as the Trevor Brennan inspired Barnhall pack set about first gaining parity and then asserting themselves against a star-studded opposition.The Barnhall pack in created the platform that allowed them go into the break with a 20-5 lead.
After the break Harlequins, with the wind at their backs, laid siege to the Barnhall line and for 20 minutes pounded away against a desperately brave and committed home defence. Barnhall bodies were laid on the line with raw abandon and at all the northerners had to show was an Andy Park try for all the effort.
Burke struck for his third try to vurtually seal the issue because although Harlequins added two more tries, the final one came with two mintes to go and served only to provide the visitors with a bonus point.
In the immediate aftermath it was difficult to get a coherent Barnhall quote before a beaming club PRO John Madden (pictured) offered himself up. ” It was a magical performance, it really was. One of the best this side has produced. The pack were just awesome and when you look at the quality of opposition they were up against it makes the result and the display all the more incredible.”
Maybe incredible is not the word to use because before the game coach Ian Morgan said that he believed his side could turn over the champions elect and he also made reference to the inflluence of Trevor Brennan. Brennan had a huge game as Madden conceded. ” Trevor was brilliant, so was Dan Gilmore, Riaan Erasmus, Warwick Bowden. Look they were all brilliant, all fifteen, no, all seventeen, the subs as well.”
Brendan Burke ? ” Ah Burkey” smiled Madden, ” he’s our Brian O’Driscoll.”
Barnhall remain fourth in the table, on 44 points (same as Old crescent), one behind second placed UL Bohemians. They play Midleton away next week and wind up with a home game against Crescent.
Book your spot for that game now.
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