No holds barred as barristers snatch victory from politicians (The Bar 18 – 17 Dáil & Seanad XV)

The game was a charity fixture in aid of Rugby Players’ Ireland’s injured players’ trust, and was ably refereed by Stephen Hewer.

Many Oireachtas frontbench players were not present, however – called off to deal with the ongoing crisis in government as Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald is engulfed by the Garda whistleblowing scandal.

The match started off with a strong show for the barristers, with Eoin Hardiman securing an early try just five minutes after kick-off.

A penalty for the politicians led to a line-out well within the Bar’s 20 metre line, however, the defenders managed to turn the ball over and launched into a counter-attack, coming extremely close to landing another try, only to be kicked off the line by the Oireachtas defence.

This was the Oireachtas men’s queue to pull the socks up, and attempts on the Bar’s lines starting coming in thick and fast. Some fantastic runs from #14, #6 and #11 kept up the pressure, with #11 very nearly forcing a concession from the barristers before the first quarter whistle blew.

The second half started off with a flaring of tempers with one of the Bar men accusing his opposite number of indulging in the dark arts, but referee Hewer quickly asserted his authority to dispel the situation.

A quick penalty for the politicians was awarded in a pretty generous scoring position along the 30 metre line. But rather than taking the 3 points, the Oireachtas boys went in all in, putting the ball back in open play and making a fine attempt at the Bar’s lines, ending up in a scrum dangerous close to the line. But the defenders managed to wrangle the ball from the attackers. An excellent kick put the ball out just 15 metres from the politicians’ line.

The barristers kept up relentless pressure on the politicians, making phase after phase in rapid succession. Finally, their efforts paid off with James Egan putting the Bar ten points clear of the honourable members opposite in minute 15. Kicker Ciarán Murphy narrowly missed the conversion from a pretty obtuse angle.

The first injury of the game came soon after, with barrister Jack Tchrakian coming off with a leg complaint.

A flurry of attempts from the Oireachtas men ensued, with attempts to burst through the lawyers’ robust defence made by #6, #4 and #8, but to no avail. The half-time whistle sounded on a game that looked like it was going to fall easily to the side of the law.

But the Oireachtas men returned from the huddle fired up and ready to put in the heavy work to rescue the game. Big tackles from #3 and #8 turned the ball over to the politicians, and runs from #2 and #10 seemed to be on the verge of breaking through the lines.

The moment finally came for the politicians when David Alwright managed to nip round the defence and land the ball square and centre. A quick conversion taken by Richard McAlwee brought the Leinster House side back in the game at 10-7 by the third quarter whistle.

The final twenty minutes were a nail-biting affair altogether. The game was turned upside down when the Oireachtas, after a rapid succession of phases that seemed to go into the double digits, stole ahead for the first point in the game with Niall O’Driscoll diving the ball into the far-left corner, making it 12-10 to the politicians. The conversion did not come good, but at that angle the near miss was an achievement in itself.

But Lady Luck was with the Bar, who managed to secure a penalty at around 35 metres in the course of their counter attack. The decision was met with cries of foul play from the Oireachtas benches. Ciarán Murphy put it squarely between the bars, edging the lawyers ahead once again at 13-12.

Perhaps that decision fired the politicians up, for the rest of the game saw an absolute salvo of attempts and aggression, climaxing with a stellar try from Senator Neale Richmond, making it 17-13.

The final ten minutes saw a frantic effort from the Bar to steal ahead once again, but their energy seemed matched by the buoyant Dáil & Seanad who cracked back with yet more runs. The game sank into equilibrium in the mid-field, with scrums and rucks aplenty, but no significant gains made by either side.

Just when it looked like the day would rest with Leinster House, a muddled pass turned the ball over to the Bar. Seizing the opportunity, the barristers made one last ditch attempt.

Beating ceaselessly into the politicians’ lines, phase after phase, the defining moment of the game came when captain Paul Gunning managed to sink the ball into the far right corner, just before the final whistle.

Having faltered after a strident start to the game, The Bar of Ireland clinched the game from Dáil & Seanad with an 18-17 point win.

Speaking after the match, Senator Richmond told Irish Legal News: “It was a great game today. Unfortunately we lost quite a number of Oireachtas members due to last minute concerns over our political situation. But the Bar Council put up a great game, it was tight, it was fiery. I should say we’re very grateful to Liberty Insurance sponsored today so we could make lots of money for charity.”

A jubilant Mr Gunning took a moment out of post-match celebrations to praise the performance of his colleagues, telling ILN: “It’s great to have such a comprehensive victory in advance of the election.”

Kevin Burns, Irish Legal News