UCC left feeling blue after epic Colours clash | Brian Barry

UCC 24Queens University 26Queens University, Belfast came to the Mardyke on Saturday as UCC hosted their annual 'Colours' Game, and left with a two-point win after a thrilling last minute try and conversion from the corner to secure the victory.The game took much of the first half to get going as both sides looked to play attacking rugby the wet conditions. UCC won the toss and that was just about as much as either side had to show for most of the first half. UCC out-half Seán Óg Murphy pushed a dropkick inches wide from the left, knowing that there was advantage to be played. He then missed an ambitious penalty attempt from the ten metre line which ensured that, despite a bright start, the home side had not translated their early pressure to scores.As Queens grew more and more into the game, the UCC defence fronted up impressively, notably a try saving cover tackle from Joe Holland forced opposite number Chris Colum into touch after he broke through the first line. Perhaps a bigger signal of the Leesiders' intent not to be broken was Cathal Gallagher's crunching hit which knocked the onrushing second-row Jonny Heron onto his back.After absorbing 10 minutes of pressure without leaking any damages, UCC cranked it up a gear, even running the ball from a scrum in their own 22, making gains up the pitch. This latest surge eventually showed as Queens’ centre Stuart McTewaine was shown a yellow card for denying quick ball illegally at the breakdown while defending his own line.The extra man advantage told; firstly Johnny McCarthy was released in by a slick offload by captain Will Ryan, but it was judged to have been a forward pass. But the visitors could not hold out as some skillful back-play resulted in winger Sylvain Raimondi crossing in the corner, to put his side 5-0 up going in at half time.UCC immediately looked to pick up where they left off after the break. Their dominance up front began to tell at scrum-time, but it was a back who stole the show with an unbelievable solo effort. Centre Luke Duffy received the ball in his own 22 and elected to run it. After skipping through several Queens' tackles, he backed himself to go for the far corner, where he was stopped inches short. However teammate Cathal Gallagher was on hand to finish off his good work which will go down as one of UCC's best tries of the year. Murphy converted to stretch the lead to 12-0.And they were not done yet as they instantly looked to attack again, and remarkably crossed the line again, this time prop Peter McCabe finishing off a team effort on the left. 17-0 after 49 minutes; the home side seemed to be cruising as the Northerners were failing to live with their intensity.However Queens recognised that they were facing an uphill battle and fronted up. They elected to go for the corner with what was a very kickable penalty. It proved an inspired choice as out-half Ritchie McMaster received the ball after a smooth line-out and sent a crossfield kick to the unmarked Damon Hall, who stepped inside and over the line on the right. McMaster converted to reduce the gap to just ten with a half hour left on the clock.The game proceeded to ebb and flow for the ensuing twenty minutes before Queens struck again, this time on the left wing as substitute Conor Spence was released down the wing by fullback Colum to claw it back to 17-12.They looked to attack again and UCC were struggling to hold on. Flanker Johnny McCarthy was shown a yellow card with five minutes remaining to ensure the home side would finish the game with fourteen men. After immense pressure, they finally caved, as number 8 Ben Alexander crossed for what looked like the winner, as McMaster converted.At 17-19 and with three minutes left, the drama was only getting started. UCC looked a beaten team, but found one last hurrah in them as Spence was sin-binned which evened the numbers. From the resulting penalty, Murphy kicked for the corner, where the pack mauled their way closer to Belfast line. Second row Brian Quill appeared to be the saviour of the hour, crossing the line to set up an easy conversion for Murphy, who punted the home side to a 5 point cushion.But despite wide spread celebrations, the fat lady was not quite in full voice yet as Queens went straight back up the pitch in overtime to break home hearts; fullback Chris Colum crossing in the right corner to level the tie. McMaster was left with an enormous conversion, which he duly slotted over to complete a comeback which Lazarus himself would have been proud of.UCC: J Holland; S Raimondi, L Duffy, D Horgan, C Barry; S Óg Murphy, D Foley; P McCabe, C Stokes, P Scott, B Quill, D O'Connell, C Gallagher, J McCarthy, W Ryan. Replacements: M O'Mahony, C Slowey, D McSweeney, R Barry, O Dennehy.Queens University: C Colum; D Hall, P Stewart, S McTewaine, R Adam; R McMaster, P Farrell; E Bawden, N Sinclair, M Foster, J Heron, R McCaughey, R Clarke, R Whitten, B Alexandar. Replacements: R Winters, J Craig, T Johnstone, H Harbinson, C Spence.