This was in the balance til the very end and was a titanic tussle in the second half where some solid defending by Coolmine repeatedly denied Tullow the chance to inch ahead.
From the start both teams were fairly balanced with Coolmine the better at gaining ground through good back work while Tullow held the upper hand in the scrum in particular.
Tullow certainly didn't dither from the outset and had Coolmine under pressure from the start with their scrum half, centre (Sean O'Brien's brother no less) and full back giving a torrid time to the Coolmine defence throughout the game.
The opening period was spent in the Coolmine 22 until a great clearance from Russell Shortt brought play all the way into their 22 and put Coolmine on the front foot for the first time in the game.
The attack from Coolmine fizzled out as they were bundled into touch for a lineout.
A super steal in the lineout however allowed Coolmine to recover and a break from the busy Eoin Hanlon. brought a penalty after an infringement by Tullow in the resulting breakdown.
Conor Hayes duly converted for Coolmine to settle the nerves but it was not long until Tullow levelled with a snap drop goal having opted for the corner after they had won a penalty of their own in the Coolmine 22.
A lineout from the re-start at half way brought the ever-threatening Johnny Lee into a powerful break from midfield. With Mark Whitehead on his shoulder to keep the momentum going and some quick thinking passing from the supporting centres put Neil Welch through for Coolmine's first try and tilted the game in their favour. Hayes nailed the conversion.
10 -3 to Coolmine.
But Tullow were far from done and although they didn't look as sharp or as purposeful in attack as Coolmine, they always looked dangerous in set pieces and forward play with Coolmine struggling in the scrum in particular against them.
After fluffing a few attacks their pressure on the Coolmine line eventually paid off and they mauled over for their first try which was converted. 10 - 10 the score.
Coolmine upped it a gear after the re-start and a penalty against Tullow put them in the Tullow 22.
But despite repeated breaks and on-the-line pressure, Tullow hung on to clear the danger.
In one phase a quick lineout by Coolmine right on the their line came to nothing after Whitehead was clearly tackled without the ball before he received but play was waved on.
However the hard work and persistent threat of Coolmine, who have a mobile pack and great supporting centres put Johnny Lee over after a quick interchange of almost touchline passes between him and Russ Shortt. Captain Hayes duly converted from near the touchline to push Coolmine ahead at a crucial time just before half time. 17 - 10 to Coolmine.
But they were far from done and with Tullow still stung from the Coolmine second try - Oliver Prunty broke and ran like he was catching the last 37 out of town finishing with a wonderful inside pass to Russ Shortt who crossed over for Coolmine's third try of the first half. Another Hayes conversion and it was 24 - 10 which was hard to believe for the Coolmine faithfu as the game was much closer in reality.
Little did the Coolmine following realise that would be the last scoring they would do for the rest of the game.
And while they threatened the Tullow line on a number of occassions in the second half, Tullow decided to plough all their play through their powerful scrum, giving them options to attack and put Coolmine under enormous strain.
Greg Culhane led the charge on a number of occassions for Coolmine trying to stymie their attacks from rucks and scrums and winning turnover when Coolmine badly needed it.
A penalty in our own 22 eventually helped Coolmine clear but the play was forced back down pitch by a determined Tullow who won a turnover and which saw them break quickly and cross - 24 -15 as the conversion was missed.
A crucial decision in the match was Tullow opting for the corner after a penalty for an offside infringement by Coolmine.
From the lineout Tullow battered the Coolmine line for what seemed like the entire second half with wave after wave of low ball carriers from the back of the ruck being stopped dead by an unbelievable defensive effort by Coolmine.
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| A superb defensive effort by Coolmine on their line denied Tullow the opportunity to get back on level terms |
This really was a close-the-door call by the whole team who eventually won the turnover and cleared their line.
It was the turning pointing in the game.
While Coolmine tested the Tullow 22 a number of times afterwards they kept their defensive effort up particularly as the slight yet slippery Tullow full back looked like he was going to Michael-Flatley it throught the Coolmine cover.
With the clock saying 79 mins and the ref saying he made it 3 more than that, the whistle couldn't have come sooner for Coolmine who secured their second league win in a row.
Next up is Mullingar away.
