Nenagh’s unbeaten run came to an end against Cashel at the weekend, Old Crescent sit just one point off the promotion places, while Greystones moved out of the relegation zone minefield with a win.
Ballymena (1T) 8-9 Malone (0T), Eaton Park
Malone stayed bottom despite a Peter Caves inspired performance from the kicking tee giving them a much needed win by the barest of margins.
It was an energy sapping opening half at Eaton Park as both teams left it all out there to seek an early score. Certainly sore the morning after as the packs were hungry to get going the hits were fierce and the score still remained all square.
Caves would soon be the difference, kicking three penalties in succession, Malone taking a 9-0 lead to the interval. Tristan Ferguson got Ballymena on the board in the second half from the tee. From a lineout Maul, Ballymena grabbed the only try of the game from the resulting maul, the conversion missed the mark and in the finish they missed out narrowly taking a result in this one.
Banbridge (3T) 19-20 Greystones (3T), Rifle Park
Greystones held on in the final quarter of play to secure an important win to lift them out of the dreaded drop zone.
Ferdia Kenny had Greystones on the board after just five minutes with an unconverted try. Banbridge looked for an immediate reply but after 22 minutes they were on the board as Robin Sinto dove over the line and Adam Doherty converted for the lead. Four minutes later Ethan Mount helped double the lead with a try in the corner and Doherty made it 14-5 with the conversion.
Simone Ragusi struck a penalty after the half hour mark to get Greystones back on the board, Kenny shy of the break raced in under the posts and Ragusi struck the conversion to see the Wicklow men lead by a single point.
The second half was fiercely contested between the two, plenty of hits going in as neither side gave an inch. Chances came and went but with 65 minutes on the Rifle Park Clock, Kenny struck his hat trick try again in the corner, the conversion missing the mark but a six point lead was a massive one for Greystones.
Three minutes after Doherty went over in the corner for the hosts, he skewed the conversion and with a one point game in place, the tension was palpable. Greystones defended carefully for the final minutes, the hosts left frustrated to go down by a point in the end.
Navan (3T) 19-24 MU Barnhall (4T), Balreask Old
A late Shane Stokes try proved the difference in Balreask Old as MU Banrhall once again took the Leinster bragging rights in this provincial derby.
Barnhall struck with just five minutes on the clock, Sean Sexton powering over in the right corner for a 5-0 lead as the conversion missed the mark. As the half wore on, possession was exchanged between the two with little give and take for both.
Navan did get on the board after 26 minutes Jamie Kavangah over in the corner after a lineout maul, the game level as the conversion went left of the post. The hosts would take the lead minutes later, on the half hour mark Kyle Dixon spotted a gap and raced in, Rory Gordon making it 12-5 from the tee. Cathal Duff crossed just before the break for Barnhall, the conversion from Adam Chester levelled matters at half-time.
Into the second half, Nick Doggett got Barnhall on the board first to swing the momentum in the Kildare clubs favour, Chester converting for a 19-12 lead. With 66 minutes elapsed, Navan levelled matters once again, another strong lineout maul saw Kavanagh power over for a second try, Gordon with those important extra two points to see the game deadlocked again.
Barnhall did not let their heads drop after conceding that score, their forwards putting serious pressure on from the restart and eventually turning it over. With Navan on the end of intense pressure, a gao opened up and in the left corner went Stokes to touch down for an unconverted try and secure the win for the Kildare men.
Those final minutes were tense as Barnhall held firm, Navan disappointed to lose the contest, as a result they slipped into the relegation zone in 9th place on score difference to Ballymena.
Nenagh Ormond (1T) 13-20 Cashel (2T), New Ormond Park
Nenagh’s unbeaten run in 2A came to an end to Tipp rivals Cashel on Saturday afternoon, Cashel laid down an early marker and Nenagh failed to overturn the deficit in a dramatic affair in New Ormond Park.
Ben Twomey kicked Cashel into an early 3-0 lead, before a penalty try furthered the hosts grip on proceedings. Kevin O’Connor would add a second try for the men from Cashel and the gap was 17-3 at the break, Ben Pope struck a penalty prior for Nenagh to get them on the board.
Nenagh came out fighting in the second half and David Gleeson added their try with Conor McMahon converting to cut the gap to seven. Twomey struck a penalty to further Cashel’s lead, McMahon would strike a penalty of his own minutes later, enough for a losing bonus.
Old Crescent (4T) 34-7 UL Bohemian (1T), Takumi Park
Old Crescent took the local Limerick bragging rights with a string display against UL Bohemian putting them a point outside of the play-offs.
The hosts from the word go put intense pressure on the UL Bohs defence after a period of sustained pressure Crescent grabbed the opening score after six minutes, Sean Donnarumma crossing in the corner, Ronan McKenna with an incredible conversion attempt to score the full seven on offer.
UL Bohs would hit back after 21 minutes of intense play between the two, plenty of penalties on show, from a scrum penalty, Liam Neulan tapped and went and powered his way over for the score. Harry Byrne struck the conversion attempt between the posts for the equaliser.
Crescent would end the opening half with a flurry of scores, McKenna struck a penalty for the lead in repl to the Bohs try, before converting Joe Rickard’s try for a 17-7 lead at the interval.
With four minutes elapsed in the second half McKenna slotted a drop goal between the posts to put 13 points between the teams. Crescent kept the foot on the gas as the half wore on, Daithi Byrnes crossed for the third try with 53 minutes on the clock and five minutes from time Evan Creaven added the bonus point try, both converted by the ever reliable McKenna.
More Info on Division 2A here.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.