Nenagh returned to winning ways to keep high flying Cashel five behind in the race for the title, UL Bohemian secured a strong win for their hopes at promotion while at the foot of the table Malone jumped off bottom with a win over Banbridge.
UL Bohemian (4T) 26-17 Navan (2T), Annacotty
UL Bohemian strengthened their hopes of remaining in the play-off places taking a bonus point from a slogfest with Navan in Annacotty.
Penalty tries were the catch of the day on the Mulkear River early on in proceedings, UL striking first after terrific work by Jack Foley saw their maul pulled down, Navan soon after had one awarded as their lineout went to the tail and the maul was brought down ten metres out.
As the half wore on both sides swapped possession as territory was the aim of the game. With half-time approaching Harry Byrne kicked a penalty to touch inside the Navan 22, Foley rose highest to claim the lineout and the Robins set up a deadly maul, attacking the short side Bohs went out left and in the finish Foley stretched his frame over the line for the try. Byrne converted for a 14-7 lead at the interval.
Navan were awarded a close range penalty early in the second half, Rory Gordon cutting the gap to four points with six minutes elapsed on the clock. UL kept up the pressure and captain Paul Clancy spotted a gap and ran in to score after some clever thinking by the Robs attack to switch back inside. Byrne missed the conversion with the wind playing its part all afternoon.
A score that gave them momentum but Navan did not drop their heads and soon after a tap penalty was finished off by Ryan Healy in the left corner, Gordon converting to cut the gap 19-17. The Robins who have had some close contests needed to remain focused in the latter stages to take the win, another penalty saw Byrne find touch close to the Navan line, from the lineout Tom Cullen broke away and dotted down for the bonus point, Byrne from the side-line found the extras on offer and holding firm in the burning embers Bohs took the points. Navan slipped to bottom in the standings as a result.
Cashel (2T) 19-13 Old Crescent (1T), Spafield
Cashel continued to mount their challenge for the title sitting five behind Nenagh after a hard earned win against Old Crescent in a wet Munster derby in Spafield.
Ben Twomey and Ronan McKenna kicked a penalty each in the opening twenty minutes of action, McKenna would play a hand in the opening try, a kick through was not dealt with by Cashel and McKenna dotted down and converted for a 10-3 lead. Twomey would add a second penalty to reduce matters to four at the break.
With four minutes gone in the second half, following a strong lineout maul Cathal Ryan crossed to restore the host’s lead, the conversion went wide and the Tipp men were ahead by a single point.
Shy of the hour mark Twomey struck a penalty for a four point lead, with minutes left on the clock Tom Tobin hit a sucker punch with a terrific breakaway try to put Cashel nine clear. McKenna would strike a penalty at the death as darkness was descending on Spafield to secure a vital losing bonus point.
Greystones (2T) 12-15 Nenagh Ormond (2T), Dr Hickey Park
Conor McMahon kept his cool to get Nenagh back to winning ways as his penalty 15 minutes from time saw the Tipp men leave Dr Hickey Park with all the points.
It was all Greystones in the opening half, tries from Conor McAleer and Andrew Lynch with the former converted by Dave Baker had the hosts 12-0 ahead before John Healy got Nenagh on the board with an unconverted try near the end of the half.
Evan Murphy would reduce the arrears for Nenagh grabbing their second try early in the second half and McMahon would level the tie from the conversion. McMahon has been such a vital asset to Nenagh this season and he made no error with the penalty to keep the Tipp men top of the standings by five points.
MU Barnhall (3T) 19-22 Ballymena (3T), Parsonstown
Returning to winning ways by virtue of a late Mark Lamont try seeing the Ulstermen take the spoils in Parsonstown, Ballymena moved seventh in the standings.
Barnhall started much the better, a penalty try was followed by Conor Duggan crossing for an unconverted try. Tristan Ferguson slotted a penalty to reduce arrears before Glen Baille got over for a try and Ferguson slotted the resulting conversion for a 12-10 score line at the break.
Barnhall shot out of the blocks quicker in the second half as Tim Lambe crossed for their third try, Adam Chester converting for a nine point lead. Baille added a second try after Barnhall were temporarily down to 14 men, the gap just four points before Lamont got his way over for the third and pivotal try for the visitors, Ferguson slotted the conversion as the Ulstermen had three to spare in the end.
Malone (3T) 17-12 Banbridge (2T), Gibson Park
Malone jumped off the bottom spot in 2A as a remarkable second half turnaround saw them come back from 12-0 down at the break to take the points.
Banbridge started bright with just three minutes on the clock Jack Hart went over in the corner and put five on the board. That turned to 12 on the half hour mark with Mike Cromie thundering over and Hart converted. A bruising opening half but Banbridge had enjoyed their exploits, Malone would cross late on Mark McGlynn making it 12-5 at the interval.
Momentum would stay with Malone following that score, Andy Bryans with five minutes gone in the second half crossed for their second try which Matty Rae converted to level. Ten minutes later Jacob Edwards crossed for the lead and that was the deciding factor in a cagey Ulster derby in Gibson Park.
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.