Nenagh produced a statement win to reignite their title push after defeat the previous weekend, Banbridge and Old Crescent aided their promotion push, while Navan moved off the bottom of the table following a draw with Cashel.
Banbridge (5T) 32-16 Ballymena (1T), Rifle Park
Banbridge took the bragging rights in the Ulster derby at Rifle Park, doing their play-off push a world of good sitting just a single point behind UL Bohemian.
Mena took the lead through Callum Patterson notching an early penalty, Banbridge responded well after 12 minutes with Peter Cromie crossing for the opening try of the contest. The lead for the hosts was short lived as Patterson slotted another penalty for the lead, a one point game after 15 minutes 6-5.
With 20 minutes elapsed Banbridge hit the front once again as Jack Hart found his way over to score the second unconverted try for the home side. Patterson helped cut the gap once again with a penalty minutes later and on the half hour mark he converted Connor Smyth’s try for a 16-10 lead. Just on half time Matthew Laird went over in the corner and cut the gap again back to a single point at the interval.
It took ten minutes of the second half for the next crucial score, a half where Banbridge took control, Adam Doherty set the scene to cross for the bonus point and a lead they would not squander, Hart converting for a 22-16 scoreline. Hart struck a penalty on the hour mark as Banbridge looked to see off the game, they had to fight hard but with time almost up Nathan Hook added the fifth and final try with Hart making it a 16 point win with the extras.
MU Barnhall (6T) 38-5 UL Bohemian (1T), Parsonstown
MU Barnahall produced a stunning win over fellow promotion chasers UL Bohemian to lock down their position in third spot in the standings.
Barnhall started strong with tries from Luke Callinan and Cathal Duff, the former converted by Adam Chester giving the Kildare outfit a 12-0 lead, UL Bohemian pounced after 25 minutes Ihechi Oji in the corner with the conversion going wide, the score remained 12-5 until the break, that score the only one Bohs would grab all afternoon.
With the opening score of the second half scored by Shane Stokes, Barnhall had their third try and the conversion from Chester furthered the lead. Greg Edogun soon added the bonus point try as the hosts pulled further ahead. The game wrapped up with tries from Abdul Olaosebikan and Conor Lacey, Chester adding the extras for the final two tries of the contest.
Navan (1T) 13-13 Cashel (1T), Balreask Old
Cashel’s title charge took a dent at the weekend with Kevin O’Connor’s try giving them a share of the spoils in Navan as the hosts could have taken the win with the final kick of the afternoon.
Very much a cagey afternoon between these two sides and after a back and forth battle, Ben Twomey kicked a penalty after 16 minutes for the lead. It remained a real hard fought battle and with half an hour elapsed the margin was six points as Twomey dissected the posts with another penalty.
Five minutes later Navan got on the board and would lead for the first time a terrific drive from Sean McEntagart set the move going and ended with Robbie Lailvaux getting over to the right of the posts. Rory Gordon striking the conversion for a 7-6 lead. Gordon would miss and then strike a penalty in the dying minutes to give Navan a 10-6 margin at the break.
With eight minutes elapsed after the restart Gordon struck a further penalty to push the hosts seven clear. It looked like Navan were on top only for Cashel on their first major assault in the Navan half, grabbing a try after 52 minutes, O’Connor getting over and Twomey struck a beauty against the wind to add the extras. As the minutes ticked by, both teams fought till the very end and in a heartbreaking finish for the hosts, a strong wind catching a late penalty and dragging it wide of the posts.
Nenagh Ormond (13T) 83-12 Malone (2T), New Ormond Park
Nenagh were utterly dominant with a 13 try demolition of Malone in New Ormond Park, a statement win by the leaders.
Davy Gleeson struck first for the Tipp men racing in the opening try as Conor McMahon struck the conversion. Malone did hit back through Mark Galvin to put two between the teams, Nenagh however just hit form and were rampant on the scoring front.
Willie Coffey the next to cross and McMahon struck for a 14-5 lead, McMahon went on the try scoring front soon after his two conversions, hitting a quickfire brace to secure a bonus point for the hosts as they moved 24-5 clear. Coffey was next to add his second try of the day to increase the lead as McMahon was strong once more from the tee. Tries from Derek Corcoran, Irwin and the hat trick try from Coffey, along with two more McMahon conversions had the hosts 50-5 ahead at the interval.
The onslaught continued into the second half, Josh Rowland striking for the hosts to draw first blood in the second, McMahon converting one again. Patrick Scully added another name to the try scorers list as Nenagh were enjoying themselves as McMahon struck another beauty.
Micky Doran and Gleeson added tries and another McMahon conversion had the lead stretched the lead to 76-5. Malone got back on the board a short while later, Lorcan Hanratty with a try converted by Matty Rae.
Scully added his second and Conor O’Brien converted. Eight separated try scorers, three notching a brace, one with a hat trick and McMahon with eight conversions alongside his brace of tries, Nenagh showing just why they are the leaders.
Old Crescent (1T) 13-10 Greystones (1T), Takumi Park
Old Crescent kept up their push for promotion, as a late Ronan McKenna penalty saw the hosts get past Greystones in a tight affair at Takumi Park.
On his 100th appearance in an Old Crescent jersey, Darragh O’Brien crossed for a try after 12 minutes to open the scoring in the contest. McKenna converted and the advantage lasted only 15 minutes, Eoin Marmion going over for the try for the visitors David Barker equalising with the conversion. The game tied 7-7 at the break.
Three minutes after the restart the hosts were back ahead as McKenna kicked another penalty to nudge Crescent ahead, Baker would soon reply for Greystones to level matters on the 48th minute mark from a close range penalty. A closely fought second half and contest in general, the game decided by McKenna dissecting the posts after 73 minutes.
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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.