Five rounds into the new season and newly promoted Galway Corinthians sit top of Division 2A of the All Ireland League, recording five wins in succession. Alongside Cashel they remain the only sides with a 100% record to begin this campaign.
Ballymena 6-11 Banbridge, Eaton Park
A second half try from Ethan Mount proved the deciding factor in a closely fought Ulster Derby in Eaton Park.
With both teams locked in a defensive battle from the off, the boot of Ballymena’s Callum Patterson opened the scoring with a penalty in the seventh minute. Banbridge responded quickly with Jack Hart levelling the score with a penalty of his own in the 11th minute. Hart was not finished there and another penalty from Hart in the 34th minute gave Banbridge a narrow 6-3 lead going into halftime.
The second half saw a continuation of the tight contest, with both teams struggling to gain a clear advantage. Banbridge broke through just before the hour mark, when Ethan Mount crossed the try line, extending their lead to 11-3. Ballymena fought back and earned a penalty in the 76th minute, which Patterson converted to bring them within five points. Despite their late efforts, Banbridge held on to secure the victory.
Galway Corinthians 21-15 Instonians, Corinthian Park
Tom Waters’ late try quenced the Instonians fire as the leaders Galway Corinthians continued their 100% start to life in Division 2A, prevailing in a ferocious battle in Corinthian Park, handing a first defeat of the season to the Ulstermen.
Corinthians started strong with an early try from Orin Burke in the fourth minute, successfully converted by Sean Naughton. Instonians quickly responded, however, with Bradley McNamara crossing the try line in the ninth minute to make it 7-5, as the conversion missed the mark.
The visitors took the lead shortly after when Ian Whitten scored a try in the 16th minute, pushing Instonians ahead by three. In a back and forth opening half, Corinthians reclaimed the lead two minutes later as John Devine scored their second try, and Naughton’s reliable boot added the conversion to make it 14-10. Just before halftime, Instonians’ Schalk Van Der Merwe touched down in the 37th minute, giving Instonians a narrow 15-14 lead at the break.
The second half was a defensive battle, with both sides struggling to break through until the closing moments. Instonians worked hard to maintain their slim lead, but Corinthians’ persistence paid off in the 78th minute when Tom Waters scored the decisive try. Naughton added the conversion, to cap off an impressive display by the Galway men.
Greystones 22-25 Cashel, Dr Hickey Park
A late brace of Ben Twomey penalties, helped Cashel to victory on the road against Greystones, preserving their 100% start to the season.
Greystones started the brighter, crossing for two tries in the early exchanges. Dylan Henry first went over, followed by Ferdia Kenny, Killian Marmion converted, extending Greystones lead to 12-0.
Cashel, however, responded with resilience. Brendan Ryan crossed for their opening try and minutes later Tom Tobin crossed the line, with Ben Twomey’s conversion levelling the tie. Greystones failed to let their heads drop. Regaining their lead through a maul try from Shane Fikken, putting a five point gap in place.
The back and forth continued as Adam Shirley sniped a third try before the break, with Twomey’s conversion sending Cashel into the break leading 19-17. Greystones regained ground in the second half and Reeve Satherley crossed for their bonus point try to shift the momentum back to the home side.
As the second half continued to wear on Cashel continued to press, looking for those scores to put them right back into the game. Twomey nailed a penalty to level matters before his second in the closing stages split the uprights and proved the decisive score as Cashel moved to second.
Navan 24-50 MU Barnhall, Balreask Old
MU Barnhall bounced back from defeat last weekend to rise to third in the hable following a seven try performance away to Navan.
Cathal Duff was quick to get MU Barnhall on the scoreboard, scoring a try in the eight minute. Sean Sexton followed suit just a minute later, diving over the line and Adam Chester slotted both conversions for a 14-0 lead. Dylan Kelly added their third try in the 14th minute to grow the lead.
Navan, determined to respond, found their footing when Evan Dixon crossed the line in the 17th minute, and Tom Gavigan converted to cut the gap. Gavigan cut the gap further with a penalty shy of the half hour mark, Barnhall however were powerful in attack and tries by Dan Murphy and Matt Grogan converted by Chester, saw the visitors ahead 33-10 at the break.
After a cagey start to the second half Navan got over first with Kyle Dixon crossing and Gavigan converted.
Barnhall replied as Duff crossed two complete his hat trick with two further tries by the 69th minute. Chester converted both. Navan kept fighting until the end, with Rory Gordon scoring a late try in the 71st minute, followed by another successful conversion from Gavigan.
Old Crescent 43-12 Buccaneers, Takumi Park
Old Crescent delivered a high scoring performance to record their second win of the campaign, as Buccaneers remain winless at the bottom of the standings.
The home side started the brighter and Joe McEnery opened the scoring in the 12th minute, with John Hurley adding the conversion, Just seven minutes later, Jake Considine found the try zone again. Hurley converted once more, extending the lead to 14-0. Old Crescent added two further tries before the break, John Moloney and Niall Hardiman going over, Hurley slotting one from two as Crescent would lead 26-0 at the break with the bonus point secured.
The second half began with Old Crescent showing no signs of letting up. Brian Molloy added to the score in the 53rd minute, making it 33-0 after another successful conversion from Hurley. Just three minutes later, Jamie Duggan scored Old Crescent’s sixth try of the match, further extending the lead approaching the hour mark. Werner Hoffman added their seventh and final try in the 67th minute.
Buccaneers finally found some rhythm late in the game. In the 71st minute, Oisin Dolan broke through to score their first try, and Dylan Duffy successfully converted, and in the 79th minute, Reece Henderson crossed the line for their second try, in a spirited late surge.
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.