Nenagh have a four point lead at the summit following a fifth straight win of the campaign, elsewhere Old Crescent picked up a much needed win at the death, while Malone recorded victory for the first time this season.
Ballymena (1T) 7-23 Nenagh Ormond (2T), Eaton Park
Nenagh kept their unbeaten record alive to remain top of the standings in 2A.
Amidst a serious fog in Eaton Park, Nenagh certainly had the fog lights working and would lead 20-7 at the break. Josh Rowland crossed for an early try and Conor McMahon converted before slotting a penalty made it 10-0. A penalty try and a McMahon penalty doubled the lead soon after.
Adam Lamont crossed for the hosts shy of the interval to get them on the board and Pierce Crowe converted to cut the gap to 13. As the fog continued scores were hard to come by, McMahon with another penalty to cap another strong win for Tipp men.
Banbridge (4T) 27-28 Old Crescent (4T), Rifle Park
Jed O’Dwyer’s injury time try converted by Ronan McKenna ended a three game losing streak for the Shannonsiders.
It was the hosts who controlled a lot of the opening half and with mere minutes on the clock Adam Doherty crossed for the hosts notching the games opening try putting five on the scoreboard. A chip and chase saw Evan Conlon to get Crescent on the board shy of the half hour mark, McKenna converted for 7-5 lead.
Just after the half hour mark the hosts capitalised on a Crescent yellow card to cross from a powerful maul, Peter Cromie dotted down for their second unconverted try. Andrew Morrison added a third try soon after this time the conversion sailed over from Adam Doherty and the scoreline was 17-7 at the break.
Ten minutes into the second half Dean Hayes noticed a bonus point for the hosts and Doherty’s conversion had a mountain to climb for the Shannon men. Crescent mourned a comeback after the hour mark, Cathal Monaghan crossed the whitewash and McKenna slotted over the extras, 24-14.
Conlon was in again for the Treaty men inside the final ten minutes of play, McKenna ice cool in the veins kicked the visitors within three. It was a nervy finish and Doherty swung momentum back in the hosts favour kicking a penalty. Crescent would have the final say in injury time with the exciting teenager O’Dwyer touching down. McKenna to win it from the tee with the resulting conversion and he showed no nerves, slotting perfectly between the uprights.
Cashel (3T) 31-7 UL Bohemian (1T), Spafield
In the Munster Derby in Spafield it was Cashel who took the bragging rights with a strong result over UL Bohemians.
An early penalty try gave Cashel the lead before Ben Twomey slotted a penalty for a 10-0 scoreline. Twomey added a second soon after before Ben Daly added a drop goal shy of the break, the sides departing the field with Cashel ahead 16-0.
Into the second half Twomey added another penalty to pull the gap to 19 points and minutes later they had their second try as Tom Tobin crossed in the corner, 26-0 after Twomey converted. Joe Johnston got Bohs on the board five minutes from time and Harry Byrne converted. Cathal Ryan added the third try late on that went unconverted.
Greystones (4T) 29-48 MU Barnhall (7T), Dr Hickey Park
MU Barnhall occupy third spot in the standings after a strong bonus point win away from home on Saturday afternoon.
It was the visitors who largely had the better or the opening half, building up a 24-10 lead by the interval. Crossing for three converted tries along with a penalty giving them the edge over their Wicklow counterparts.
Barnhall crossed early in the second half to put them 29-10 ahead. Tries kept coming as both would swap seven pointers before Barnhall were in again to pull out a 41-17 gap. Two quick tries from Greystones cut the deficit to 41-29 but to avert any late drama the visitors kept the board ticking over in their favour for the remainder of the half.
Malone (4T) 26-25 Navan (3T), Gibson Park
Malone picked up their first win of the campaign but remained bottom despite the narrow result over Navan.
The Belfast club picked up the result with a strong showing and a result they will hope can see them kick on now and avoid another drop. Tries from Ben Halliday, Stuart Doddington and a brace from Dan Kerr, saw them take bonus points in consecutive outings. Peter Caves added the extras on three occasions.
Navan were left disappointed by the result and with a game largely fought in tight margins they just could not get those scores late on to take the victory. It’s now a third loss in succession for the Meath side.
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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.