Cashel continued to keep pressure on Nenagh at the summit, UL and Barnhall played out a spellbinding draw in Annacotty while Banbridge and Greystones scored important wins.
Ballymena (3T) 21-40 Banbridge (6T), Eaton Park
Banbridge sit just outside the play-off places after a strong outing in their Ulster derby with Ballymena.
Pierce Crowe converted his own try early on to draw first blood for the hosts, tries however from Nathan Hook and Alex Thompson turned the game on its head with Banbridge leading 12-7. John Glass went over after 33 minutes to restore the Ballymena lead as Crowe converted, Thompson bagged a brace just before the interval the conversion from Adam Doherty sailed over for a 19-14 lead at half time.
Five minutes after the restart Matthew Laird added the bonus point, Doherty had struck two conversions however on this occasion Nathan Hook stepped up to convert. With 55 minutes gone the fifth Banbridge try arrived as Jonny Scott weaved over and Hook made it 33-14 from the tee. A penalty try for the hosts cut the gap down to 12 points, Andrew Morrison capped the result at the death with their seventh try, converted by Doherty.
Cashel (4T) 32-18 Navan (2T), Spafield
Cashel cut the gap to four points to their Tipperary neighbours ahead of their showdown in two weeks, finding the points with a strong second half finish.
Tries from Cathal Ryan, Jack Evenden and a brace from Ryan O’Sullivan, combined with the marksmanship of Ben Twoomey helped the Tipp side overcome a stern test from Navan. Peter McEntaggart added two tries for a 12-3 lead after a Twomey penalty, another three from Twomey and an unconverted try left the score 12-11 at the break.
Navan saw yellow shy of the break and then saw red into the second half, a penalty did propel Navan further ahead but Cashel soon took control. The numerical advantage counted to regain the lead with their second try and then with two tries after Navan had levelled matters with another penalty to seal the outcome and take a vital bonus point.
Greystones (3T) 27-21 Old Crescent (3T), Dr Hickey Park
Greystones ended their recent losing streak with a late try sealing the points against Old Crescent.
Ronan McKenna had Crescent ahead from the tee, Greystones would dominate the remainder of the opening half to lead 20-3 at the break. Craig Kenny crossed for the hosts, converted by Killian Marmion before Marmion made it 10-3 with a penalty. Stephen Corry added a second try and another conversion by Marmion followed by a penalty had the Wicklow side 17 points ahead at the break. Darragh O’Brien crossed for Crescent to help reduce the arrears.
Aaron Cosgrave added a drop goal six minutes into the second half to cut the deficit to none points and minutes later Evan Conlon was over and McKenna left two between them from the tee. With 66 minutes gone McKenna struck the lead once again for Crescent, however Greystones did have the final say a late converted try under the posts for a vital win.
Malone (1T) 10-24 Nenagh Ormond (3T), Gibson Park
Nenagh remain top and unbeaten after seven games with a strong win on the road against Malone.
The Tipp outfit were strong from the off with Conor McMahon converting David Gleeson’s early try. McMahon struck a penalty and then converted John Healy’s try for a 17-0 lead, Malone got on the board through a Peter Caves penalty.
Nenagh added a third try through Colm Skehan with McMahon continuing his incredible prowess from the tee. Nathan Brown crossed for Malone and Caves conversion left 14 between them at the finish.
UL Bohemian (5T) 29-29 MU Barnhall (4T), Annacotty
Amidst heavy fog in Annacotty, Harry Byrne converted Tom Cullen’s late try to share the spoils on the banks of the Mulkear River.
Byrne gave the hosts an early lead, sustained Barnhall pressure led to the Kildare side striking for a converted try after 20 minutes. UL replied well Matt Henry touching down after a driving maul, Byrne making it 10-7. Just before the break Barnahll struck in the corner and at the break following the converting try the lead was 14-10.
It was 21-10 minutes into the second half as Barnhall struck a third try, Byrne booted a penalty to touch and Tom Cullen was at the back of a driving maul that followed from the lineout to cut the gap 21-17. Bonus points for Barnhall, another scrum and another corner try for the Kildare men as they took the advantage.
Tadhg Walsh cut the gap to four points with 20 minutes left as UL grabbed a bonus point try but Byrne’s conversion was short. Plenty of drama and suspense late on, Barnhall with a crucial penalty left seven between them, however another maul try saw Cullen grab a second and Byrne kept his nerve to strike the conversion.
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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.