After another blockbuster weekend of action, Division 2B of the Energia All Ireland League remains a minefield once again. Clogher Valley gained ground to jump into second spot in the standings, with UL Bohemian also gaining ground for a promotion push. Elsewhere Galwegians picked up their first win of the season to jump out of the relegation zone.
Clogher Valley 39-24 Skerries, The Cran
Clogher Valley are up to second place in the standings, with three second half tries enough to power their way to victory against Skerries.
The teams traded blows in a tightly contested first half. Clogher Valley’s Paul Armstrong and David Stinson crossed for early tries, with David Maxwell converting the former for a 12-3 lead approaching the half hour mark. Ronan Mulcahy had kicked Skerries on the board minutes earlier.
As the half was nearing completion, back-to-back tries from Sam Deering and Mulcahy quickly turned the game on its head as Mulcahy converted both for a 17-12 lead. Michael Treanor’s try on the stroke of halftime brought Clogher Valley level going into the break.
Clogher Valley took control in the second half, with Michael Treanor adding his second try, followed by scores from James Morrison and Aaron Dunwoody. Maxwell converted twice and added a late penalty to cap off an inspired home performance.
Skerries’ Patrick Finn scored a try in the second half converted again by Mulcahy, The Goats were unable to add to their scoring exploits and fell to another defeat, as they slip out of the top four.
Galwegians 29-22 Malahide, Crowley Park
For the first time this season we saw scenes of jubilation from Galwegians as the final whistle sounded, seven heart-breaking defeats in a row ended with a strong showing at home against Malahide.
Malahide struck first with a try by Amkela Kamogelo Nontso in the 3rd minute, converted by David O’Halloran. Galwegians quickly responded through Andrew Sherlock and Rob Deacy, with Steven Mannion adding conversions to take the lead.
Lee Byrne’s try for Malahide in the 34th minute, converted by O’Halloran, kept the visitors close. However, Darragh Kennedy’s effort on the half-hour mark ensured Galwegians entered halftime ahead 19-14.
Shane Mallon extended Galwegians’ lead with an early second-half try, converted by Mannion, with a penalty in the 51st minute struck by Mannion, increasing the hosts lead to 29-14.
Malahide fought back, with Lee O’Grady scoring a try in the 62nd minute, converted by O’Halloran. A late penalty from O’Halloran in stoppage time added further reduced arrears for a losing bonus point.
Malone 20-13 Rainey, Gibson Park
Malone took the Ulster Derby bragging rights as an inspired performance by Dan Kerr, saw the hosts pick up valuable points in the promotion hunt.
Rainey started the brighter of the two sides, with Jim McCartney scoring their first try. . Malone kept themselves in the contest thanks to Dan Kerr’s first try, though they trailed 8-5 at halftime, as Scott McLean landed a penalty for the visitors.
The second half belonged to Malone and Dan Kerr. He scored twice more, completing his hat trick in style. Matty Smyth converted one of Kerr’s tries and slotted a penalty to give Malone a 12-point cushion. Rainey tried to fight back, with Tommy O’Hagan crossing for a try, but Malone’s defensive effort ensured the win.
UL Bohemian 33-26 Dungannon, UL 4G Pitch
UL Bohs are back in the top four after a hard earned win over Dungannon in a high scoring clash between the two. Once again the trip to Limerick ended in defeat for the Ulstermen.
The hosts started brightly with Seamus Lyne’s early try in the 11th minute, converted by Oisin Fagan. Dungannon responded quickly, as Sam Montgomery touched down and Ben McCaughey added the extras, to level the tie in the 16th minute.
Joe Johnson’s try and Fagan’s conversion had the hosts back ahead on the half hour mark, but James McMahon struck back for Dungannon five minutes later to keep the contest tight at 14-12.
A late try from Fagan, coupled with his accurate conversion, sent UL into the break with a 21-12 advantage. UL Bohemian widened the gap early in the second half with David Rowsome’s try.
Despite James McMahon scoring his second try in the 58th minute, converted by McCaughey, UL struck again through Darragh O’Gorman in the 62nd minute, with Fagan converting for a 33-19 lead.
Cameron Steenson’s late try, converted by McCaughey, added drama, but UL’s defense held firm to secure the win.
Wanderers 43-12 Sligo, Aviva Stadium Back Pitch
Leaders Wanderers delivered another high scoring performance to further their advantage at the top of the table. It was another defeat for Sligo at headquarters, following their Bateman Cup Semi-Final defeat two week’s prior.
The Chaps set the tempo in the opening half, Conor McQuaid crossed for the opening try converted by James Moriarty, before Alex Walsh and Jamie Murphy crossed to extend the lead to 17-0 by the break.
Wanderers continued their dominance after the break, with Jamie Murphy scoring his second try, followed by Jamie Kavanagh’s double and Adam McAuliffe’s effort. Moriarty’s reliable kicking added four conversions to the scoreboard.
Sligo rallied in the latter stages, finding consolation through tries by Finn Young and Fintan Crawley, the former converted by Jacob Fleming.
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.