The title race could come down to the final day as Clogher Valley suffered defeat at the weekend, Bruff and Tullamore lost ground in the promotion race while Midleton are just seven behind. At the bottom Ballina no longer occupy bottom spot as they leapfrogged Bangor.
Ballina (5T) 35-31 Enniscorthy (5T), Heffernan Park
Ballina did their hopes of survival a world of good as they got a win against Enniscorthy, they moved to ninth in the table but with Omagh also winning they remain in the relegation zone for the time being.
Cody Chilcott gave the hosts an early lead from a penalty but a Davy Murphy unconverted try put Scorthy into the lead. Chilcott struck another penalty to restore the lead before Ballina struck two tries to end the half with a flurry, Chilcott converting the second for an 18-5 lead at the break.
Discipline cost Scorthy in the second half, a first yellow saw Ballina strike for a third try which Chilcott converted. Scorthy had two more yellow cards and down to 12 men, Ballina grabbed their bonus point try. A fifth soon followed and the lead was 35-5.
Scorthy would stage a monumental comeback. Timmy Morrissey going over for a try converted by Adam Gethings. A penalty try added seven points to the board for the Wexford men before MJ Doyle crossed for the bonus point try converted by Gethings. Killian Creed sniped at the death for an unconverted try, enough for two crucial bonus points to strengthen their hopes of the play-offs.
Bangor (3T) 21-6 Bruff (0T), Upritchard Park
Bangor picked up a third win for the season as they proved a tough task for a depleted Bruff in Upritchard Park.
Paul Collins kicked two penalties to give Bruff the early advantage. Bangor would pounce however just before the break as Ally McIvor crossed the line. Gareth Millar with the conversion for a 7-6 lead at the interval.
Soon after the restart Matt Bougoure crossed the whitewash and Millar with it 14-6 with the conversion. Bangor saw the tie out when Blair Morgan added their third try and Millar converted, the side still bottom despite the win.
Clogher Valley (3T) 19-21 Midleton (2T), The Cran
Clogher Valley had their title hopes put on ice as Midleton took victory at the death as Conan Doyle struck a penalty for the points.
The hosts started much the better of the sides, skipper Paul Armstrong and Kyle Cobane with early tries the latter converted by David Maxwell for a 12-0 margin. Doyle reduced arrears with a penalty before converting Joannes du Toit’s try for a 12-10 margin before the break.
The score remained the same but after the restart Doyle put Midleton ahead with a penalty and after Aaron Leahy added a beautiful intercept try from the half way line this one unconverted the lead was 18-12 for the visitors.
Clogher needed to kick into gear as the game was nearing completion. As they ran the phases trying to get an opening Joel Busby crossed the whitewash and Maxwell converted what looked like the winning score. Midleton refused to quit and after winning a scrum penalty, Doyle stepped up and dissected the uprights. Midleton seven points adrift of the promotion play-offs, could they?.
Galwegians (8T) 46-13 Clonmel (1T), Crowley Park
With Clogher Valley losing in The Cran, galwegians narrowed the gap to five points as they were bonus point winners in Crowley Park.
Wegians had the dream start when Josh Munn raced in for an opening try inside the first minute, Tiernan Neville converting for a seven point haul. That start continued when after six minutes Jack Winters powered his way over from close range, Neville just missing the conversion.
Clonmel found their feet when Josef O’Connor slotted a penalty before a frantic opening ten minutes saw a third try as Albert Fronek cut his way through the Wegians cover to dot down, O’Connor converting to make it 12-10. As the clock ticked past the quarter of an hour mark, Galwegians added a third try. Ryan Smith powering his way over off a lineout maul, Neville found his range this time with the conversion.
O’Connor kept Clonmel fighting as he struck another three pointer to cut the gap. Shane Mallon crossed out wide after the half hour mark to secure the bonus point before Smith added a fifth shy of the break, both tries missed the mark for a 29-13 lead. Into first half stoppage time Rob Deacy added a sixth try again the conversion missed the mark but Wegians were 34-13 ahead by that stage.
Clonmel piled on the pressure in the second half, attacking Wegians with intent but failed to get a reward. With five minutes left Sam Feely crossed for his first ever AIL try and Neville struck a beauty to extend the lead. Munn put the icing on the cake with their 8th try in stoppage time.
Omagh Academicals (4T) 37-21 Tullamore (3T), Thomas Mellon Playing Fields
Omagh secured a much needed win over Tullamore to keep their hopes of survival alive, with Ballina and Bangor taking wins it proved important that they ran in four tries to see off the promotion contenders from the Midlands.
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.