The unbeaten streak of Clogher Valley came to an end at the weekend with Enniscorthy picking up a strong result in their meeting. Galwegians and Bruff make the top four look a lot more interesting after taking wins this weekend.
Ballina (7T) 47-33 Bangor (5T), Heffernan Park
Ballina jumped off bottom spot with a strong bonus point win over Bangor who now occupy bottom.
The hosts started the better as Darragh Whyte crossed and converted the games opening try for a 7-0 lead after 15 minutes, Bangor replied however with Adam Lowry crossing before the half hour mark and Rhys Larmour levelled matters. Tries from Liam Golden and a second by Whyte, both converted by the full-back, gave Ballina a 21-7 lead at the break.
The bonus point arrived three minutes into the second half, Cian Quinn powering his way over for the score, Whyte adding another two to his tally. Joe Murphy and Quinn stretched the gap to 42-7 after the hour mark as Whyte again added extras. Jamie Clegg and Matt Bougoure helped cut the gap for Bangor, Quinn soon completed his hat trick for the hosts, Bangor finished well however Ryan McCarol and Ryan Young with late tries, a bonus on the way to Ulster but no time remaining to fight for a second.
Enniscorthy (3T) 20-17 Clogher Valley (3T), Alcast Park
Enniscorthy held on in the dying embers to pick up an important win over leaders Clogher Valley ending their unbeaten run in the process.
Paul Armstrong drew first blood for the visitors after eight minutes, soon after however the hosts started to get a grip on proceedings. David O’Dwyer crossed to level the game 5-5 on the 20 minute mark, Ben Kidd struck a penalty to nudge Scorthy ahead before at the end of the half Tomás Stamp went over for their second try which Kidd converted, 15-5 at the interval.
Robbie Mills made it another strong start to a half for the Valley men as his try left five between them as the second half remained in its infancy. Tom Ryan added the crucial third try for Scorthy, a winning score in truth. Despite the best efforts of Matthew Bothwell crossing and Arsmtrong converting a third try, the three point margin that remained eluded Clogher in the end.
Midleton (2T) 19-15 Clonmel (2T), Towns Park
Midleton moved to fifth spot in the standings after picking up a strong result over Clonmel in their Munster Derby meeting in Towns Park.
Jack Colbert struck an early penalty for the hosts but Conor Horan went over out wide on the 12th minute mark and Clonmel now had the advantage. Midleton rallied well as Colbert struck his second penalty, Fionn McGibney would later grab a try for the hosts also crossing out wide and despite the conversion going wide, the hosts were ahead 11-5 at the break.
Another three pointer from Colbert stretched the lead further and despite Josef O’Connor adding three of his own, Colbert continued to have an impressive showing as he raced in for their second try. Luke Hogan intercepted well to snatch a second try for the visitors almost on full time, Clonmel unable to cut the four point gap that remained after O’Connor’s conversion.
Omagh Academicals (1T) 5-27 Galwegians (4T), Thomas Mellon Playing Fields
Galwegians struck all their points in an inspired second half performance to get past Omagh on a testing afternoon in Tyrone.
Omagh struck after 15 minutes through Ben Henry and that score proved the only one of a blustery opening half with the Tribesmen taking full advantage in the second period. Jack Winters levelled the tie in the 53rd minute with an unconverted try, Tieran Neville made it 8-5 on the hour mark.
Just three minutes later Wegians ran in their second try as Hugh Gavin crossed under the posts, Neville converting for a 15-5 lead. Garyn Daniel added the third try soon after and with ten minutes left Wegians had a strong cushion following another Neville conversion. The bonus point was added at the death as Oisin McKey added a debut score for Wegians to cap a strong result away from home that leaves three points Wegians and Clogher in the table.
Tullamore (1T) 10-14 Bruff (2T), Spollanstown
Rob Browne proved the difference as Bruff edged past Tullamore on a windy afternoon in Spollanstown.
A scoreless opening half showed that conditions were testing on the players, Craig Strong put the hosts ahead with a penalty early on in the second half, Paul Collins soon crossed and Bruff found themselves 7-3 ahead as Collins notched the conversion.
Colm Heffernan grabbed the only try for the hosts minutes later and the conversion from Conor Dunne swung momentum back the way of the hosts. Bruff would take all the points at the death as Browne scurried over and Collins remained accurate to leave four between them in the end.
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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.