As we head to the Christmas break, we have new league leaders as Galwegians take top spot with Clogher jumping to second having been ahead for the previous eight rounds. Bruff also made ground in the top four, while Clonmel and Tullamore picked up important wins.
Bangor (3T) 25-31 Tullamore (4T), Upritchard Park
Tullamore moved to sixth needing a late turnaround to get them over the line against Bangor.
The visitors started much the better converted tries either side of a Gareth Millar penalty putting them 14-3 ahead in the opening half. Bangor found their feet with Danny Youngs going over in the corner and following another try which went unconverted and a second Millar penalty, the lead was 18-14.
A yellow card was followed by a third Tullamore try as Bangor got two body blows as the second half wore on. It was the hosts to snipe next and regain the lead, soon after Tullamore added the bonus point and a late penalty allowed enough distance to see out the tie.
Bruff (2T) 23-20 Midleton (3T), Kilballyowen Park
Bruff moved third with a narrow win against Midleton in a closely contested Munster derby on Shannonside.
After an early exchange of penalties between Paul Collins and Fionn McGibney, the hosts struck the opening try, mauling over as John Sheehan dotted down, Collins supplied the conversion for a 10-3 lead. The referee was busy and Bruff had two players take a slice of cheese and head to the bin, Midleton capitalised on the numerical advantage Johannes du Toit touching down after a driving maul of their own, Brufff remained ahead following a missed conversion.
Collins was accurate on not one but two occasions as the opening half was reaching its conclusion, the ever reliable boot of Collins making it 16-8 for Bruff at the break. Midleton struck first in the second half, Mark Corby crossing the whitewash and the conversion from McGibney went between the uprights.
It was a crucial score coming from Sean Kilbridge that would win the game in the end for Bruff, the converted try from Collins did give them breathing room and the ideal reply to the Midleton score, despite Lee McSherry with another maul try, the hosts were able to see out the rest of the contest.
Clogher Valley (2T) 14-18 Omagh Academicals (2T), The Cran
For the second week in a row Clogher Valley tasted defeat and also lost top spot going into the Christmas break.
Clogher did take the early advantage as Paul Armstrong kept up his talent for trey scoring and following his conversion the side were ahead 7-0. Coughing up two penalties gave Omagh the chance to comeback into proceedings, Connor Watherston-Spencer kicked two to cut the gap to one after 13 minutes, as the opening half wore on it remained compact with that score line remaining untouched at the break.
Accies struck first in the second half, a kind bounce after a kick over the top seeing the men from Tyrone over for their opening try from Matthew Eccles that went unconverted. Momentum remained with Omagh and from a powerful driving maul toward the latter stages of the second half they added a second try through Phillip Ewing, 18-7 following the conversion. Kyle Cobane did strike a late Clogher try and Armstrong converted to secure a losing bonus point.
Clonmel (4T) 32-26 Enniscorthy (4T), Ardgaoithe
Clonmel toppled Enniscorthy to ease their worries below them in the table and put ten between them and a scrap for the top four.
Josef O’Connor had Clonmel 6-0 ahead early on from two successful penalties, Scorthy soon came right back into proceedings with a penalty to the corner eventually seeing Mikey McVeigh cross for an unconverted effort. MJ Doyle gave Enniscorthy the lead minutes later with their second try and Ben Kidd made the lead six points from the tee. O’Connor crossed for a try right at the death and his conversion left one between them at the break 13-12.
That scoring streak stayed with Clonmel as the second half got underway, seven minutes elapsed before Luke Hogan powered his way over and O’Connor struck the conversion for a 20-12 lead. Scorthy hit back with Lee Treacy getting over from close range, Kidd converted and the gap was back to one.
No sooner had the try been scored when shy of the hour mark Clonmel hit their third. Conor Hogan touched down in the corner, the margin pushed out to six points as O’Connor saw the conversion drift wide. Minutes later the bonus point arrived with Harry Buttimer getting over for the Tipp side and O’Connor obliged to kick the extras on offer. Tom Ryan crossed late on for the visitors and Nick Doyle’s conversion ensured two bonus points headed back to Wexford.
Galwegians (5T) 27-18 Ballina (2T), Crowley Park
Galwegians picked up an early Christmas present, the win over Connacht neighbours Ballina enough to move top of the summit.
Cody Chilcott gave Ballina the lead with an early penalty but Wegians replied well, Ryan Smith at the back of a powerful lineout maul to touch down for the opening try, Tiernan Neville with the conversion. Thomas Hannigan crossed for Ballina in reply to the Wegians try, Chilcott putting three between them 10-7. The score remained the same until the break as an upset looked on the cards.
Chilcott again struck early this time in the second half as his penalty furthered the hopes of the Mayo men. Wegians however soon found the right gear, Darragh Kennedy, Josh Munn and Oisin McKey crossing in a ten minute spell either side of the hour mark to notch a bonus point. Ian West cut the gap to 22-18 as he struck a second try for Ballina, two minutes later Wegians had the insurance score, Andrew Sherlock crossing and Neville dissected the posts with 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.