Instonians are looking ever closer to being in 2B next year, elsewhere Bruff close the gap to Clonmel in the top four race, while Ballina picked up a vital win to ease their woes.
Ballina 25-19 Midleton, Heffernan Park
Midleton started bright by capitalising on poor discipline by the hosts as they kicked two early penalties for a 6-0 advantage, Ballina responded with a try which Roan Connolly converted to take the lead. The Cork side hit back off the tee eight minutes later before a try saw them stretch the gap out to 14-7, Connolly nailed a three pointer off the tee to make it 14-10 by the break.
Back came the hosts with Bradley Nealon crossing for their second try to put them ahead by a single point as Connolly saw his conversion go wide. They pressed on and a penalty by Darragh Whyte, was followed up by another Nealon try with the conversion putting the hosts clear, Midleton hit a late penalty to make it a six point game which it remained.
Bangor 24-12 Omagh Academicals, Upritchard Park
Bangor have picked up a win to boost their confidence in the division after toppling Omagh, neither side gains or loses a position in the standings but Bangor can use the result to kick on as the season drags closer to a conclusion.
Bruff 17-14 Sundays Well, Kilballyowen Park
Bruff were ahead early in the opening half as Mark Fitzgerald powered over for a 5-0 lead, Well powered back and managed to get a converted try a short while later to take the lead, they notched another a short time later as they were looking to pick up valuable points.
Paul Collins responded for Bruff as he managed to cross for their second try to reduce the deficit to four, Mark Fitzgerald would prove to be the hero as he crossed for a converted try to put them 17-14 clear, a result they saw on till the death.
Instonians 64-0 Clonmel, Shaws Bridge
The hosts doing what they do well crossed for an opening try as Natthew Kilpatrick crossed in the corner, 18 minutes in they managed a second try as Ruari Farrell crossed with Jonathon Milliken adding the conversion, Milliken turned try scorer a short while later to put them 19-0 clear after he converted. Clonmel were down to 14 men after a deliberate knock on and soon after Matthew Keane crossed in the corner for a 26-0 lead as the conversion went over and the bonus point to boot.
Into the second half and the hosts kept their high scoring nature as Milliken crossed for his second try, scoring is a big advantage for the runaway league leaders, Robert Whitten, Rhys O’Donnell and Bevan Prinsloo all crossed for tries, Milliken also wrapped up his hattrick in a frantic second half.
Skerries 14-6 Tullamore, Holmpatrick
It was a nail biting start to proceedings as we waited 20 minutes, with Tullamore kicking an early penalty for a 3-0 scoreline, the midlander’s went back to the tee to get their second score of the half which was successful for a 6-0 lead.
Skerries round their feet on the half hour mark as Ronan Mulcahy kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to three points., Into the second half Mulcahy kicked another penalty to level as Tullamore had a man sent to the bin.
The Goats managed the first try of the game in that half as their driving maul pushed Tullamore back into the corner. Mulcahy added a late penalty to ensure Skerries took the win.
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.