AIL Roundup: Division 2C Week 18

Instonians finished the year with 90 points from a possible 90, Bruff edged Clonmel for the final play-off spot, while Midleton have to face a dreaded Relegation play-off.

Sundays Well (5T) 31-27 (4T) Bangor, Musgrave Park

Sundays Well edged a ferocious encounter with Bangor not enough to keep them up however, while their Ulster opponents needed bonus points to secure their safety in the end.

Well crossed for two early tries before Andy Smith crossed for Bangor, the conversion made it 12-7 but Well got in again to again go 12 clear, Bangor would get another try before the break, Daniel Young making it 19-12.

Well started better in the second half, grabbing their bonus point of a 45m dash for a 24-12 lead, a penalty try and Rhys Larmour penalty brought the game back to 24-22, Patrick Dobie crossed for their bonus point try that gave them the lead, but in the end Well crossed for the fifth and final time.

Midleton (3T) 24-13 (1T) Clonmel, Towns Park

Midleton produced an upset on the final day to defeat Clonmel, but for them despite the win they will end up in the relegation play-off in two weeks time.

Clonmel took an early lead from a Josef O’Connor penalty, but the hosts hit back with a converted try and penalty giving them a 10-3 lead by the 26th minute, Luke Hogan crossed on the stroke of half time to level after O’Connor converted.

O’Connor nailed a long range penalty for an early second half lead for Clonmel, but Midleton hit back, a try on the hour mark restored their lead, before they notched a third in the final minutes to put the game to bed, Clonmel missing out on fourth spot in the process.

Omagh Academicals (4T) 27-34 (5T) Bruff, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields

Bruff edged a dramatic encounter with Omagh Academicals to secure their place in the promotion play-off semi finals.

Ryan Mitchell gave Omagh an early lead, Sean Kilbridge levelled for Bruff but the hosts stepped into gear, David Bradden putting them back ahead with a second try, despite Paul Collins notching a penalty, Omagh hit their third try to lead 17-8.

Tom Quigley replied for Bruff with a try to make it 17-13, but Omagh nailed a penalty to make it 20-13 at half time. Bruff were down to 14 men just before the break, but made a lightning start to the second half, crossing to level the tie before Shane Duggan grabbed their bonus point to see them lead 27-20.

Deane Kane grabbed the hosts a bonus point try in the dying minutes, the draw looked on the cards but a late try by the visitors secured their spot in the play-off place.

Skerries (7T) 45-26 (4T) Ballina, Holmpatrick

Skerries secured second spot with a bonus point home win over Ballina, while a late bonus point by the visitors kept them up for next season.

An ideal start for the goats as a try by Cormac Marrey and conversion by Ronan Mulcahy gave them a 7-0 lead, Calum Quinn hit back for Ballina with Darragh Whyte converting to level, James Downes restored Skerries lead with a converted try, but the minnows were not giving up hope.

Jordan Mills getting over for Whyte to level before the break, into added time Peter O’Neill crossed for the home side’s third try. Conversion good leaving it a 21-14 game at the break.

Into the second half just five minutes elapsed before Bradley Nealon crossed, the conversion was wide leaving two between them, Kevin McGrath added a bonus try for the hosts, before Davey Goodman crossed the whitewash to give the hosts a 31-19 lead.

McGrath kept up their high scoring form as he bagged two quick fire tries for a quick second half hat trick to put them ahead 45-19. Darragh Whyte proved the match winner, as his try right at the death secured Ballina a 2C spot next season.

Tullamore (4T) 29-68 (10T) Instonians, Spollanstown

Instonians kept their record-breaking season alive as they secured their 18th bonus point win of the year giving them a total 90 points of a possible 90 this season.

Tullamore notched an early penalty, but any doubts of a tight game were quickly put to bed as Schalk Van der Merwe and Robert Whitten both crossed for converted tries for a 14-3 lead. 

Paul Pritchard was next to cross, in a tight game it was a tough battle between the two, but on the half hour mark Rhys O’Donnell crossed for their bonus try, 28-3, there are some assurances in life, Instonians bagging a bonus point is one of them, Tullamore would grab their first try at the death of the opening half to lead 28-10.

Into the second half Neil Saulters, notched his 20th try of the season, the hooker has been in fine form getting over, the visitors replied to stay with their opponents with a second try, before bagging a third to make it 35-22.

A penalty try put the visitors ahead by 20, before Conor Gallagher crossed for their seventh, the lead out to 27. Kilpatrick, Matthew Keane and Van Der Merwe all crossed late on for tries, with Tullamore adding a late consolation for their bonus.

Play-off Fixtures:

Saturday April 22nd 2023

Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2B Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Semi-Final: 

Galwegians (9th in 2b) v Bruff (4th), Crowley Park, 2:30pm

Skerries (2nd) v Tullamore (3rd), Holmpatrick, 2:30pm

Saturday April 29th 2023

Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2C Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final: 

Midleton (9th in 2C) v Richmond (Promotion Playoff Runner Up), Towns Park, 2:30pm

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.

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