Details

Date Time Competition Season
6 May 2023 2:30 pm AIL Division 2A Promotion Playoff 2022/23

Match Report

Robins Fightback Sees Them Fly Another Day In 2A

UL Bohemians are staying up in AIL Division 2A as a stirring second half saw them edge out a gutsy Dungannon by 20-16. 

It had looked like mission impossible at the break but this remarkable eighty minutes showcasing the AIL’s undoubted drama and potential for nail-biting!

Although the hosts named Ireland underage international Evan O’Connell at lock, Dungannon clinically steered the tie in their direction despite trailing to a Harry Byrne penalty ten minutes in.

McCaughey swiftly levelled the scores with his first strike before a strong visiting scrum earned him a second striking opportunity, one he successfully took to edge Dungannon 3-6 ahead.

The promotion-chasers had their opponents on the ropes and just on the quarter-match mark, landed a potentially knockout blow. 

Another scrum penalty, this time was kicked to touch, the lineout executed well which allowed an unstoppable maul, lock James McMahon the man with the game’s first crucial five-pointer, McCaughey accurate again for a seven-point score.

With the Limerick crowd desolate, McCaughey added further woe to the forefront of fans’ minds with his third penalty, leaving Dungannon in control at half time.

However, the Annacotty faithful had a miraculously, if jittery, second half recovery to savour!

Within three minutes of the restart, Bohs were banging the door to the tryline down, eventually bursting through courtesy of Alan Kiely’s sniping burst, Byrne’s conversion hauling them to within six, and more importantly, one try.

Dungannon, besieged by pressure, wilted when the hosts scored a quickfire second try.  It mirrored the first half away move, a cool, calm lineout met by a powerful maul, the player to dot down as yet an unconfirmed hero!

Byrne’s heroic composure with the boot was being celebrated to the rafters though, the fly half demonstrating immense calm to slot the critical conversion which nudged Bohs back in front.

There had been a huge momentum swing and visiting flanker Stephen Todd was sent to the sin bin.

Summing up their second half however, was the very last play before they were restored to fifteen, Dungannon found them reduced to fourteen again, Cameron Steenson this time shown yellow.

Unable to get anything going, Bohs went for the jugular but despite coming short of a third try due to Dungannon’s resilient efforts, a Byrne penalty two minutes from time meant they had all it to do at the other end.

Their last attacking lineout was successfully taken but immediately the ball was turned over to spark the ultimate contrast of emotions.

Jubilance for the home players, leaping delightedly into each other’s embraces, crushing dejection for Dungannon given their thirteen-point interval lead. 

But given the tragic loss of Senior Coach Billy Brown, just two weeks ago today, they should be commended for such a fine playoff performance at all. 

UL Bohemians are staying up in AIL Division 2A, rescued by a surreal second half, seventeen unanswered points and Limerick will, for sure, be out partying to celebrate tonight. 

 

Senior Club Results & Fixtures

DateEventTime/ResultsCompetitionMatch Day
2024-03-29 20:00:0029 March 2024 Skerries v Malahide  20:00:008:00 pmAIL Division 2BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Cork Constitution RFC v Ballynahinch RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Lansdowne RFC v City of Armagh  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Terenure College RFC v Clontarf RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Highfield v Blackrock College RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 University College Cork Rugby v Buccaneers  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Old Belvedere v Garryowen RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Queen’s University v Naas  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 St. Mary’s College RFC v Old Wesley  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Malone v Cashel  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Ballymena v Greystones  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Nenagh Ormond v MU Barnhall  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Old Crescent v Navan  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Banbridge v UL Bohemian  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Belfast Harlequins v Dolphin  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Galway Corinthians v Instonians  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Dungannon v Sligo RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Rainey Old Boys v Wanderers  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Clonmel v Bangor  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Enniscorthy v Bruff  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Tullamore v Clogher Valley  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Midleton v Galwegians  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 17
2024-03-30 14:30:0030 March 2024 Ballina v Omagh Academicals  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 17
2024-03-30 17:00:0030 March 2024 Ballincollig v Blackrock College RFC  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 16
2024-03-30 17:00:0030 March 2024 Old Belvedere v Railway Union RFC  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 16
2024-03-30 17:00:0030 March 2024 Suttonians v Galwegians  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 16
2024-03-30 17:00:0030 March 2024 Wicklow RFC v Cooke  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 16
2024-03-30 17:30:0030 March 2024 Trinity College v UCD Rugby  17:30:005:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 17
2024-03-31 17:00:0031 March 2024 Shannon v Young Munster  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Division 1ARound 17
2024-04-05 20:00:005 April 2024 Galwegians v Tullamore  20:00:008:00 pmAIL Division 2CRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 City of Armagh v Cork Constitution RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Clontarf RFC v Dublin University FC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Young Munster v Lansdowne RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 University College Dublin Rugby v Shannon  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Ballynahinch RFC v Terenure College RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Garryowen RFC v Highfield  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Naas v Old Belvedere  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Old Wesley v Queen's University  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Buccaneers v St. Mary's College RFC  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Blackrock College RFC v University College Cork Rugby  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 1BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Navan v Ballymena  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Cashel v Banbridge  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Greystones v Malone  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 UL Bohemian v Nenagh Ormond  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 MU Barnhall v Old Crescent  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2ARound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Malahide v Belfast Harlequins  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Dolphin v Dungannon  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Wanderers v Galway Corinthians  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Sligo RFC v Rainey Old Boys  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Instonians v Skerries  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2BRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Clogher Valley v Ballina  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Bruff v Clonmel  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Omagh Academicals v Enniscorthy  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 18
2024-04-06 14:30:006 April 2024 Bangor v Midleton  14:30:002:30 pmAIL Division 2CRound 18
2024-04-06 17:00:006 April 2024 Blackrock College RFC v Cooke  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 17
2024-04-06 17:00:006 April 2024 Galwegians v Wicklow RFC  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 17
2024-04-06 17:00:006 April 2024 Old Belvedere v Ballincollig  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 17
2024-04-06 17:00:006 April 2024 Railway Union RFC v UL Bohemian  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 17
2024-04-13 12:45:0013 April 2024 UL Bohemian v Old Belvedere  12:45:0012:45 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 18
2024-04-13 17:00:0013 April 2024 Cooke v Galwegians  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 18
2024-04-13 17:00:0013 April 2024 Railway Union RFC v Blackrock College RFC  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 18
2024-04-13 17:00:0013 April 2024 Wicklow RFC v Suttonians  17:00:005:00 pmAIL Womens Div 1Round 18

UL Bohemian

Dungannon

15Ben McCaughey Full-Back 20'
13', 16', 25'
14Mervyn Brown Winger
13Matthew Montgomery Centre
12James Girvan Centre
11Peter Cashel Winger
10Andrew McGregor 20 Fly-Half
9John Russell Scrum-Half
1James Gamble 16 Prop
2Daniel Mikolajczyk Hooker
3Sean O’Hagan 17 Prop
4James McMahon Lock 19'
5Cameron Steenson Lock 64'
6Stephen Todd Flanker 54'
7David Leyburn 18 Flanker
8Adam Milligan No. 8
16Ross Stewart 1
17Glenn Sinnamon 3
18Lewis McCrabbe 7
19Alexander Kennedy Winger
20Luke McMullan 10
21Jack Weir
22Ryan Abernenthy Hooker
23Arek Mikolajczyk

Ground

Annacotty
Oak View, Mulcair Dr, Garraunykee, Annacotty, Co. Limerick