Skerries will be the happiest team in the Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2C, as they have reduced the gap at the top to just five points, Sundays Well producing another upset defeating Enniscorthy at Musgrave Park.
Bangor 16-5 Tullamore, Upritchard Park
Bangor Climbed up to third in the table, after an 11 point win over Tullamore, they leapfrogged their opponents in the table, coming from behind to work the scores to claim all four points
It was Tullamore who started on top with an unconverted try after 18 minutes, giving them an early 5-0 lead. Gareth Millar has been a key scorer for Bangor this season, he landed a penalty from the tee to make it a two point game, the margin they took to the break.
Millar responded with a second penalty after the restart, taking the lead by the minimum early in the second half. Millar kicked a third penalty, before converting a wonderful solo effort by Rhys Larmour, their final score of the contest.
Bruff 17-15 Omagh Academicals, Killballyowen Park
Bruff managed to get their third win of the season, in a nail-biting dramatic encounter against Omagh. The win keeps Bruff in seventh position, as Omagh again drop points to challenge those above.
Paul Collins kick-started the hosts push for a much needed win, the scrum half picking from the rear and crossing for the line, for a 7-0 lead. Omagh replied with a penalty from Scott Elliot to reduce the deficit to four points, as they headed for the interval.
Omagh replied after the restart, managing to get over for an unconverted try to lead by the minimum. The Shannonsiders replied with a penalty to lead by two points, before crossing for a second converted try to lead 17-8. Right at the death Elliott crossed for a beautiful solo effort, his conversion made it a nail biting finish, but Bruff held on at the death.
Clonmel 27-12 City of Derry, Ardgaoithe
Clonmel climbed up to eight in the table, with just their second win of the season, overcoming a tough challenge in City of Derry. They were strong from the off and managed to hold the lead despite Derry showing serious resilience .
After a turnover from the Derry kick off, Clonmel took an early 5-0 lead after five minutes, the Tipperary club took control for the first half hour, and after sustained pressure, they crossed over for the second try after 28 minutes, a 12-0 lead. Derry replied in the 34th minute with an unconverted try of their own, taking a 12-5 margin to the break.
Derry were quick to level the contest after the restart, they bundled over in the corner, the grounding good for a 12-12 stalemate. Gavin Whelan landed a penalty to put Clonmel ahead 15-13 midway through the half, and they replied with another well taken try after 70 minutes, to put them eight ahead, 20-12. After a huge scrum the referee awarded a late penalty try for the hosts, helping to secure the points.
Skerries 41-16 Midleton, Holmpatrick
A slow start on the Dublin coastline, before Paul O’Loghlen landed an early penalty. Kevin McGrath, the Skerries Skipper powered his way over the line, getting their first try early in the half for a 10-0 lead. They got their second off George Harringtom, who bundled himself over the tryline, the conversion making it 17-0. Midleton managed two penalties just before the half time whistle, to leave it 17-6 at the break.
Cormac Marrey added their third try shortly after the restart, he worked well to break clear and get the afterburners going before crossing, another conversion made it 24-6. Skerries looked to have added their bonus point minutes later but were caught short of the line, Oisin Mckey made no mistake minutes later, getting the bonus try.
Midelton came back into the tie with a penalty and converted try, reducing the Skerries lead to 29-16. McGrath got his second midway through the second half, Shane Murphy this time adding the conversion for a 36-16 lead. It was a great showing for McGrath as he capitalised and ran in for his hat trick just before the death. They trail Enniscorthy by five points.
Sundays Well 13-12 Enniscorthy, Musgrave Park
Sundays Well have managed to produce back to back shocks in the league, as they toppled league leaders Enniscorthy by the narrowest of margins. A huge blow for the title chasers as they have their lead reduced to five points.
The first half as a contest was tight, reflected on a 0-0 scoreline at the interval, as the team sat bottom were not giving their opponents an inch at Musgrave Park. Well got the opening score shortly after the restart, Conor O’Brien the man who eventually found the line, Eoin Geary’s conversion making it 7-0.
Scorty replied on 45 minutes, Nick Doyle breaking past the Well line for their opening score, but the conversion failed to hit the mark. Well pushed their lead out to 13-5 after the hour mark, two Geary penalties driving them on. David Farell setup late drama at the Cork venue, he managed to score a late effort to reduce the deficit to one point, after 73 minutes played it setup a dramatic final few minutes, but The Well deserved the win in the end.
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.