Following some late drama in Annacotty, UL Bohemian advanced to the 2A/2B Promotion/Relegation Final and will have to defend their place in 2A against Galway Corinthians who produced a strong display over Wanderers to make the final.
UL Bohemian (1T) 13-12 Sligo (2T), Annacotty
Late drama in Annacotty saw UL Bohemian book their place in the 2A/2B Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final as Harry Byrne’s retaken conversion saw The Red Robins win by the narrowest of margins.
Byrne kicked UL into an early lead in the tie but Sligo started to show their attacking intent and Philip Carter dotted down for the opening try. The try would go unconverted and at the interval Sligo had a narrow two point lead 5-3.
Momentum stayed with Sligo into the second half, Kuba Wojtkowicz bulldozing over from close range as Sligo had worked the ball well from a pick and drive. Euan Brown converted for a nine point lead.
Byrne slotted a second penalty to reduce arrears to 12-6 but it would be a nail biting end to the contest in Limerick. Ihechi Oji went over in the dying embers, the game resting on the shoulders of Byrne with his conversion. Sligo had been warned about charging the kick but were a little early in doing so as Byrne struck the kick wide and the final whistle sounded.
However, after a chat with his officials the referee awarded a retake of the conversion as Sligo had charged down early. Byrne steadied himself again and on the second occasion the conversion dissected the posts and UL Bohemian on consecutive occasions defeated Sligo in the play-off stages.
Galway Corinthians (5T) 35-21 Wanderers (3T), Corinthian Park
Galway Corinthians moved one step closer to promotion to 2A as they defeated Wanderers with an impressive performance in Corinthian Park.
Wanderers started the better and raced into a 14-0 lead when Pete McDermott and Stephen Dunne crossed for tries converted by David Fitzgibbon. Sean Cox crossed for the opening try for The Tribesmen soon after and the scoreboard at the break read 14-7 as Sean Naughton converted.
Corinthians drew first blood in the second half when Finn McNulty crossed the whitewash and the conversion from Naughton levelled the tie. Naughton soon crossed for a try for the lead and the kicker went three from three converting for a 21-14 lead.
Micheál O’Reilly soon added their fourth try and all of the momentum was with the hosts as Naughton added another conversion for a 28-14 lead. Wanderers did hit back with their third try, Geoff Mullan going over and Fitzgibbon reduced arrears to seven.
The hosts were assured of victory when Naughton crossed for his second try and the conversion which followed left a 14 point margin between the teams which remained in place for the remainder of the tie.
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.