A late second half rally from Midleton ensure the Cork side survived in the Energia AIL Division 2C for next season as they hit two late tries to dampen a comeback from Munster Junior champions Richmond in the playoff.

Midleton hit four tries in all through Stuart Lee, Mark Stanton, Mark Corby and Ryan Lehane as Brian Mullins and Shane Halpin crossed for the visitors.

The games first scoring opportunity fell to the home side just two minutes in with a long range penalty from Stuart Lee hitting the crossbar and returning to play. 

The team’s outhalf made up for that just a few moments later when he finished a good piece of work by his forwards to touch down out wide in the corner. He added the extras from the touchline to settle any nerves which might have been floating around the home side.

Richmond began to show their dominance up front forcing a few resets of an attacking scrum before Midleton broke their hold and won a penalty which took the pressure off the Cork club.

Richmond would get their own kickable penalty on 20 minutes as Tadhg Bennett split the posts from a central position just inside the Midleton 22 to reduce the score to just 4 points.

Seconds later Midleton increased the lead. Mark Stanton gained possession and found a gap in the Richmond defence, a great break from the second row saw him touch down and Lee added the extras to make it 14-3.

With ten minutes left on the clock in the opening period, Richmond did have a number of opportunities to kick for the posts but went for the corner each time. The visitors were unable to take advantage losing possession from three lineouts when in try scoring positions.

Midleton did finally get over the lines just before half time when Brian Mullins broke through the defensive line with a training ground move but the home side managed to hold the big centre up over the line to win possession.

The second half started the same as the first with a Stuart Lee penalty. This time the club’s player coach makes no mistake as he raises the touch judge’s flags to score the kick.

It was centre Mullins who finally did get across for a score on 50 minutes as he finished a team move to half the deficit and create a tense last half hour at Towns Park.

Richmond really grew in confidence and just before the hour mark it was winger Shane Halpin who found space out wide and touched down in the corner to score. A huge touchline conversion from Shane Halpin drew the sides level with just over twenty minutes remaining on the clock.

47 year old substitute Aidan McCarthy made an immediate impact as he drove Midleton towards the line creating an opportunity for leaving cert student Kyle Reed to make a break. The move resulted in Richmond holding up the attack over the line. 

David O’Sullivan almost crossed before Mark Corby did finally get across and touch down to push the home side back into the lead as Stuart Lee sees his conversion come back off the post to leave five between the sides.

In the closing stages Jack Colbert looked to be in scoring position out wide for the home side but the centre lost his footing and got swallowed up by Richmond defenders to stifle the danger. A few phases later Ryan Lehane did get across the line to push the score outside a single try. Stuart Lee added the extras to increase the margin to 12 points and secure AIL survival for the home side.