AIL Roundup: Division 2C Round 4

Clogher Valley extended their winning run to four games, while elsewhere nothing could separate Galwegians and Bruff in a dramatic stalemate in Crowley Park. Ballina ended a three game losing streak to take a first win of the campaign.

Ballina (4T) 26-18 Tullamore (2T), Heffernan Park

Ballina secured their first win of the campaign moving them off the bottom spot in the standings.

It was an ideal start for Ballina with Joe Murphy and Ronan Molloy crossing in a fruitful opening quarter of an hour, Cody Chilcott converting both tries for a 14-0 lead. Tullamore would soon cross to score a try of their own to leave it 14-5 at the break.

Almost straight from the restart Ballina hit their third try, Calum Quinn getting involved in the scoring and with the accuracy of Chilcott the lead was 21-5. Two penalties either side of a converted try brought Tullamore within there points after the hour mark, Ian West sealed the result for Ballina with a bonus point try shy of full time.

Bangor (3T) 19-32 Enniscorthy (4T), Upritchard Park

Enniscorthy strengthened their hold on fourth from the chasing pack with their third win of the season.

It was a cagey opening stanza with the score 10-5 in favour of the visitors, Ben Kidd kicked Scorthy ahead with a penalty before Danny Young replied with a stunning side step in the build up to cross for the opening try. Just as the half looked to be completed Liam Stamp crossed for the hosts and Kidd added the extras.

Into the second half Killian Creed made it 15-5 in favour of Enniscorthy with their second try, Connor Scollan squeezed over in the corner to pull Bangor back in the tie. Rhys Larmour with a sideline conversion to cut the gap to three.

Angelo Todisco continued his scoring exploits to cross for the third Scorthy try soon after and Kidd restored the ten point gap from earlier in the second half 22-12. Creed added his second soon after and the bonus point was achieved.

Adam Lowry helped continue the fightback from the hosts and a quickly taken conservation from Gareth Millar left a margin of ten between them. Full time was getting closer and Bangor were looking to try to take something from the contest, their hopes of a losing bonus point failed to materialise, Adam Gethings struck a late penalty for the Wexford side to cap off another impressive outing.

Clogher Valley (7T) 45-16 Clonmel (1T), The Cran

Clogher Valley continued their strong start to 2C with a fourth point bonus win to remain top of the standings.

It was a pulsating opening seven minutes with the score 6-5 in favour of the visitors. Calum Smyton crossed for a try for the hosts to cancel out a Josef O’Connor 40m penalty, two minutes after the try O’Connor split the posts again.

O’Connor furthered the lead for his side with a third penalty in the 13th minute, just after the midway point in the half captain Paul Armstrong crossed for the hosts and converting the try the Cran faithful were ahead 12-9 after 25 minutes.

Just after the half hour mark Armstrong crossed for his second try of the afternoon, a third for the hosts and with his conversion finding the mark the lead was 19-9 and remained the same to the interval.

Smyton crossed for his second try of the contest soon after the restart the conversion was missed and as the hosts looked comfortable Clonmel hit back. Luke Hogan getting over for their try, O’Connor converted and the gap was 24-16.

From here Clogher really took control, David Stinson added the next crucial score in the contest and with Armstrong converting the lead moved out to 31-16. Taine Haire and Aaron Dunwoody capped off the result for Clogher with two tries to finish the contest off, Armstrong continuing to add extras from the tee.

Galwegians 26-26 Bruff, Crowley Park

Bruff came from 26-0 down to share the spoils with a strong second half performance in a dramatic top four encounter in Crowley Park.

It was first blood for the hosts after five minutes of the opening half with Finn Tracey dotting down the opening try Tiarnan Neville with a sensational touchline conversion for a 7-0 lead. For large parts of the opening half it was bruising between the two, after the half hour mark Tracey was in again to make it 12-0.

Wegians continued their scoring exploits in the burning embers of the opening half, Jack Winters crossed for the third try minutes later and the purple patch continued with the Bruff defence capitulating to allow a fourth try with Hugh Gavin crossing the whitewash. The lead 26-0 Neville converting both tries for a monster lead at the break.

Bruff had a mountain to climb but Cillian Rea got their opening try nine minutes into the second half. Sean Kilbridge converted and minutes later was on kicking duty once again as Gioacchio Sangiorgi crossed but the conversion came back off the upright.

It was all the way of the Limerick side momentum wise as we ticked beyond the hour mark, Quigley crossed for their third try to set up a nervy final ten minutes out West, 26-19. Wegians were defending well but Conor Kyne was soon sent to the bin, Bruff kept pressure on and eventually Ethan Anderson crossed with the final play for the game, his conversion levelling an incredibly dramatic encounter.

Omagh Academicals 22-21 Midleton, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields, 2:30pm

A late sensational Ben Henry try snatched victory away from Midleton as Omagh moved to fifth in the standings.

Despite the best efforts of Midleton it was just not to be, Aaron Leahy scored two tries and Idris Rqibi also crossed for the Cork club, Fionn McGibney converted all three tries in another strong outing for Midelton but just falling short on this occasion.

Omagh had earlier tries on the board from Robbie Sproule and Ryan Mitchell, with Scott Elliot converting both along with a penalty, however it was Henry that was the hero. Henry received an offload in space from an Omagh scrum shy of their 5m line and raced down the right wing, using his quick feet to weave his way into space and the afterburners to power his legs toward the line, fending off any Midelton challenge that came his way to touch down in the corner.

More Info on Division 2C here.

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.