Cashel RFC off to a flyer in the new AIL season with an away bonus point win in Limerick

All-Ireland League - Division 2A - Round 1

Cashel RFC 38

Old Crescent 34

An electric Munster Derby in Takumi Park saw nine tries scored, as Cashel continued their recent winning spell at the Limerick venue to record an opening day bonus point win. Crescent made it a grand slam finish, just falling short in the end.

With 11 minutes elapsed the home side would strike the first blow as Tommy Duggan intercepted possession and darted under the post for the opening try, on his 100th cap Ronan McKenna converted the try.

Cashel replied four minutes later Marcel Strydom off the back of a scrum and Tim Townsend levelled the tie from the tee. McKenna landed a penalty in the 20th minute to regain the hosts lead, Cashel hit back in an end-to-end opening half with their second try, Jamie Ryan dotting down and no mistake by Townsend to make it 14-10.

McKenna and Ben Twomey would exchange late penalties as the Tipperary men held a four-point lead at the break 17-13. After a lengthy half-time break due to injury, Cashel would grab the opening score of the second stanza after eight minutes.

Alan Flannery meandered through a gap to dive for the third try, Twomey kicking the conversion to put 11 points between the teams. Shy of the hour mark Werner Hoffman and Ronan McKenna reduced arrears to four points as the former crossed for their second try.

Twomey replied with a penalty three minutes later and from here Cashel kicked on. A penalty try followed by an intercept try in the 73rd minute from Flannery looked to have confirmed the win as Cashel powered ahead 38-20.

Casey Tanyi and Yasin Browne thundered over for the hosts in the burning embers and with McKenna converting both, they would leave with two bonus points.

Scorers: Cashel RFC: Tries: Alan Flannery (2), Jamie Ryan, Marcel Strydom, Penalty try. Cons: Tim Townsend (2), Ben Twomey (2), Pen try con. Pen: Ben Twomey.

Old Crescent: Tries: Timmy Duggan, Werner Hoffman, Casey Tanyi, Yasin Browne. Cons: Ronan McKenna (4). Pens: Ronan McKenna (2).

Cashel RFC: Ryan O’Sullivan; Padraig Leamy, Alan Flannery, Jamie Ryan, Tom Tobin; Tim Townsend, Marcel Strydom; Cormac O’Donnell, David Upton, Brendan Ryan, Brendan Crosse, Diarmuid Rowe, Alex Harold Barry, Richard Moran, Mickey Wilson.

Replacements: Joseph Callery, Sean O’Connell, Ed Kelly, Josh Pickering, Ben Twomey.

Old Crescent: Glen Kelly; Timmy Duggan, Cathal Monaghan, Werner Hoffman, Daithi Byrnes; Ronan McKenna, Jamie Duggan; Joe Rickard, Darragh O’Brien, Evan Creaven, Paudie Monaghan, Yasin Browne, Karl Madden, Jack O’Neill, Kevin Doyle.

Replacements: Eoghan Quinn, Casey Tanyi, Sean Monaghan, John Lyons, Larry Hanley.