Clonmel maintain their place at the top of the All-Ireland League after victory over Limerick side Thomond

Clonmel 27–10 Thomond — All-Ireland League, 24 October 2026

Clonmel maintained their place at the top of the All-Ireland League on points difference with a hard-earned 27–10 victory over Limerick side Thomond at a windswept and appropriately named Ard Gaoithe on Saturday.

Storm Boelo battered the country, making this a day for rolling up the sleeves and getting into the trenches rather than playing open, running rugby. Former French international Pierre Danos famously described forwards as piano movers and backs as piano players.

The weather required all players to do some heavy piano moving and Clonmel’s backs and forwards were not found wanting.

Young front-row forward David Brennan led by example and went on to win the Man of the Match award. In the ultimate team game, he was ably supported by the pack around him and by backs who were more than willing to do the unglamorous work.

Thomond began with a gale at their backs and monopolised possession for much of the opening quarter. Clonmel had to defend with patience, and Henry Buttimer repeatedly carried strongly to relieve the pressure.

After defending for much of the opening exchanges, Clonmel struck first after 21 minutes when Michael Connellan finished an excellent move in the right corner. Josef O’Connor then judged the wind superbly, aiming the conversion to the right into the gale and allowing the strong breeze to drop it between the posts for a 7–0 lead.

Thomond responded four minutes later. A penalty in front of the posts was advanced 10 metres for Clonmel ill-discipline, leaving Thomond captain, Evan Cusack, with a straightforward kick to reduce the deficit to 7–3.

The highlight of an otherwise scrappy first half arrived right on half time. O’Connor put through a grubber and a strong chase by Conor Bowen put the Thomond kicker under pressure.

His rushed kick was gathered by Jack Walsh, who played like both a flanker and a piano player all day and made the initial break.

Robert Wall, delivering one of his finest displays in a Clonmel jersey, made ground up the right. After a series of quick rucks, the ball was swept left through a succession of passes and offloads, allowing Jason Monua to finish in the corner. The difficult conversion held up short in the hurricane, leaving Clonmel 12–3 ahead at the interval.

Clonmel resumed with real intent and the elements at their backs, but Thomond applied the early pressure. A turnover deep inside Clonmel territory felt almost as valuable as a score on a day made for rolling up the sleeves.

Clonmel’s pack rose to the challenge and won the key moments with a powerful scrum. All played well in the tight, while Huisamen, Melbourne, Daly and Masuku caught the eye in the loose. Delicato even found the time and energy for a series of sidesteps worthy of Michael Flatley.

The backs matched that commitment all through the game. Full-back Jack Walsh was assured throughout, one deft kick forcing Thomond to carry the ball into touch.

The home pressure steadily mounted. Clonmel went close after 55 minutes, only for a knock-on near the line to deny them—but not for long. Just two minutes later, Melbourne released AJ Thomas on the left, and the hard-working winger stepped his marker and sprinted over for Clonmel’s third try and a 17–3 lead.y

The game was often scrappy and one for the purists, but Monua lit up the dark afternoon with a stunning score on 65 minutes. Not for the first time this season, he gathered possession near halfway and showed more power than Storm Boelo, charging fully 50 metres for his second try of the match and seventh of the season. It was a real finishers’ score from a man who had spent an hour in the front row.

His effort secured the bonus point and earned him a tremendous ovation from the home support as he left for a well-deserved rest.

Thomond never stopped competing and were rewarded after 72 minutes when winger Evan O’Connor crossed. Cusack converted superbly into the breeze, reducing the deficit to 24–10.

Clonmel had the final say. Winger Thomas forced an excellent late turnover and, with the bonus point already secured, Josef O’Connor kicked the resulting penalty to complete a 27–10 victory.

It was not a day for flowing rugby, but Clonmel’s resilience and work rate, allied to moments of individual quality, proved decisive. The bonus-point win keeps them top of the league ahead of next weekend’s home meeting with fellow contenders Old Crescent. We hope the piano movers and players can keep up the early momentum.

Next fixture: Old Crescent at home on Saturday, 31 October. Kick-off at Ard Gaoithe is 2.30pm.

Clonmel 1st XV: Jason Monua, Brandon Delicato, David Brennan, Conor Bowen, Keith Melbourne, Gerrit Huisamen, Ben Masuku, Andrew Daly, Ben O’Dwyer, Josef O’Connor, Michael Connellan, Henry Buttimer (capt.), Robert Wall, AJ Thomas, Jack Walsh.

Replacements: Tim Nugent, Jack Dempsey, Zak Cahalane, Brian O’Dea, Tom Ross.