Understrength Clonmel go down fighting but AIL play-off hopes are still alive

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2C

CLONMEL 29 OMAGH ACADEMICALS 36

There was a large and enthusiastic crowd at Ard Gaoithe on Saturday last for this final home game of the season for Clonmel. The atmosphere was helped by the presence of so many minis and youths players, present for the launch of the Clonmel RFC Youth Academy supported by Camida. It was perhaps fitting then, with the senior team so heavily impacted by eight absentees due to injuries and other causes, that the club had to draft in a mix of youth and veterans for this game.

While Clonmel knew they would be playing senior rugby for another season, and were aiming to secure a play-off position, their visitors were in a do-or-die scrap to avoid the drop to the junior ranks.
Clonmel began very strongly, establishing physical dominance, and mauling their way 20 metres from the kick-off. The ball was played out and centre Luke Hogan found a gap to score the opening try after three minutes, converted by Aidan Hickey.

Omagh misjudged the restart, and the dominant Clonmel pack won a penalty at the resulting scrum. Hickey used the wind well to find a good touch, and the home team were back on the attack. The forwards made progress before once again Hogan breached the cover to score a second try under the posts after 13 minutes.

However a midfield break by Omagh second row Magee made huge yards before he was hauled down by full back Sheehan inside the Clonmel 22, however, yielding a penalty. The visitors mauled strongly from the lineout, before the hooker crashed over for the try, which was converted to make the score 14-7 to Clonmel after 22 minutes.

The next period of play was evenly balanced, Clonmel using the wind to establish position, but handling errors and inexperience combined to thwart scoring. A penalty for holding on at the breakdown brought Omagh into the Clonmel territory, where slick passing got their outside centre into space to score in the wide channel. The kick was missed for a half-time score of 14-12 to Clonmel.

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Immediately on the resumption Omagh regained the ball and attacked on the narrow side, with the winger evading cover to score an unconverted try in the corner. The visitors again used conditions to establish territory from a penalty. A clean lineout take was carried to midfield, where again the visiting number 4 broke the line and scored their bonus point try under the posts. The conversion brought the score to 24-14 to the visitors.

The home side now fought back, showing the real character we know they have, with the pack playing well, despite many being in unfamiliar positions. Clonmel now also drew on their replacements and Monua returned to the front row, with Devaney now exerting influence from the number 8 role. A lack of experience resulted in players getting isolated and turned over, and the referee didn’t appreciate the help he got with officiating. A scrum penalty to Clonmel on half way was tapped by Gallagher to penetrate the visitors territory, before the ball was knocked on. However the Clonmel pack maintained relentless pressure, and after a series of close-in carries Luke Hogan once again crossed the line for Clonmel. The conversion into a difficult wind was missed, leaving the northerners 24-19 to the good.

The next few minutes were to determine the outcome. A mistake by the visitors, and strong carries by Clonmel brought the home team into the 22 before a knock-on turned the ball over to Omagh. The Clonmel scrum had Omagh going in reverse, but the scrum was reset. Again the home pack advanced but the visitors secured their ball, which was cleared downfield with the help of the strong wind. When the visitors kicked long and dead the Clonmel goal-line dropout went out on the full for a five metre scrum. This time the visiting scrum was solid, the number 8 picked and drove over the line under the posts.

The bench was emptied, and the home team did lose some shape at this point. In the final play a speculative long kick by the visitors caused disarray in the defence, and was carried over the Clonmel line. From the five metre scrum Omagh spread the ball wide and back before the centre crossed the line for a final score of 36 – 29 to Omagh.

While this was not the desired result, there are a number of positives as well as lessons to be drawn. The visitors probably needed the win more. The heavily- restructured Clonmel team fought all the way, and were somewhat unfortunate as well as inexperienced in the last 10 minutes. A lack of depth in some key positions was evident, but some of emerging talent got a taste of senior rugby in the AIL.
The pack played particularly well, Delicato and Devaney especially, while Alex Sheehan did well at full back and Luke Hogan was excellent in converting his opportunities.

Results elsewhere mean the club remains in fourth, with all to play for in two weeks time in Midleton.
Clonmel Squad: Mattie O’Toole, Brandon Delicato, Dave O’Gorman, Tony Cantwell, Jack Lonergan, Diarmuid Devaney, Rob Wynne, Jason Monua, Aidan Hickey, Sean McEntegart, David Leo, Andrew Daly, Luke Hogan, Greg Carroll, Alex Sheehan, Liam Ryan, Conor Bowen, Brian O’Dea, John Gallagher, Joe Sheehan, Emre Yasar.