Tipperary team beats northern visitors Omagh by two points in All-Ireland League finale

Clonmel 28 Omagh 26

There was a party atmosphere at Clonmel Rugby Club for the final game of the 2024-2025 All-Ireland League season, as the club celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Women’s team double of 2015.

But for a couple of near-misses, not least against Omagh in the opening game of the season up north, Clonmel could well have been playing for a promotion spot.

READ NEXT: Tipperary company wins food brand development award worth over €150,000

However, with senior status secured for another season before kick-off, this game was all about putting on a winning performance to sign off on some great careers for departing players and members of the coaching team.

SEE MORE: Planning sought for new takeaway in Clonmel

Clonmel kicked off towards the clubhouse, which resembled a Mediterranean veranda on a lovely bright day. However, there was a sting to the wind, which made sure that you couldn’t quite don the shorts and flip flops until after the game.

Clonmel tend to start games well and they went 7-0 up early in this game. Alex Sheehan, who had an excellent game at nine, showed all his experience at the back of a maul, shielding the ball cleverly until just the right time. His pop pass to Freddie Davies was perfect and Freddie gobbled up the ground, beating many defenders before offloading to Luke Hogan, who touched down in the right corner. Joe O’Connor kicked flawlessly all afternoon, making light work of the crossfield breeze.

Clonmel built on their excellent start and their attacking efforts were rewarded when the impressive Diarmuid Devaney crashed over for a deserved try. The conversion was a formality for O’Connor and Clonmel held a 14-0 lead after just 20 minutes.
Despite the great start and deserved lead, Clonmel did not build on their dominance – 14-point leads tend not to suit this team for some strange reason!

In this game, Omagh were fighting for their survival in the AIL and played like a team with great hunger. After a massive tackle by Huisamen that was judged late, despite home supporters roars of “committed,” Omagh worked their way deep into Clonmel territory. The pressure told and they got seven points on the board.

While Omagh were playing well, Clonmel will be disappointed with the defence that led to Omagh’s next score. Full back Mitchell gathered a ball on halfway and when nothing looked on for him he waltzed his way the whole way to the try line in a dazzling run to level the scores at 14 apiece.

Clonmel responded well and looked certain to score but were held up over the line to leave the scores level at half-time.
The second half started with Omagh attacking but Clonmel were up to the task of defending.

After 50 minutes, home full back Albert Fronek – who will be missed by all at the club – ran back an Omagh clearance before linking well with Davies. The forwards then took over and retained possession expertly. The Omagh defence got sucked in and a delicate tip-on pass from Cadogan saw captain Henry Buttimer dot down to put Clonmel 21-14 ahead after O’Connor added the extras.

As news filtered back of an unlikely scoreline in a game unfolding many miles away in County Antrim, Omagh responded like a team fighting for their survival as a senior side. The visitors dominated the game for the next 15 minutes and scored two tries.

The first was as a result of an ambitious crossfield kick that was expertly gathered, while their second came as the Omagh maul piled over the try line. While the wind helped the first try it hampered the second conversion to leave the score line 26 – 21 in favour of the visitors with 10 minutes remaining.

Conscious perhaps that the party atmosphere was about to be ruined, Clonmel dug deep and worked their way deep into Omagh territory and launched a multi-phase attack. From 25 metres out, the tireless Tom O’Dea spotted a gap and went on a rangy run the whole way to the try line.

The conversion was straightforward, meaning that Clonmel ended the season with a bonus point win on a 28-26 scoreline. Despite accumulating a very healthy 54 points and being only 10 points behind league winners Enniscorthy, Clonmel finished the season in sixth position.

As the AIL ends for Clonmel and the second team prepare for a final against Old Crescent, there is a sense that this squad is progressing all the time. Thanks for all sponsors, volunteers and supporters this season and roll on 2025/2026.

Clonmel: Tomas Stransky, Brandon Delicato, Jason Monua, Diarmuid Brannock, Tony Cantwell, Tom O’Dea, Diarmuid Devanney, Gerrit Huisamen, Alex Sheehan, Dylan Cadogan, Freddie Davies, Joe O’Connor, Henry Buttimer (captain), Luke Hogan, Albert Fronek.

Replacements: Liam Ryan, Sean Sweetman, Ben Masuka, Ben O’Dwyer, Drew Musa.