A Tipperary team is leading the way in Division 2C of All-Ireland Rugby League

Midleton 21 Clonmel 29

Clonmel secured a bonus point win that propelled them to the top of AIL Division 2C in a hard-fought encounter in East Cork.

Towns Park in Midleton has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Clonmel in recent years, having last won there in 2022 and suffering a harrowing last-minute defeat 12 months ago.

Midleton, lying in fourth position, were unbeaten at home all season and a large band of supporters travelled with a sense of trepidation, despite a string of good results recently.

Clonmel fielded the same starting team yet again but, amazingly, there were only four players who started in the corresponding fixture just 12 months ago. A combination of injuries and retirements meant that Tom O’Dea was the only member of the pack who started in 2024. Himself and his teammates played like men with a point to prove in a game that had a little bit of everything.

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Clonmel kicked off and after some play in the middle of the park, Middleton were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch. Mick Connellen did very well to keep the ball in play but Midleton were more alert and hacked it forward and grounded it for an early try. The score was expertly converted to leave the home team in front 7-0 nil after just four minutes.

Clonmel won a scrum penalty from the restart and opted to tap and go, turning down the points that were on offer. The visiting supporters groaned and muttered “should have taken the points” when the ball was ripped in the tackle by Midleton, who cleared their lines.

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However, Clonmel’s bravery was ultimately rewarded as the clearance kick was gathered by Jack Walsh, who covered acres of ground all afternoon. Quick hands saw the ball find its way into the hands of Freddie Davis all of 50 metres from the try line. Davies made light work of the ground, beating two defenders to score on the left. The conversion was good, leaving the score seven- all after just eight minutes.

Clonmel played well, with some highlights being Stransky bravely gathering a loose ball with Middleton threatening. This was followed by a relieving kick by O’Connor and a 30 metre gain in ground. A man and ball tackle by Michael Connellan against a man three times his size forced a turnover before Joe O’Connor broke tackles, supported by Henry Buttimer.

While playing well and threatening, the final passes didn’t always stick and the home team had a number of let-offs. Clonmel kept pressing and pressure eventually tells in rugby. The Clonmel pack caused problems for the Midelton lineout all afternoon and a steal by Tom O’Dea was tidied up by Ben Masuka, who was tackled high.

O’Connor went to the corner and the pack set up an unstoppable maul from 15 metres out. Just as the maul lost a little momentum, Delicato spotted a chink in the defensive line and powered over for another try this season. The conversion was straightforward and put Clonmel 14-7 ahead after 25 minutes.

However, Clonmel did not deal with the restart very well and conceded a scrappy try soon after the kick-off to tie the game. No one on the sideline, including yours truly, was fully sure of what happened, as it appeared Clonmel had turned over the ball. It was now level at 14-all and the next score seemed important.

The game contained moments of magic but lots of errors also. As if returning the compliment, Midleton fumbled the restart into touch while under huge pressure from the chasing Clonmel pack.

Two pieces of magic just as half-time approached gave Clonmel a five-point lead. Firstly, a perfect Garryowen by Musa caused confusion in the defensive ranks and Clonmel regathered. Next, Tom Ross floated the ball perfectly from the ruck and Connellen gathered without breaking stride to score out on the right wing. The conversion hit the post to put Clonmel 19-14 ahead.

It was a lead Clonmel deserved and a tonic after conceding two disappointing tries earlier in the half. And, it got better as Clonmel dealt better with the restart.

Soon afterwards, Melbourne made acres of ground after intercepting spectacularly. He did very well to keep the ball alive just when it appeared he had outpaced his support runners.

Clonmel recycled and remained patient and, while on penalty advantage, worked the ball out to Freddie Davies, who scored his second try in the left corner. O’Connor tacked on an excellent conversion and Clonmel went in for the break with a 12-point lead, 14-26 and a try bonus point in the bag.

The large crowd had witnessed an entertaining half of rugby: six tries and 40 points scored and they looked forward to a similar second half.

For whatever reason, it was not to be and the second half was very scrappy and error-strewn, with mistakes made by both sides.

It was frantic with knock-ons, charge-downs and intercepts resulting in possession changing hands numerous times. There were also a couple of energy-sapping kicks that went out on the full.

Clonmel spent the first 30 minutes of the half on the back foot, as the home team dug deep and pressed hard. This period of the game was memorable for the Clonmel defensive effort. Clonmel really went after the Midleton lineout and disrupted it all afternoon.

After the home team went to the corner from a scrum penalty, Keith Melbourne soared high to pinch another lineout and break Midleton hearts. The Clonmel effort was terrific but it was clear that Midleton missed their influential hooker, JB Du Toit, who departed after an injury.

After many successful defensive sets, the pressure was lifted by the tireless Ben Masuka, as Clonmel approached the Middleton 22 for the first time in an age.

Midleton were living dangerously now, with Clonmel threatening deep in the red zone. Initially, the home team held on and Clonmel conceded a penalty for some indiscipline.

Waves of Clonmel attack eventually saw a yellow card for Middleton after a series of ruck infringements. O’Connor wisely elected to kick the penalty to stretch the lead to 29 points to 14. Clonmel had weathered a serious storm and Midleton now had to score three times to snatch victory.

It was never going to happen – despite the late smash and grab last year. Luke Slattery picked up where Ben Musaka left off and forced a rushed kick to touch, and we entered injury time with the home team pinned back.

As people’s thoughts turned to the Second team’s game or the journey home, Midleton out half Seamus Lyne had other ideas. With no space seemingly available he kicked ahead, regathered and scored under the posts to leave the final score Midleton 21, Clonmel 29 and five precious match points for the visitors.

The strains of ‘Slievenamon’ echoed around the dressing room as news filtered through of results from elsewhere, which gave Clonmel a narrow one-point lead at the top of Division 2C of the All-Ireland League.

A large home crowd is anticipated on this Saturday when Clonmel face Bruff in Ard Gaoithe in the next round of this great competition. The kick-off is 2.30 – do come along.

Clonmel: Sean Sweetnam, Brandon Delicato, Tomas Stransky, Keith Melbourne, Diarmuid Brannock, Tom O’Dea, Ben Masuka, Andrew Daly, Tom Ross, Drew Musa, Freddie Davies, Joe O’Connor, Henry Buttimer (captain), Michael Connellan, Jack Walsh.
Replacements: Liam Ryan, David Brennan, Luke Slattery, Zac Cahalane, Ben O’Dwyer.