Cashel win in Limerick but results elsewhere end AIL promotion dream for another year

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2A

UL/BOHEMIANS 19 CASHEL 33

Prior to kick-off in Round 17 of the All-Ireland League on Saturday, Cashel had a mathematical chance of progressing to the play-off stages. However they needed results to go their way.
The first priority was to beat UL Bohemians in Annacotty, Limerick. This they achieved with a bonus point win.

They also needed Nenagh to beat Barnhall in Leixlip. This was not to be, as Barnhall defeated the Tipperary side and so ended Cashel’s chances of promotion for this year. When the league ends in two weeks time Cashel are guaranteed fifth position - no mean achievement.

The game with UL Bohs was hotly contested, as the home team are in a battle to stay in Division 2A. Cashel started well, moving the ball through the backs and dominating up front. They lined out without a number of regulars but had plenty in reserve. The pace was fast but a number of handling errors ended promising moves.

It took Cashel 15 minutes to break down the home defence. They won a scrum penalty, Freddie Bergada kicked to the corner and from the lineout the ball was swept from right to left and back again to Freddie, who scored in the corner.

Cashel continued to dominate but found it difficult to turn the dominance into points. UL Bohs also had their moments and were dangerous in possession.

On 31 minutes UL Bohs were awarded a penalty 30 metres out. They kicked to the corner, went through the phases and powered over for a try. The conversion put them two points ahead.

That lead lasted all of three minutes, as the home team cleared to touch 30 metres out. Cashel won the resulting lineout and powered to the line. After a number of phases Ben Murray dived over for a try. Aidan McDonald converted.

From the kick-off the ball bounced loose around the middle of the field. Ben Murray was quickest to react. He picked up on the run and raced in under the posts for Cashel’s third try. Aidan McDonald converted to leave Cashel 19 points to 7 ahead at the break.

Cashel continued to dominate the third quarter, keeping the home team pinned back in their own half. The UL Bohs defence stood solid for 13 minutes. Eventually the pressure told. Cashel were awarded a number of penalties until the referee lost patience and awarded Cashel a penalty try. This put them 26 points to 7 ahead. The bonus point was in the bag and all was well, or so we thought. Complacency can be a silent killer.

UL Bohs won a penalty on halfway and kicked to touch, from where they used their maul to good effect to power over for a converted try. As we moved into the final quarter the UL Bohs out half sent a clever kick to his right winger, who was taken out in the air. They took a quick penalty and went in for a third try.

Suddenly we had a one- score game and Cashel needed to respond. They lifted the siege and brought play out of the danger zone. The game became very scrappy at this stage, as both teams made errors.

Cashel eventually brought play into the opposition danger area. With two minutes left on the clock Sean O’Connell powered over for a try, which Ryan O’Sullivan converted.

Cashel closed it out on a final score of UL Bohemians 19 Cashel 33. It was an important win in that it lifted the gloom after a few narrow defeats in recent games.

With one round of games left Dolphin have been relegated, while UL Bohs go into the relegation play-offs. At the top end only Queens University or Blackrock College can win the league, while Nenagh and Barnhall are also guaranteed a promotion play-off position.

The final round of games take place on April 16.

Cashel team (1-20): C Ryan, N Fitzgerald, B Ryan, I Rqibi, B O’Connor, C Ryan, A O’Connor, M Wilson, J Pickering, A McDonald, M McCormack, C Cashman, B Murray, P Leamy, F Bergada, S O’Connell, C O’Donnell, F O’Donoghue, M Hickey, R O’Sullivan.