Cashel overcome Ballymena in AIL - Tipperary teams flying it in Division 2A

All Ireland League Division 2 A

CASHEL 19 BALLYMENA 13

Ballymena made the long journey to Cashel on Saturday last in round four of the All Ireland League.

PRE-MATCH TRIBUTE TO DERRY O'CONNOR
Prior to the game 170 people attended a pre-match lunch in the clubhouse to honour the contribution made by former president Derry O’Connor.
Derry took on the presidents role in May 2002 after the club finished in the bottom half of the third division of the Munster Junior League. Action was needed and Derry used his persuasive powers to get the club moving. Promotion to Division one followed within two years and the Munster Junior Challenge Cup for junior clubs was won in 2005 - Cashel’s first major trophy.
Since then the club has progressed to its current position and It started with Derrys presidency. It was a well deserved honour.

A TITANIC BATTLE
The game with Ballymena proved to be a titanic battle in wet conditions as both teams were evenly matched with the result in the balance right to the end. As one player commented there are times when a team has to win ugly. Early pressure from Cashel resulted in a penalty which Ben Twomey dispatched. Six minutes later as Ballymena attacked they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts 30 metres out. There was a let off for Cashel as the penalty was missed. Ballymena continued to press but Brendan Crosse won an important penalty at the breakdown.
The game for the next 15 minutes was played between the two 22’s as the arm wrestle continued. Ballymena levelled the game on 22 minutes with a penalty but Cashel responded immediately with another Ben Twomey penalty. The lead lasted five minutes before Ballymena levelled again with a penalty.
Both packs sought dominance but each won their lineouts and the scrums were very evenly matched. Cashel went ahead on 29 minutes with another Ben Twomey penalty.
On the run of play Ballymena slightly shaded the first half but Cashel led by 9 points to 6 at half time.

MORE DETERMINED
Cashel started the second half with much more determination. Two minutes in a clever kick from jack Evenden earned a lineout on the Ballymena 22. The lineout was won, the maul set up and Brendan Crosse used his considerable strenght to barge over for a try in the left corner. Ben Twomey converted with an excellent kick from the touchline.
Cashel began to get the upper hand at this stage and held it for the rest of the game. The strong men in the pack carried well and Jack Evenden and Ben Twomey kept Ballymena pinned back in their own half with long range kicks.
Cashel stretched their lead to 19-6 midway through the half with another penalty and soaked up any pressure put on by the visitors.
With eight minutes remaining Cashel were reduced to 14 men with a yellow card for a high tackle. Ballymena had received two yellow cards earlier in the game for similiar offences.
Ballymena had the last word with a converted try two minutes before the end when they disrupted a Cashel scrum five metres out. Cashel weathered the storm to win by 19 points to 13.
This was another important win for Cashel and keeps them in touch with leaders Nenagh who are flying at the moment. It was a tough battle played in an excellent spirit.

UL/BOHS IN SPAFIELD
On Saturday next Cashel play third placed UL/ Bohemians in Spafield. Both are on fouteen points with Cashel ahead on points difference. It promises to be another intriguing battle with the home side hoping to pick up more league points.
Cashel team (1-20) C O’Donnell, D Foley, B Ryan, B Crosse, E Kelly, B O’Connor, J Ryan, C Ryan, K O'Connor, J Evenden, T Tobin, R O’Sullivan, C Cashman, B Daly, B Twomey, A Shirley, J Evans, H O’Donoghue, J Pickering, J Ryan.