Defeat in Tullamore leaves Tipperary side with plenty to do in AIL with six game remaining

All-Ireland League Division 2C Round 12

TULLAMORE 17 CLONMEL 14

Now two thirds of the way into the All-Ireland League campaign, Clonmel’s senior men’s team was on the road once again last Saturday, this time to Tullamore, county Offaly, for their round 12 fixture. And after a hard fought 17-14 win over Midleton the previous weekend at home, the Tipperary side were hoping to build on that performance with a second win in a row.

However, Tullamore, one place above Clonmel in fifth position on the league table, scuppered those ambitions with a strong first half display and ultimately holding on for a 19-14 win, denying Clonmel all but a single losing bonus point from their outing to the midlands.

Playing into a strong first-half wind, Clonmel grappled with the conditions early on, finding it difficult to establish a good rhythm to their game.

Tullamore, on the other hand, took early control of the play and it only took ten minutes before they broke through the Clonmel defences to register their first try and conversion and take a 7-0 lead.

Play ebbed and flowed and much of the action remained in the Clonmel half, before Tullamore struck once more on 25 minutes with a well- worked second try and conversion, doubling their lead to 14-0.

Tullamore’s third try of the game came on 39 minutes as the first half ticked towards the red and with the conversion, on this occasion, just wide of the mark, Clonmel trailed 19-0 at half time.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Clonmel upped the tempo, no doubt helped by some solid half time discussions, and Clonmel played with greater control and purpose.

Set-pieces were better and Tullamore seemed more disrupted in the second period. However, it took nearly another 30 minutes before either side registered a score and fortunately for the Tipperary men it was Alex Sheehan who notched up Clonmel’s first score of the game with a solid try from play. Josef O’Connor, bereft of much opportunity all game, slotted the ball between the posts to add the conversion to make it 19-7 to Tullamore on 70 minutes.

The next ten minutes were frantic, with Clonmel throwing everything at Tullamore until Luke Hogan did as Luke Hogan does and penetrated their defence to score Clonmel’s second try deep into added time. O’Connor added the two-point conversion and the Tullamore lead narrowed to 19-14. However, with almost six minutes over the 80 played, the referee blew the final whistle and the five- points winning margin to Tullamore stood.

Clonmel's Mattie O'Toole uses all his strength to get past his Waterford opponent during last Sunday's Munster Junior Bowl game at Ard Gaoithe, Clonmel.

It was a better second half from Clonmel, scoring two converted tries while keeping a clean slate, thus preventing Tullamore adding a bonus point while securing a losing bonus point themselves.

With six regulation games remaining, Clonmel drop back to seventh position on the table of ten teams, with the prospect of mixed fortunes ahead.

Games against the current top three sides and bottom three sides loom in the coming weeks with Ballina up next at home on February 10. Buckle up!

Forwards: Tim Nugent, Brandon Delicato, Juan Cruz, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Brannock Tom O’Dea, Diarmuid Devaney (captain), Brian O’Dea.
Backs: Aiden Hickey, Joey O’Connor, Zac O’Loughlin, Henry Buttimer, Luke Hogan, Seamus Keating, Conor Hogan.
Replacements: Matty O’Toole, Ben Everard, Lar Houlihan, Ben O’Dwyer, Dean Slattery.

Clonmel RFC seconds v Waterford RFC
Well done to Clonmel’s seconds team who had an impressive 29-15 win at home to Waterford RFC in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl on Sunday last. This was a great performance that puts them into the semi-final.

Split the Bucket
Congratulations to Tadhg O’Shea who won €440 in Sunday’s draw. His and your support is much appreciated every week. Play online at www.clonmelrfc.ie.