Division 2A table toppers too strong for Tipperary opposition in AIL clash in Clonmel

ALL IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2C

CLONMEL 15 CLOGHER VALLEY 29

Clonmel’s first team were back in action on Saturday last and the result in Ard Gaoithe not unexpectedly followed the form this season, with the honours going to the league leaders from the North by 15-29.

Clogher Valley came to town on the back of 12 wins from their 14 games to date and with a pretty commanding lead at the top of the 2C table. Clonmel, with six wins across their 14 games were in seventh place, but crucially with some daylight between them and the three teams below them on the table.

The conditions were cold and windy ahead of the 2.30pm kick-off, and as was the case for the previous home game, the High School’s 4G pitch was on standby should the need arise. However, an early Saturday morning pitch inspection gave the green light and it was all systems go at Ard Gaoithe.

By 1pm a big contingent of travelling supporters from Clogher Valley had arrived at the club and Clonmel RFC President Johnny Sheehan was on hand to roll out the Tipperary welcome.

Clonmel played into the town end in the first half and as both sides settled into the groove, the wind was whipping across the pitch and playing havoc with any attempts at aerial play. Clonmel were on the attack from the get-go and despite early minutes threatening the Clogher Valley line, the home side could not penetrate the Tyrone visitors’ defences, despite a number of significant attempts.

It took until the eighth minute and a penalty taken by Josef O’Connor to register the game’s opening score and Clonmel went ahead 3-0. However, Clogher Valley quickly countered, which was a pattern that would emerge throughout the game and a try in the corner on 13 minutes put them into a 3-5 lead, a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game. The half ended with those two scores being the only ones registered in the opening 40 minutes.

Clogher Valley opened the second half with a try within the first minute, in the corner, and with a difficult conversion missed, they extended their lead to 3-10. They built on that advantage 10 minutes later with another try, this time with a successful conversion to make it 3-17.

The game then opened up and both sides continued to run the ball. A surge by Clonmel on 63 minutes put Josef O’Connor on the front foot and he crossed the line to register Clonmel’s first try of the game and narrow the margin to 17-8. However, Clogher Valley countered almost immediately and a converted try put them 8-24 to the good on 65 minutes.

Luke Hogan pulled one back after 10 minutes, with a run up the line and a stretching touchdown in the corner. It was thumbs up from the assistant referee and the score was 15-24.

As the clock ticked down, Clogher Valley had one more break and clocked up their fifth try of the afternoon to wrap up proceedings 15-29.

It was an entertaining game of rugby in front of good support for both sides. The table remains as was, with Clogher Valley in pole position and Clonmel in seventh place on 31 points, 11 points clear of Omagh in eighth place and 15 points clear of Bangor and Ballina, in ninth and tenth places respectively.

With three AIL games to go, away to Galwegians on March 23, at home to Bangor on March 30 and a final game away to Bruff on April 6, there is still plenty of rugby to be played but Clonmel’s position in 2C looks assured.

Clonmel: Forwards: Tim Nugent, Brandon Delicato, Juan Cruz, Diarmuid Brannock, Tony Cantwell, Tom O’Dea, Diarmuid Devaney (captain), Conor Horan.

Backs: Alex Sheehan, Josef O’Connor, Zac O’Loughlin, Dean Slattery, Luke Hogan, Seamus Keating, Conor Hogan.
Replacements: Ben Everard, Sean Sweetman, Conor Bowen, Ben O’Dwyer, Albert Fronek.

Clonmel Youths
Congratulations to the Clonmel RFC Under 13s who had a hard-fought win away to Clanwilliam in the East Munster Cup.
The Under 14s made the long trip to Rugbaí Chorca Dhuibhne (Dingle, Co Kerry) and came away with a win. Well done boys.
Well done also to the Clonmel RFC Under 16s who won 19-17 at home to Young Munster in what was a thrilling Munster Under 16s Development Plate fixture. The team will now face UL Bohemians in the semi-final.

And we send a shout out also to the Clonmel High School’s Under 16 team on their Mungret Shield Semi Final win. It was a big result for them. Best wishes to the team in the final.

SPLIT THE BUCKET
Congratulations to Conor Desmond who won €520 in this week’s draw held in Gleeson’s Bar.