Tipperary Rugby: Clonmel lose but bonus points secure AIL status at Ard Gaoithe

All Ireland League Division 2C

CLONMEL 31 BANGOR 38

Clonmel’s 1st XV played their last home game of the 2023/24 All Ireland League campaign on Saturday last in Ard Gaoithe and despite a 31-38 loss to Bangor, Clonmel secured two bonus points to maintain their seventh position on the table and more importantly their AIL status for 2024/5.

With the final game away to Bruff next Saturday, Clonmel on 33 points, sit above Omagh in 8th on 26 points, Ballina in 9th on 26 points and Bangor in 10th on 25 points.

In terms of opposition next weekend, Bruff are in 4th place on 54 points with 11 wins from their 17 games to date.
There was a good home support at the game on Saturday last boosted by the presence of the team from the historic Munster Junior Cup win in 2014, whose 10th anniversary was being marked on the day.

By recent standards, weather was good in Ard Gaoithe, with many supporters opting to soak up the March sunshine rather than sit in the stand.

Bangor lined out with a strong team on the day, including ex Ulster and Irish international Craig Gilroy at full-back. Bangor were on a survival mission!

Having laid down an early marker with strong attacking rugby, it was Bangor who got the opening score of the game after a concerted attack and a crossfield kick to the corner, gathered by their winger for the opening try. A well taken conversion from the sideline had the visitors 0-7 up on 15 minutes. Clonmel began to pile on the pressure, so much so, Bangor went down to 14 players when the referee issued a yellow card to a player defending the line.

Clonmel had by now settled in the game and the opening try response came within nine minutes when Ben Everard, following a Clonmel tap and go, crossed the Bangor line in front of the clubhouse and an appreciative home crowd, lining the barrier. Josef O’Connor, as he has done all season, kicked an excellent conversion to level the score 7-7.

Four minutes later, another attacking platform saw Conor Hogan break through the Bangor defences and score under the posts. O’Connor added the two points and the Clonmel’s lead doubled to 14-7.

It was end to end rugby and the visitors were back on the attack inside the Clonmel 22. The Bangor pressure was unrelenting and try as they might, Clonmel couldn’t keep them out. Bangor scored two tries in quick succession on 32 minutes and 35 minutes, both converted to significantly change the complexion of the scoreboard. The teams went to the break with Clonmel trailing 14-21.
And it was Bangor who were again quickest off the mark at the start of the second half, notching up their fourth and bonus try on 42 minutes. The conversion was just wide on this occasion and the visitors now led 14-26.

The angle of redemption was getting steeper for the home side before Diarmuid Devaney scored Clonmel’s third try after a solid attacking play. O’Connor once again added the conversion. No doubt, 21-26 looked better on the scoreboard on 46 minutes.

With Clonmel on the attack yet again, an intercepted pass inside the Bangor 22, saw Craig Gilroy run the length of the field and register Bangor’s fifth try and an advantage of 21-33 on 57 minutes.

Another Bangor try within 10 minutes had the visitors lead 21-38 on 66 minutes.

The Clonmel heads never sank, and it was Luke Hogan who scored Clonmel’s fourth and all-important bonus point try, which O’Connor converted, to claw the result back to 28-38 on 77 minutes.

As the game ticked into the red, a Clonmel penalty was awarded, and the decision was sensibly taken to go for the posts. Josef O’Connor dispatched the ball and added the three points, thus narrowing the margin to seven at 31-38. A second bonus point secured.

The game, an exciting and entertaining one, finished 31-38 in favour of the visitors, who continue their battle for AIL survival, with Clonmel now secure in seventh place. With pressure off, Clonmel will hope to finish well against Bruff on Saturday.

Clonmel squad v Bangor

Forwards: Tim Nugent, Liam Ryan, Ben Everard, Diarmuid Brannock, Tony Cantwell, Tom O’Dea, Diarmuid Devaney (c) , Brian O’Dea,
Backs: Alex Sheehan, Joey O’Connor, Dean Slattery, Zac O’Loughlin, Luke Hogan, Seamus Keating and Conor Hogan.
Replacements: Sean Sweetman, Brandon Delicato, Conor Horan, Lar Houlihan, Aiden Hickey.