Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A: Round 3 Review

Galway Corinthians are top of Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A after a fascinating opening block of fixtures. MU Barnhall, Cashel, and Instonians also have 100% records, with the leading four sides sitting on 15 points each.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE MEN’S DIVISION 2A:

Saturday, October 5 –

BALLYMENA 17 MU BARNHALL 24, Eaton Park
Scorers: Ballymena: Tries: David Milford, Adam Lamont; Cons: Callum Patterson 2; Pen: Callum Patterson
MU Barnhall: Tries: Sean Sexton, Matt Grogan, Conor Duggan, Keith Farrell; Cons: Adam Chester 2
HT: Ballymena 0 MU Barnhall 17

MU Barnhall remained second after a third bonus point win of the season, their opening half performance laying the groundwork for victory away to Ballymena.

Opening half tries from Sean Sexton, Matt Grogan and Conor Duggan, along with one Adam Chester conversion had MU Barnhall ahead 17-0 at the break. David Milford got Ballymena on the board in the 51st minute with Callum Patterson converting.

Barnhall replied with their bonus point try on the hour mark, Keith Farrell crossing and Chester kicked the extras for a 22-7 lead.

With time winding down, the Braidmen grabbed a late try from Adam Lamont, and Patterson kicked the conversion and a last-gasp penalty for a losing bonus point.

BALLYMENA: Sean McKay; Ben Neely, Daniel Vercoe Rogers, Callum Patterson, Michael McLean; Joe O’Rawe, Oliver Smith; David Forsythe, Mark Lamont, Joseph Mawhinney, David Milford, Jonny Browne, Alexander Clarke, James Howe, Adam Lamont (capt).

Replacements: James Taggart, Jacob Oliver, Oisin Jordan, Roshan Weeraratne, Rodger McBurney.

MU BARNHALL: Conor Duggan; Sean Sexton, Matt Grogan, Sean Higgins, Conor Lacey; Adam Chester, Dylan Kelly; Keith Farrell, Cathal Duffy (capt), Darragh Bellanova, Luke Callinan, Dan Murphy, Shane Stokes, Abdul Olaosebikan, Eoin Kelly.

Replacements: Sean Hopkins, Jack Castles, Stephen Callinan, Rob Holt, Nick Doggett.

BUCCANEERS 0 CASHEL 43, Dubarry Park
Scorers: Buccaneers: –
Cashel: Tries: Brendan Ryan, Brendan Crosse, Richard Moran, Josh Pickering 2, Penalty try; Cons: Tim Townsend 3, Ben Twomey, Pen try con; Pen: Tim Townsend
HT: Buccaneers 0 Cashel 10

Cashel produced a commanding performance to secure a 43-0 win over Buccaneers in a one-sided affair. The home side set the tone early, with Tim Townsend slotting a penalty in the 4th minute to give Cashel a 3-0 lead.

Despite some early resistance from Buccaneers, the pressure told as Brendan Ryan crossed the whitewash for the first try in the 26th minute, with Townsend adding the conversion to make it 10-0. The score remained the same at the break,

After the break, Cashel shifted into a higher gear. A penalty try grew the lead to 17-0, before Brendan Crosse crashed over for their bonus point try in the 51st minute, followed by another successful Townsend conversion, extending the lead to 24-0.

Cashel’s relentless attack continued as Richard Moran touched down in the 60th minute, with Townsend once again converting.

The final quarter saw Josh Pickering put in a superb display, scoring twice—first in the 68th minute and again in stoppage time. Ben Twomey added the final conversion after Pickering’s 80th-minute try to complete the performance.

BUCCANEERS: Jenson Nagle; Ross Murphy Sweeney, Corey Reid, Rob Teape, Orrin Burgess; Adam O’Carroll, Frankie Hopkins (capt); James Kelly, Dylan Bolger, Ryan O’Meara, Joaquin del Olmo, Fergus Galvin, Cathal Walsh, Lucca d’Ambola Riera, Jack Crampton.

Replacements: Cian Daly, Reece Henderson, Paddy Egan, Tom Shine, Adam Flanagan.

CASHEL: Ryan O’Sullivan; Paudie Leamy, Alan Flannery, Jamie Ryan, Tom Tobin; Tim Townsend, Josh Pickering; Cormac O’Donnell, Philly Ryan, Brendan Ryan, Brendan Crosse, Ed Kelly, Alex Harold Barry, Joseph Callery, Mikey Wilson.

Replacements: Sean O’Connell, Adam Shirley, Richard Moran, Marcello Frati, Ben Twomey.

GREYSTONES 28 INSTONIANS 29, Dr Hickey Park
Scorers: Greystones: Tries: Andrew Lynch, Paddy Kieran, Shane Fikken; Cons: Killian Marmion 2; Pens: Killian Marmion 3
Instonians: Tries: Bradley McNamara, Mark Keane, Andrew McGrath, Neil Saulters; Cons: Josh Eagleson 3; Pen: Josh Eagleson
HT: Greystones 21 Instonians 12

Instonians clinched a nail-biting victory over Greystones in a dramatic encounter in Dr Hickey Park, sealed by a late penalty from Josh Eagleson. The first time Instonians have beaten Greystones in the All Ireland League.

The match started with Greystones racing into an early lead. Andrew Lynch crossed the line in the 4th minute, with Killian Marmion adding the conversion and quickly following up with a penalty to make it 10-0 after just six minutes.

Greystones extended their lead in the 20th minute when Paddy Kieran scored, and Marmion’s conversion pushed the score to 17-0.

Instonians responded with two quick tries before halftime. Bradley McNamara’s 30th minute score and Mark Keane’s effort in the 37th minute, both converted by Josh Eagleson, closed the gap to 17-14, however another Marmion penalty left the score 21-14 at the break.

After the restart Instonians hit back with a try from Andrew McGrath in the 48th minute, converted by Eagleson, closing the deficit to two points. Greystones grew advantage in the 59th minute when Shane Fikken scored a try, with Marmion again converting to make it 28-19.

However, Instonians quickly answered through Neil Saulters’ bonus point try in the 63rd minute, followed by another Eagleson conversion, putting that two point cushion back in place.

With time ticking down, the game hung in the balance until Eagleson’s coolly struck penalty on half way in the closing minutes sealed a dramatic win for Instonians.

GREYSTONES: Craig Kenny; Ferdia Kenny, Andrew Lynch, Matt O’Brien, Dylan Henry; Killian Marmion, David Baker; Shane Fikken, Rob Byrne, Conor Pearse, Eoin Marmion (capt), Paddy Kieran, Michael Doyle, Danny Kenny, Reeve Satherley.

Replacements: Flyn Pyper, Gerhard Zdunek, Jamie Mulhern, Chris Simmons, Ben Stephens.

INSTONIANS: Bradley McNamara; Simon McMaster, Bevan Prinsloo, Mark Keane, Hugo Ellerby; Josh Eagleson, Ruairi O’Farrell; Schalk van der Merwe, Neil Saulters, Liam Kaprigiannis, Robert Whitten, Marty Vorster, Mark Mairs, Max Preston, David Whitten (capt).

Replacements: Oli Clark, Matthew Nelson, Andrew McGrath, Glen Faloon, Conor McGrath.

NAVAN 23 GALWAY CORINTHIANS 63, Balreask Old
Scorers: Navan: Tries: Jayden Henderson, Conor Hand; Cons: Tom Gavigan 2; Pens: Tom Gavigan 3
Galway Corinthians: Tries: John Devine 2, Joey Tierney, Sean Fox, Tom Waters, Ferghal MacCearra, Tomás Farthing 2, Jack Pollard; Cons: Sean Naughton 9
HT: Navan 16 Galway Corinthians 21

Galway Corinthians climbed to the summit of All Ireland League Division 2A after a dominant high scoring performance at home to Navan.

Navan started well with Tom Gavigan knocking over two early penalties in the 4th and 10th minutes to give the home side a 6-0 lead.

However, Corinthians quickly found their stride, with John Devine scoring the first try in the 16th minute, converted by Sean Naughton to make it 7-6.

Joey Tierney’s try in the 23rd minute, followed by another Naughton conversion, extended Corinthians’ lead. Navan responded through Jayden Henderson’s try in the 21st minute, converted by Gavigan, briefly reducing the deficit to 14-13.

But Corinthians regained control with a try from Sean Fox in the 36th minute, giving them a 21-13 advantage after another successful Naughton conversion. A late Gavigan penalty would reduce the deficit to 21-16 at the break.

The second half saw Corinthians’ attack click into high gear. Ferghal MacCearra (47′) and Tomas Farthing (64′, 69′) each crossed for tries, with Naughton continuing his flawless kicking display, converting every opportunity.

Despite Conor Hand scoring a try for Navan in the 57th minute, converted by Gavigan, it was not enough to stem the tide.

John Devine added his second try in the 67th minute, and Jack Pollard finished off the scoring spree with a try in the 73rd minute. Naughton’s laser guided boot added nine conversions from nine attempts throughout the game, ensuring a comprehensive 63-23 win for the visitors.

NAVAN: Rory Gordon; Harry Devlin, Evan Dixon (capt), Kyle Dixon, Shane Walshe; Tom Gavigan, Mark Farrell; James Wyse, Jayden Henderson, Liam Carroll, Liam McAree, Conor Hand, Thomas Ciot, Ben McEntagart, Lazlo Pschorn.

Replacements: Gary Faulkner, Leigh Jackson, Jordan Finney, Jack Dixon, Mark Coen.

GALWAY CORINTHIANS: James Nicholson; Sean Fox, John Devine, Tom Waters, Ferghal MacCearra; Sean Naughton, Joey Tierney; Emmanuel Oifoh, Max Holmes, Raymond Dufficy, Rory Glynn, Bryan Walsh, John Claffey, Max Flynn, Mark Boyle (capt).

Replacements: Jack Pollard, Digby Cooper, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Tomás Farthing, Harry Rogers.

OLD CRESCENT 13 BANBRIDGE 12, Takumi Park
Scorers: Old Crescent: Try: Brandon Nash; Con: Ronan McKenna; Pens: Ronan McKenna 2
Banbridge: Tries: Jack Hart, Peter Cromie; Con: Jack Hart
HT: Old Crescent 3 Banbridge 5

A late Ronan McKenna penalty secured a narrow 13-12 victory for Old Crescent over Banbridge in a fiercely contested encounter at Takumi Park.

The first half was a tight affair with both sides struggling to break down the opposition’s defence. Ronan McKenna opened the scoring for Old Crescent with a penalty in the 10th minute, giving them an early 3-0 lead.

Banbridge struck back on the stroke of halftime when Jack Hart crossed for a try deep into stoppage, though he missed the conversion, leaving the score 5-3 at the break.

Old Crescent came out firing after the interval, and Brandon Nash scored an early second-half try in the 44th minute, which McKenna converted, putting the home side 10-5 ahead.

Banbridge responded with a try from Peter Cromie in the 54th minute, with Hart adding the conversion to edge the visitors ahead 12-10.

However, Old Crescent’s Ronan McKenna remained composed under pressure, slotting a crucial penalty in the 70th minute to reclaim the lead at 13-12.

Despite Bann’s efforts to find a late response, Old Crescent’s defence held firm, sealing a hard-fought victory by the narrowest of margins.

OLD CRESCENT: Glen Kelly; Timmy Duggan, Cathal Monaghan, Werner Hoffman, Jamie Duggan; Ronan McKenna, Gary Fitzgerald; Evan Creaven, Eoghan Quinn, Jake Considine, John Moloney, Yasin Browne, Sean Monaghan, Karl Madden (capt), Jack O’Neill.

Replacements: Niall Hardiman, Casey Tanyi, Kevin Doyle, John Lyons, Brandon Nash.

BANBRIDGE: Adam Doherty; Xander Lowham, Nathan Hook, Jonny Scott, Justin Burns; Charlie Beattie, Jack Hart; Michael Cromie, Peter Cromie (capt), Stuart Cromie, Matthew Laird, Max Lyttle, Matthew Heasley, Dean Hayes, Robin Sinton.

Replacements: John Wilson, Ryan Rodgers, Alex Thompson, Alex Weir, Neil Kilpatrick.