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

Midleton remain unbeaten after a strong performance in testing conditions to beat Ballyclare. The Red Devils are now top of Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2C, with only two points covering the leading four teams.

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

Saturday, October 5 –

BRUFF 5 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 7, Kilballyowen Park
Scorers: Bruff: Try: John Bateman
Belfast Harlequins: Try: Joel Dundas; Con: David Armstrong
HT: Bruff 0 Belfast Harlequins 0

Joel Dundas last gasp try converted by David Armstrong saw Belfast Harlequins snatched a dramatic victory over Bruff in a tough afternoon conditions wise at Kilballyowen Park.

The weather led to the first half being a cagey affair, with both defences standing firm and neither side able to break the deadlock, resulting in a 0-0 halftime score.

The breakthrough came in the second half when Bruff’s John Bateman crossed the line for a try in the 51st minute. The home side looked poised for victory as they took a 5-0 lead, but they couldn’t extend their advantage despite some strong attacking play.

As the match entered the final moments, Belfast Harlequins mounted a desperate effort to turn the game around. In the 80th minute, Joel Dundas scored a last-minute try, and David Armstrong calmly converted in the dying seconds, sealing the win at 7-5.

BRUFF: Adam O’Dwyer, Mark Fitzpatrick, Shane Duggan, Andrew O’Byrne, Hugh Clogan; John Bateman, Cathal Garvey; Darragh O’Brien, Mike Frawley, Kieran O’Dwyer, Tom O’Dwyer (capt), Iago Dasi Somoza, Mark Kennedy, John Sheehan, Tom Lillis.

Replacements: Sean O’Riordan, Brendan Keogh, Brendan Gleeson, Mike Cooke, Niall Burns, Andrew Purcell.

BELFAST HARLEQUINS: Daniel Bennett, Finn Bamber, Adam Bennett, Adam Simms, Tom Morris; Thomas Quigley, Johnny McCracken; Stephen Hunter, Alex Pybus, Ted Linton, Scott McClelland, Harry Palmer, Eddie Gorrod, Benji Neill, Joel Dundas (capt).

Replacements: Cameron Hillis, Steven Weir, Will Gilby, David Armstrong, Tane Felix-Hotham.

CLONMEL 10 DOLPHIN 10, Ardgaoithe
Scorers: Clonmel: Try: Joey O’Connor; Con: Joey O’Connor; Pen: Joey O’Connor
Dolphin: Try: Scott Sexton; Con: Jordan Soli; Pen: Jordan Soli
HT: Clonmel 0 Dolphin 7

A final quarter burst from Joey O’Connor saw Clonmel salvage a draw with Dolphin in their Munster Derby played in tricky conditions in Ardgaoithe.

The first half was very cagey with both teams struggling to make use of possession due to the elements. Just as it looked like a stalemate was on the horizon at the break, Scott Sexton crossed for a try right on the stroke of halftime. Jordan Soli added the conversion giving Dolphin a 7-0 lead at the break.

Clonmel came out strong in the second half, with Joe O’Connor putting them on the scoreboard with a penalty in the 65th minute to close the gap to 7-3. Soli slotted a penalty at the other end four minutes later to cancel out the effort.

As the match progressed, O’Connor’s influence grew, and he scored a crucial try in the 76th minute, which he also converted, levelling the tie. The final minutes saw both teams pushing for a winning score, but neither could find the breakthrough.

CLONMEL: Jack Walsh; Albert Fronek, Henry Buttimer (capt), Joey O’Connor, Luke Hogan; Drew Musa, Tom Ross; Tim Nugent, Jason Monua, Ben Everard, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Brannock, Bobby Doherty, Diarmuid Devaney, Andrew Daly.

Replacements: Brandon Delicato, Tomas Stransky, Rob O’Donovan, Lar Houlihan, Dylan Cadogan.

DOLPHIN: Jordan Soli; Karl Waterman, Scott Sexton, Craig O’Connell (capt), Darragh Buckley; Cameron O’Shaughnessy, Daryl Foley; Finn Cowhig, Billy Kingston, Tom Sheehan, Darragh O’Sullivan, Dave O’Mahony, Eoin Sheehan, James Vaughan, Matt Barry.

Replacements: Phillip Dowling, Jack Fox, John Fitzgerald, Dalton O’Shaughnessy, Eoghan Herlihy.

MIDLETON 20 BALLYCLARE 10, Towns Park
Scorers: Midleton: Tries: Gary Downey, Rian Hogan 2, Idris Rqibi
Ballyclare: Try: Matthew Coulter; Con: Matthew McDowell; Pen: Matthew McDowell
HT: Midleton 5 Ballyclare 10

Tries from Rian Hogan and Idris Rqibi saw Midleton rally back in the second half to inflict a first defeat to Ballyclare.

The game started positively for Midleton, with Gary Downey scoring a try in the 5th minute, putting them ahead 5-0. However, Ballyclare responded effectively, with Matthew Coulter crossing the line in the 21st minute.

Matthew McDowell added the conversion, giving Ballyclare a 7-5 lead. McDowell extended Ballyclare’s advantage with a penalty in the 30th minute, taking the score to 10-5 at halftime.

Midleton returned to the field determined to turn the tide around in the second half. Rian Hogan made his mark in the 43rd minute, scoring a try that brought the score to 10-10, levelling the contest. Hogan continued to shine, adding another try in the 68th minute, with Midleton now leading 15-10.

As the match approached its conclusion, Captain Idris Rqibi sealed the victory for Midleton with their bonus point try in the 70th minute, extending their lead to 20-10.

Ballyclare pushed hard to find a way back into the match but were unable to convert their opportunities, and Midleton’s resolute defence held firm.

MIDLETON: Jack Colbert; Rian Hogan, Richie Daly, Sam Tarleton, Gary Downey; Conall Doyle, Kyle Read; Evan Donovan, JB du Toit, Stephen Monaghan, Denis Broderick, Rob Hickey, Lee McSherry, Conor McCarthy, Idris Rqibi (capt).

Replacements: Harry Jephson, Darragh O’Keeffe, Ryan Lehane, Simon Luders, Cillian Lynch.

BALLYCLARE: Mark Jackson; Josh Cowan, Joel McBride (capt), Matthew McDowell, Scott Martin; Alex Darrah, James Creighton; Dean Jones, Matthew Coulter, Owen Warren, Dave Gillespie, Grant Bartley, Aaron Playfair, Jack Milton, Jack Gamble.

Replacements: Ryan McNeill, Jack Black, Ross Johnston, Owen Kirk, Ryan McIlwaine.

OMAGH ACADEMICALS 15 MONKSTOWN 26, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields
Scorers: Omagh Academicals: Tries: Ryan Mitchell 2; Con: Scott Elliott; Pen: Scott Elliott
Monkstown: Tries: Cormac Brennan, Niall Carney; Cons: Charlie McMickan 2; Pens: Charlie McMickan 4
HT: Omagh Academicals 10 Monkstown 13

A strong second half surge by Monkstown recorded consecutive wins for Paddy Thornton’s charges, as they sit one point outside the top four.

The contest kicked off positively for Omagh, with Ryan Mitchell scoring two tries in the 6th and 28th minutes. Scott Elliott converted the first try and added a penalty in the 35th minute, giving Omagh a 10-3 lead as they looked strong in the early exchanges.

However, Monkstown struck back just before halftime. Cormac Brennan crossed the line in the 33rd minute, and Charlie McMickan’s conversion narrowed the gap to 10-10. McMickan then added a penalty shortly before the break, putting Monkstown ahead 13-10 at halftime.

The second half saw Monkstown continue their momentum. Aaron Davis scored a try in the 65th minute, and McMickan’s conversion extended their lead to 20-10. Despite Omagh’s efforts to respond, Monkstown’s defence held firm.

McMickan added another penalty in the 57th minute, increasing Monkstown’s lead to 23-10. Omagh managed to score a late try, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.

Monkstown sealed the win with a final penalty from McMickan in the 72nd minute, as the Dubliners now have some early confidence on their return to the All Ireland League.

OMAGH ACADEMICALS: Connor Watherston-Spencer; Scott Ballantine, Josh Kyle, Taine Lagan, Ryan Mitchell; Scott Elliott, Fintan Lagan; David Braden, Reece Braden, Simon Creane, Jonny Sproule, Jamie Sproule, Conor Huey, Scott Wilson, Matthew Clyde (capt).

Replacements: Robbie Mitchell, Jordan Brolly, Jamie Mitchell, Michael Gibson, Ben Henry, Sam Beattie.

MONKSTOWN: Saul O’Carroll; Liam Barry, Cormac Brennan, Matt Stapleton, Paul Harte; Charlie McMickan, Mark Higgins; Kieran Stokes, Rob Wynne, Niall Carney, Conor Hurley, Jake Kennedy, Luke Kelly, Toby Boyd, Tony McGinness (capt).

Replacements: Paul O’Donnell, Martin Murphy, Aaron Davis, Fraser Wright, Oisin Brady.

TULLAMORE 25 ENNISCORTHY 25, Spollanstown
Scorers: Tullamore: Try: Eoin O’Reilly; Con: Josh Huddleston; Pens: Josh Huddleston 6
Enniscorthy: Tries: Davie Murphy, Killian Creed, Rhyan Whelan, Cathal Kehoe; Con: Cathal Kehoe; Pen: Rhyan Whelan
HT: Tullamore 12 Enniscorthy 5

The boot of Josh Huddleston salvaged a draw for Tullamore to record their first points of the new season, a penalty in the burning embers sharing the spoils in a dramatic encounter in Spollanstown.

Huddleston was busy in the opening half, converting four penalties to establish a 12-5 lead by half-time. Enniscorthy’s Davie Murphy had the visitors on the board in the 9th minute, crossing for their opening try, Huddleston’s effective boot served as the opening half difference maker.

The second half saw Enniscorthy come out firing, with Killian Creed crossing the line in the 42nd minute to level matters after Cathal Kehoe converted.

Rhyan Whelan’s try just six minutes later, pushing the lead out to 17-12. The scoring form continued and Kehoe dotted down their bonus point try in the 59th minute as the lead grew to 22-12.

However, Tullamore responded with Eoin O’Reilly’s try in the 69th minute, levelling matters once again after a successful conversion by Huddleston, followed by a penalty moments earlier to close the gap.

With time running out a penalty from Rhyan Whelan in the 78th minute pushed Enniscorthy back into contention, Huddleton landed his final penalty of the contest to shatter Scorthy hearts as they still remain without a win.

TULLAMORE: Karl Dunne; Scott Bradley, Liam Farrell, Scott Milne, Eoin O’Reilly; Josh Huddleston, Brendan Heffernan; Alan Douglas, Calym Dunne, Adam Carthy, Fionan Redmond, Ciaran Ennis (capt), Kalvin Mahon, Tadhg Dowdall, Colm Heffernan.

Replacements: Cathal Behan, David Boland, Mark Kennedy, Rory Lynch, Cian O’Sullivan, John Dunican.

ENNISCORTHY: Cathal Kehoe; Killian Creed, Dan Pim, Dave O’Dwyer, Rhyan Whelan; Fiachra Hourihane, Graham Barry; Angelo Todisco, Davie Murphy, MJ Doyle, Tomas Stamp, Tom Ryan, Liam Stamp, Lee Treacy, Tony Ryan (capt).

Replacements: Scott O’Connor, Ore Lasisi, James Doyle, Darragh Joyce, Cian Bolger.