1st XV vs UL BOHEMIAN (5 – 12)
Ulster Bank All Ireland League
Dungannon suffered their first defeat of the season at grey and greasy Annacotty. The visitors went five points ahead in the early stages but UL Bohemians’ JJ Hanrahan provided four penalties to see off Dungannon. Dungannon did collect a losing bonus point but will have to put in a more clinical performance when they meet new league leaders, Ballynahinch this Friday night.
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With the wind and rain on their backs Dungannon started well. Ali Birch fielded Bohs kick off and after a little recycling Paul McKenzie ripped open the home defence before offloading to the supporting Adam Duhig who touched down halfway out.
0 – 5
Dungannon continued in attacking mode but poor finishing spoiled chances. Meanwhile Bohs were settling well and good work by Ed Torrie and Niall Kinneally almost sent Chris Nairn away. Errors were increasing by the minute though and when JJ Hanrahan smacked over a penalty on forty minutes the sides turn round at
3 – 5
Bohs made good use of the wind in the second half and when a Dungannon player was pinged for ‘holding’ Hanrahan added his second penalty to put Bohs into the lead.
6 – 5
Dungannon edged the set scrums but a collapse on fifty-two minutes allowed Hanrahan to put Bohs further ahead with a huge fifty metre penalty.
9 – 5
Paul Magee, who was celebrating his one hundredth appearance in the All Ireland League, was very annoyed when young Stuart McCloskey, playing his second, fell victim to a high tackle by Niall Kineally who was lucky to escape a yellow card. Thankfully Stuart was able to continue and when he ran from defence Peter Nelson threatened the Bohs line.
The quality of the game fell further in the final quarter with Hanrahan adding his fourth penalty on seventy minutes.
12 – 5
A late flourish by the visitors could have earned a draw but unfortunately this was not to be as Conor Gaston failed to make the line in the seventieth-eighth minute.
Overall a disappointing performance but the boys did at least salvaged a point from the trip to Limerick.
Team: Conor Gaston. Christopher Farrell, Paul Magee Paul McKenzie, Christopher Cochrane. Peter Nelson, Jason Bloomfield. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar. Craig Miller, Mark Jenkinson. Derek Hall, Rowan Halsall, Ali Birch. Philip Whyte, Steven Sinnamon, Callum Threlfall, Stuart McCloskey, Jaryd Bennett
Referee: David Keane (Leinster)
Tries: Adam Duhig
Conversions:
2nd XV vs Ballynahinch (13 – 17)
2 XV League
This was a disappointing and disjointed game. Both sides admitted afterwards that this was a game to forget although the Hinch players were happy to lift the points.
Jonny Coen opened the scoring for Ballynahinch in the fourth minute with a penalty.
0 – 3
On fifteen minutes the Dungannon pack drove Paul McCarroll over for a try.
5 – 3
Five minutes later a defensive mix-up allowed out half Paddy James to go over for Ballynahinch. Jonny Coen converted.
5 – 10
Following the restart a bit of indiscipline cost Hinch a penalty that Michael Lawton converted.
8 – 10
Just on the stroke of halftime Dungannon lost the influential John McGuckin with a nasty eye injury.
Dungannon retook the lead early in the second half when Mark O’Shea raced over for the try.
13 – 10
Hinch later lost a front row player resulting in uncontested scrums. On twenty-five minutes Ballynahinch went back in to the lead when centre Alan Crawford scored. Jonny Coen kicked the conversion.
13 – 17
Although Dungannon had their chances with Timmy Smith and James McMahon taking the game to Hinch the Visitors held on to take the two points.
Both sides are hoping for a better game and Dungannon for a different outcome when they meet again next Saturday in the second round of the Millar McCall Wylie Ulster Junior Cup.
Team: Michael Lawton. Darren Simpson, Mark O’Shea, Jonathan Smith, David Egner. John McGuckin, Chris Swann. Charlie Sargaison, Neil McGinley, Adam Lockhart. Rodney Blair, Paul McCarroll. Richard Holmes (Captain), James McMahon, Tim Smith
Referee: James Railton
Tries: Paul McCarroll & Mark O’Shea
Conversions:
Penalties: Michael Lawton
