Dungannon 1XV 16 – 22 Dublin University
Dungannons’ hopes of a win in their first home All Ireland League game faded in the third quarter when the students of Dublin University used their back line well to register a brace of tries that ultimately gave them the spoils. A late penalty goal salvaged a losing bonus point but it did little to hide the disappointment of a home crowd that watched their team build up a 13-3 lead after 35 minutes. Dungannon started in spirited fashion but the concession of four penalties in the opening nine minutes allowed Cathal Marsh to give the Dubliners an early 3-0 lead. The home side then put the shaky start behind them and following some fine attacking play Jaryd Bennett launched a perfect diagonal kick for the on running Chris Cochrane to gather and score in the left hand corner. Peter Nelson was unlucky to see his conversion rebound from a post leaving Dungannon with a 5-3 lead. Five minutes later the same player missed out with a penalty chance but the home side kept the momentum going and it came as no surprise when Cochrane was again sent clear on the left for his second try midway through the half. At 10-3, Dungannon were now looking good but a setback occurred on 25 minutes when the rather strange ‘sinbinning’ of Gareth McGonigle left Dungannon with 14 men. Undeterred, the home side pressed forward before a penalty decision halted a good run from James McMahon. On 35 minutes Nelson found the target with a penalty but it was the students who finished the half on top. After pounding the Dungannon line for all of two minutes flanker, Brian Du Toit squeezed in on the left. Marsh converted to leave the half-time score at 13-10.
When the second half got underway a penalty award put Dublin University into an attacking position and they began to use their three quarter line to good effect. On 50 minutes Paddy Lavelle broke through in the centre with Marsh’s conversion putting the students back in front at 13-17. The visitors held ground from the restart and five minutes later it was winger, Niyi Adoelukan who crossed in the corner. At 13-22 it was beginning to look ominous for Paddy Johns’ young charges as a little frustration crept into the game. Dungannon did conjure up a few attacking moves but they were foiled by penalty awards. The home side did not give up though and when a blatant ‘knock on’ paved the way for a penalty John McGuckin split the uprights to ensure a precious bonus point. Indeed, Dungannon may well have snatched a late victory as Mark O’Shea almost broke clear in added time. The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for the passing of former Club doctor, Billy Gamble who passed away last week. Dungannon:- Peter Nelson, Darren Simpson, Paul Magee, Stuart McCloskey, Chris Cochrane, Jaryd Bennett, Gareth McGonigle, Glen Sinnamon, Phil Whyte, Mark Farquhar, Michael Dunleavy, Mark Jenkinson (capt), Derek Hall, Sean Doyle, Ali Birch. Replacements: John McGuckin, Mark O’Shea, Paul Jackson, James McMahon, Steven Sinnamon.
Clogher Valley 2 12 – 31 Dungannon 3XV
Dungannon Thirds made good their trip to the Cran on Friday with a deserved 31-12 win against Clogher Valley II. Good forward pressure led to an opening try from Gareth McMullan with Jonny Smith adding the extras on 7 minutes. Five minutes later a break per Jonny Toal paved the way for Smith himself to touch down sending Dungannon 12 points clear. Valley retorted and closed the gap with a Tim Moore try that Paul Armstrong converted. Midway through the half good work by the Dungannon pack saw Smith complete his brace. With no further scoring the half ended with Dungannon leading 17-7. Early in the second half Mark Thompson crashed over for Smith to convert. In the final quarter Valley closed the gap when a defensive charge down led to a try for Matthew Keyes. The home side could get no closer though and the industrious Toal sealed the issue when he raced clear in the closing stages. Dungannon Team:- John O’Neill, John Condy, Jonny Toal, Timmy Potter, Kevin McElduff, Jonny Smith, Niall Wilson, Ali Moore, Adam Boyle, Adam Lockhart, Gareth McMullan, Lorcan Martin, Mark Thompson, Kirby Hamilton, Stephen Donaghy.
Armagh 2 7 – 10 Dungannon 2XV
Jerome McClure became the toast of the Dungannon team at the Palace Grounds on Friday night when he raced in at the corner in the final minute for the winning try against Armagh. The conversion was missed but it mattered little as the visitors fielded after the restart and launched the ball to touch and that brought the final whistle. Spare a thought for Armagh though – they played with 14 men from midway through the first half when out-half, Simon Cuttle was taken off injured. His pivotal control was instrumental in Armagh leading 7-0 at that point and he converted the try scored by Matthew Irwin on 7 minutes. Dungannon may well have taken advantage of the numerical difference but it was Armagh who dominated the remainder of the opening half with Simon Willis unlucky to be denied at the right hand corner. Dungannon were much improved in the second half and some good runs from Chris Blair and John McGuckin put the Armagh defence under pressure. However, when the Dungannon pack took control it was Charlie Sargaison who dived over on 47 minutes. That still left Armagh with a 2 point lead that looked a little precarious. Three minutes from time Jake Finlay was short with a 45 metre penalty shot but he certainly made amends when he sent McClure away in that dramatic finish. Dungannon:- Chris Blair, Jerome McClure, Peter Cashel, Ben Kennedy, Alan Cummings, John McGuckin, Jake Finlay, Charlie Sargaison, Simon Potter, Ben Howard, Paul McCarroll, Adam Booth, Steven Sinnamon, Jeremy Turkington, Stuart Barron.
