Dungannon come up just short against top-of-the-table rivals Cashel

Dungannon ….. 20

Cashel….. 21

AFTER a long trip to Tipperary, second-placed Dungannon just came up short against third-placed Cashel in Energia All Ireland League 2A.

Had the visitors lineout been functioning better the result may have been different.

On a perfect dry, calm day, Cashel kicked off and from a poorly defended dropout the home team took full advantage from a quick ruck ball to send their second row Fearghail O’Donoughue in at the corner to score an unconverted try.

Dungannon took control of the game for a short period after the score before Cashel regained the upper hand.

After a series of penalties against the visitors the referee lost his patience and issued a yellow card to James McMahon on 18 minutes.

More Cashel pressure was halted by Peter Nelson who was awarded a penalty for a high tackle and the resulting kick was struck deep into the opposition’s half. On winning the lineout the ball was moved swiftly through the hands to send Alex Johnston in under the posts and converted by Nelson.

Five minutes later, from another lineout, Dungannon struck again with fast hands and a clever kick behind the Cashel defence for Nelson to win the foot race to touch down and convert to give the visitors a 14-5 lead.

From the restart, Cashel again applied pressure and a high up and under paid dividends when securing the ball they were able to spread it wide and give their second row O’Donoughue in for his brace of tries. It was converted by Ben Twomey. The remainder of the half ebbed and flowed with each outhalf kicking a penalty to leave the score 15-17 to Dungannon at half time.

With Dungannon conceding eight penalties in the first half, more discipline was required for the second period, but the opposite was to happen with three in the first 10 minutes and a lot more for both teams throughout the half.

Another yellow card was to be issued to Dungannon second row Stephen Todd on the 60-minute mark.

At this point the Dungannon lineout was not functioning at all which proved decisive in any ambition they had to use their launch their powerful maul.

With five minutes remaining, the only scores of the half were a penalty by each side.

At this stage Dungannon were defending in their usual robust manner and when they managed to win the ball back, they cleared their lines with a fine kick into the Cashel half.

What was going to be a home lineout until a touch judge’s intervention reversed the referee’s decision to a penalty.

From the resulting kick Cashel were rewarded a further penalty. The penalty struck the upright and was eventually cleared into the spectators by Dungannon.

But with the match already well in injury time the referee decided to have one more play and somehow Cashel managed to get the winning score with a mis-hit dropped goal.

Dungannon travelled with quite a few injuries and came away with a bonus point to go into third place on 18 points.

Cashel are now one ahead and next weeks opponents Ballymena on 19 points.

Dungannon: J. Gamble, J. McCammon, S. O’Hagan, S. Todd, C. Steenson, D. Leyburn, A. Milligan, J. McMahon, A. Johnston, P. Nelson, T. Gribben, K. Gormley, J. Girvan, B. gribben, B. Redmond, R. Abernethy, J. Carroll, B. Connelly, J. Callaghan, J. Clarke

Meanwhile, Dungannon 2nd XV travelled to City of Armagh on Saturday.

This match was not to go in the visitors’ way when Armagh scored all their points in the first half to leave the score 50-0 at half-time.

The second half was a more balanced affair when Dungannon was able to defend to stop any more scores from the home side.

Jack McAree scored ‘Gannon’s only try of the match when Josh Girvan saw the space on the fair side on the pitch and kicked the ball for McAree to pounce on.

Girvan converted to leave the score 50-7 in the home side’s favour.

Dungannon: C. Brace, B. Daly, M. Stockdale, I. Lui, B. Doran, D. Byrne, J. Cashel, J. Gildernew, L. Glackin, J. Girvan, A. Lee, B. Steenson, J. Adamson, P. Cashel, J. McAree, T. Vainikolo, E. McKirgan, J. Kennedy

After the 2nd XV match, at City of Armagh, Stuart Lester made a presentation to the club in memory of Adam Hegarty.

Adam’s last game of rugby at the Palace Grounds was against Dungannon before his tragic passing almost a year ago.

Players from both teams that played on Saturday would have played in that match. They will remember him for his pace and scoring abilities. Our thoughts are with Adam’s family and team mates as his one-year anniversary approaches.

This Saturday, 1st XV and 2nd XV welcome Ballymena to Stevenson Park in the All Ireland League and 2nd XV League. 1st XV kick off at 2.30pm and 2nd XV kick off at 1pm.

Dungannon RFC will have Bramble and Bean Coffee Cart at club from 12pm with Peter McKernan entertaining in the clubhouse from 5pm.