Dungannon Rugby Club defeat Shannon to remain perfect in Energia All Ireland League 2A

Dungannon 1st ….. 14

Shannon 1st ….. 9

DUNGANNON continued their perfect record in Energia All Ireland League 2A with a home victory over Shannon, making it four wins from four.

This was a match played in atrocious conditions, with the wind and rain coming principally from the Moy Road end dictating where most of the play took place.

Both teams actually played better against the wind with Dungannon gaining an unspectacular five point win.

Shannon attacked from the start but were stopped by what became a feature of the first half. The Dungannon back row of Stephen Todd, David Leyburn and James McMahon’s aggressive defence was outstanding.

From Shannon’s first attack the ball was dislodged from the attacker and kicked through by James Girvan from the Dungannon 22. It ran deep into Shannon territory where Toby Gribbon, very sensibly, resisted the temptation to try to pick the ball up and simply fell on it to secure possession. The support arrived and post scrum James McMahon went over. Peter Nelson nailed a good conversion in the fifth minute to make it 7-0.

The pattern of play continued with Shannon using the wind to gain field position but Dungannon’s defence was sound. From a turnover, the ball went out to Kyle Gormley who sold a great dummy and made 30 yards breaking another tackle before he was brought down inside the Shannon 10-metre line.

When the ball was recycled Alex Johnston found Blake Redmond who had taken a beautiful line. Blake sprinted on to score behind the posts. Peter again converted after 25 minutes. This was Blake’s first All Ireland League try, and the score was 14-0.

The wind and rain continued to batter the players and Shannon’s attacks were rewarded when the referee awarded a penalty that Cillian O’Connor converted in the 13th-minute.

Prior to half-time, Dungannon lost the influential David Leyburn with a nasty ankle injury when he was taken out at a ruck.

Three minutes into the second half a Shannon attack was rewarded when the referee awarded them a penalty straight in front. O’Connor again converted, leaving the score 14-6.

Andrew McGregor then showed his experience and quality when after following up a kick into the Shannon 22 he forced the defender to think twice. The delay allowed McGregor to close him down and tackle him close to the touch line. Shannon worked their way up field again and were rewarded with a penalty which Oisin Hade converted after 64 minutes.

Dungannon then produced a good period of sustained attacking play but apparent infringements lost them a hard-earned field position. The last quarter was not without controversy when at a Dungannon five-metre lineout Cameron Steenson was taken out in the air. Shannon were awarded possession that resulted in a penalty after some surprise was expressed by the home players and supporters.

The hosts were fortunate on one occasion when a Dungannon attack in the Shannon 22 looked very promising until one of our three quarters threw a beautiful pass to a Shannon player rather than his winger. Fortunately, that player was a prop who was hounded down by half the Dungannon team before he reached halfway.

Shannon were keen to attack but with the strong wind advantage Dungannon were able to keep them pinned in their own half until the final whistle.

Dungannon should have scored more points and whilst some decisions did not go their way Shannon thoroughly deserved their league point. At the end of this game the players, coaches and supporters will take the four league points.

Dungannon team: Blake Redmond. Andrew McGregor, James Girvan, Kyle Gormley, Toby Gribben. Peter Nelson, Alex Johnston. James Gamble, James McCammon, Sean O’Hagan. Cameron Steenson, Callum Johns. Stephen Todd, David Leyburn, James McMahon (Capt). Ryan Abernethy, John Carroll, Matthew Stockdale, Ben Connolly, Brandon Gribben.

This weekend, the first XV travel to Tipperary to play Cashel RFC who lost their first game of the All Ireland League this season to Wanderers and will want to rectify this.

Seconds edged out by Bangor

Dungannon 2nd ……. 13

Bangor 1st ……. 26

Dungannon 2nd XV got off to a strong start against Bangor 1st XV, taking an 8-0 lead into half-time after an impressive first-half performance.

Dungannon opened the scoring within the first 15 minutes, with Jacob Clarke confidently slotting a penalty kick to put the home side 3-0 ahead.

Dungannon continued to apply pressure, and following a sustained period of pressure inside Bangor’s 22, Joe Cashel got over the line for the first try of the afternoon, giving Dungannon a deserved 8–0 half-time lead.

However, the conditions worsened after the break, and the momentum shifted firmly in Bangor’s favour. Dungannon struggled to escape their own 22, while Bangor’s dominant scrum began to take its toll. Consistent scrum pressure resulted in a penalty try, bringing Bangor back into the contest.

Dungannon fired one back and for a brief period the game sat at 13-14, with Josh Girvan getting into the corner for Dungannon’s second of the day.

Further pressure, combined with difficulties dealing with kick-offs and continued scrum dominance, allowed Bangor to add three more scores and turn the game around to secure a 26–13 victory.

Despite a determined first-half display from Dungannon, Bangor’s second-half pressure and ability to capitalise on key moments proved decisive, leaving Dungannon to reflect on a game that had promised so much at the break.

Dungannon team: C. Brace, B. Daly, D. Byrne, C. Bain, Z. Farrell, S. Lester, J. Cashel, J. Gildernew, L. Glackin, Z. Holmes, J. Girvan, J. Adamson, J. McAree, A. Lee, J. Clarke, E. McKirgan, T. Vainikolo, B. Steenson

Dungannon 2nd XV go to neighbours City of Armagh 2 in the 2nd XV league in a 2.30pm kick-off. Dungannon 3rd XV welcome Lurgan to Stevenson Park. Again, kick-off is 2.30pm.

Dungannon Women XV travel to Omagh on Sunday in their league match in a 2pm kick off.

Youth teams are at home this weekend with the U18s against Coleraine. Both the U16 and U14s play Strabane - 11am kick off for all games.