Cashel rugby's promotion push continues to stumble with away loss in Antrim

All Ireland League - Division 2A - Round 14

Cashel RFC 19

Ballymena RFC 26

After a poor performance against bottom of the table Dolphin the previous weekend Cashel travelled, on Saturday last, to third from the bottom, Ballymena, determined to stay in the race for promotion.

Unfortunately Ballymena put them to the sword by racing to a 26-7 lead. Cashel did show good courage to fight back late in the game and rescue a losing bonus point. Cashel were missing a number of players who were unavailable and this did not help their cause.

Conditions were perfect for rugby and the game was extremely tight for the first fifteen minutes. At that stage Cashel lost a man to the bin and this gave Ballymena an opportunity to use their numerical advantage. They set up a lineout maul and powered over for a try in the corner which they converted with an excellent kick from the touchline.

Cashel came back at them and turned over a Ballymena lineout five metres out. Cathal Ryan crashed over for a try and Aidan McDonald added the extras with a brilliantly executed conversion to level the game.

Ballymena continued to pile on the pressure but Cashel defended well and held them out until they had their full team back on the field. As half time approached Ballymena used their powerful pack to charge over for their second try which they converted to lead at half time by 14-7.

At this stage Cashel were still in the game but they were under pressure with the Ballymena backs running confidently from all angles.
The second half was ten minutes old when Ballymena again used their powerful maul to power over for another try to put them 19-7 ahead. The hosts are a very proud club and are extremely determined to hold on to their current status in Division 2A.

With fifteen minutes left things got worse for Cashel as the Ballymena hooker broke from the twenty two to power over for a try. The try was converted and Ballymena had secured a try bonus point. Credit must be given to the Cashel team.

Cathal Ryan, Brendan Ryan, Ciaran Ryan and Fearghaill O'Donoghue began to take the game to Ballymena. With ten minutes left Brendan Ryan powered over for a try which Aidan McDonald converted.

They continued to compete and as time ran out Sean O'Connell got his name on the score sheet with a good try that earned Cashel a losing bonus point which could be valuable before the season is finished.

This was a disappointing result for Cashel as they have had the measure of Ballymena over the past few seasons. Cashel are now five points off a playoff place.

They have two huge games coming up- against Barnhall away next Saturday and Nenagh at home at the end of March. Both teams are five points ahead of Cashel.

With four games left it is still all to play for but any further slip ups would make the task impossible.

Cashel Team (1-20): C O'Donnell, N Fitzgerald, B Ryan, B O'Connor, F O'Donoghue, C Ryan, A O'Connor, M Wilson, L McCarthy, A McDonald, M McCormack, C Cashman, B Murray, R Kingston, F Bergada, S O'Connell, C Ryan, L Shine, M Hickey, P Leamy.