Clonmel RFC will enjoy the Christmas break after positive AIL win over Enniscorthy

All-Ireland League Division 2C

CLONMEL 36 ENNISCORTHY 32

Clonmel’s first team played their ninth All-Ireland League game of the season, against Enniscorthy at home in Ard Gaoithe last Saturday and came away with a bonus point, 32-26 victory, that bounced the side back up to the top half of the table going into the Christmas break.

After two disappointing losses in a row, at home to Tullamore and away to Midleton, the Clonmel senior side was beginning to rue missed opportunities in games that on paper they should be winning.

Enniscorthy, on the other hand, came to Clonmel as a top three side and fresh off the back of a victory over league leaders Clogher Valley.

Playing conditions were excellent in Clonmel for the game and while the wind blew from the south, as it does in Ard Gaoithe, the pitch was dry and the sun was shining. Thankfully there were no last-minute changes to the Clonmel side announced on Friday morning and it was good to see second row, Tony Cantwell, back in the starting 15 after an injury absence in recent weeks.

The game started at a frantic pace, with Clonmel playing into the wind in the first half and Enniscorthy throwing everything at Clonmel. In the process, the visitors conceded two early penalties and on-form Joey O’Connor dispatched both over the bar to give the home side a 6-0 lead on 12 minutes.

Enniscorthy, on the attack, played deep into the Clonmel 22 and following relentless pressure crossed the Clonmel line in the corner to register the game’s first try. With the conversion going wide, the Clonmel lead was down to the slimmest of margins at 6-5 on 15 minutes.

Lots of running rugby saw the ball move from end to end, but defensive efforts by both teams kept the scoreboard constant for 20 minutes, as hard-fought yards yielded no return.

Enniscorthy pressure continued and after a sustained attack in the Clonmel 22, and with a number of Clonmel infringements, the referee awarded a penalty try to the county Wexford side that pushed them into a 6-12 lead on 37 minutes.
As the half time break loomed, with a minute of added time played, Clonmel’s fly half O’Connor crossed the line in the corner for a superb home try, which he duly followed up with a well-taken conversion to restore the Clonmel lead to 13-12 at the break.

At the start of the second half, the afternoon December light was starting to fade, and it wasn’t long until the floodlights were switched on. With the wind at their backs, Clonmel got off to the better start, with backs and forwards combining well in moving the ball. An eventual break by Clonmel centre Luke Hogan saw him cross the Enniscorthy line for the home side’s second try of the afternoon and with O’Connor on target, yet again, the Clonmel lead extended to 20-12 on 47 minutes.
Stung by going down eight points, Enniscorthy upped their game yet again, and after another sustained period of pressure they eventually scored a well- worked try and conversion, to bring it back once again to a one-point game at 20-19 on 52 minutes.

Having conceded large leads in previous games, the home support was a little nervous at this point until a superb eight minutes of play saw Conor Hogan score a fantastic try in the corner, to be followed shortly by O’Connor and Henry Buttimer combining to put Buttimer in over the line for try number four, which O’Connor converted. Clonmel led 32-19 on 67 minutes. With the four-try bonus point secured, the home team had 13 minutes to hold onto a 13-point lead and see out the game.

Enniscorthy had other ideas and were back on the attack. As the clock ticked towards the 80-minute mark, they crossed the line to register their third try, duly converted to narrow the gap to 32-26. There was time for a restart and once again Enniscorthy gathered the ball and attacked the home line. Furious defence saw the Clonmel lads throw everything at Enniscorthy in an effort to keep out the visitors and when the referee finally blew the full-time whistle, with no further Enniscorthy points conceded, the roars around the ground could be heard far and wide. It was a tough game that could have gone either way, but the locals were delighted to celebrate a fantastic win over a top side and go into the Christmas break with Clonmel back up in fifth place on the ten-team table.

As the boys blasted out a brilliant rendition of Slievenamon in front of the clubhouse and home crowd, it seemed a fitting way to finish the first half of the league campaign. There is a four-week break in proceedings now before the team hits the road for the first game of 2024 and the reciprocal visit to Enniscorthy. For now, the win and the break will be savoured. Well done lads.

CLONMEL RFC: Forwards; Ben Everard, Juan Cruz, Sean Sweetman, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Brannock, Tom O’Dea, Tim Nugent, Brian O’Dea. Backs; Ben O’Dwyer, Joey O’Connor, Zac O’Loughlin, Henry Buttimer, Luke Hogan, Dean Slattery, Conor Hogan. Replacements; Mattie O’Toole, Conor Bowen, Tom Noonan, Harry Lane, Aiden Hickey.

Bill is Split the Bucket (STB) Winner
Congratulations to Bill Bermingham who won €790 in Saturday’s Christmas STB draw. Over €27,000 has been paid out to over 50 different winners in the first year of the draw, matching the €27,000 much-needed funds raised for the club. Please support the club on our website.