Thomond lose out to Bective Rangers in nine-try All-Ireland League qualifier clash

THOMOND RFCs hopes of qualifying for next season's All-Ireland League faltered as the back-to-back Munster Junior League champions suffered a 39-34 defeat to Bective Rangers in their fixture at Cill Dara RFC on Saturday.

Limerick side Thomond were left to rue a slow start with the Fitzgerald Park side conceding five tries in the opening 25 minutes as Division 1A Leinster League and Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup winners Bective Rangers held off the Fitzgerald Park side's second half comeback to book their place in Division 2C of the AIL for next season.

All is not lost for Thomond, however, as the Limerick side can still secure their return to the All-Ireland League for next season should they manage to overcome Omagh Academicals in a play-off game later this month.

In Saturday's clash at Cill Dara RFC, it was Thomond who opened the scoring with an early Jason Kiely penalty for 3-0.

The advantage was short-lived, however. Two tries in four minutes for Bective from Conor Halpenny and Mattie Keane, one of which was converted by Gilsenan, had the Donnybrook side 12-3 to the good.

Gilsenan then got in on the try-scoring act, while Tiarnan McCloskey and Shane O’Meara also dotted down as Bective built a significant 33-3 lead.

To their credit, Thomond hit back, with Jamie McGarry dotting down and Kiely's conversion making it 33-10.

Shortly before half-time, Eoghain Sherlock added a second try for the Limerick side with Kiely converting for 33-17.

Thomond made the ideal start to the second half with Kiely converting his own try to leave nine points between the sides at 33-24.

Bective managed to break Thomond's scoring sequence, however, as Gilsenan kicked two penalties for 39-24.

Thomond finished the game strony as Kiely's penalty was followed by a try from Jake Connolly to leave five points between the sides at full-time. 

Thomond now switch their focus to their play-off game away to Omagh Academicals, who finished second-from-bottom in Division 2C with two wins and two draws from their 18 regular season AIL fixtures.

The game will be played at Thomas Mellon Playing Fields.

SCORERS: Thomond: Tries: Jamie McGarry, Eoghain Sherlock, Jason Kiely, Jake Connolly; Cons: Jason Kiely 4; Pens: Jason Kiely 2. Bective Rangers: Tries: Connor Halpenny, Mattie Keane, Tiarnan McCloskey, Matthew Gilsenan, Shane O’Meara; Cons: Matthew Gilsenan 4; Cons: Matthew Gilsenan 2

THOMOND: Jamie McGarry; Luke Costello, Josh Dillon, Jason Kiely, Cilian Moughty; Eoghain Sherlock, Evan Maher; Rian Burke, Colin Slater, Werner Kruger, Sean Malone, Sean Kelly, Riann O’Dwyer, Ryain O’Donovan Ahern, Kealan McMahon (capt). Replacements: Kian McGrath, Sean Rice, Seaghan Gleeson, Jordan O’Donnell, Joe Costello, Morgan Bateman, Jake Connolly, Andrew Lyons.

BECTIVE RANGERS: Tim Carroll; Craig Cantwell, Bobby Holland, Matthew Gilsenan, Shane O’Meara; Oliver Foote, Connor Halpenny; Luke Mion, David Kealy, Conor Kelly, Gavin Kelly, Jamie Lawless, Mattie Keane, Tiarnan McCloskey (capt), James Gallagher. Replacements: Colin Jackson, Billy O’Donohoe, Tom Dever, Tadhg O’Dwyer, Donagh Lawler, Ronan Cregan, Ben Garrett, Conor Murphy.