The scene at Childers Road during the operation
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01 Oct 2025
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01 Oct 2025
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THOMOND RFC made a successful return to the energia All-Ireland League when securing an exciting 29-22 bonus point win over Bective Rangers at Fitzgerald Park on Saturday last.
Visitors Bective started the better and stormed into an early 12-0 ahead.
Thomond, playing their first fixture in the AIL for six years, responded emphatically to falling behind. Suliano Mainavolau and Ryain O’Donovan Ahern both crossed the whitewash, Evan Cusack adding the extras to edge the home side in front. A third Thomond try, from Riann O’Dwyer, stretched the advantage to 19–12 at the interval.
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Cusack slotted a penalty after the break, before Bective hit back when Chris Poole touched down, Halpenny again converting to narrow the margin to 22–19. But Thomond finished the stronger, with Colin Slater crashing over and Cusack landing his fourth successful kick of the day. A late penalty from Mikey O’Hare earned Bective a well deserved losing bonus point in a great battle of the newly promoted sides.
Next up for Thomond is a trip to Ballyclare on Saturday.
THOMOND 29 BECTIVE RANGERS 22, Liam Fitzgerald Park
SCORERS: Thomond: Tries: Suliano Mainavolau, Ryain O’Donovan Ahern, Riann O’Dwyer, Colin Slater; Cons: Evan Cusack 3; Pen: Evan Cusack. Bective Rangers: Tries: Connor Halpenny, Shane O’Meara, Chris Poole; Cons: Connor Halpenny 2; Pen: Oly Foote
HT: Thomond 19 Bective Rangers 12
THOMOND: Luke Costello; Sam Birrane, Jason Kiely, Luke Fitzgerald, Andrew Lyons; Evan Cusack, Evan Maher; Rian Burke, Colin Slater, Kian McGrath, Riann O’Dwyer, Joe Costello, Kealan McMahon (capt), Ryain O’Donovan Ahern, Suliano Mainavolau. Replacements: Peter Meyer, Sean Rice, Josh Tunney-Ware, Lloyd Costelloe, Jake Connolly.
BECTIVE RANGERS: Tim Carroll; Chris Rolland, Bobby Holland, Martin O’Neill, Shane O’Meara; Oly Foote, Connor Halpenny; Oscar Egan, Chris Hennessy, Conor Kelly, Killian Hanley, Mark O’Brien, Mattie Keane, Chris Poole, Tiarnan McCloskey (capt). Replacements: Luke Mion, Ronan Cregan, Oisin McCloskey, Eoin Joy, Mikey O’Hare.
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