Resilient UL-Bohemian retain All-Ireland League 2A status but Bruff miss out on promotion

RESILIENT UL-Bohemian produced a storming second half comeback to see off Dungannon in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A relegation/promotion play-off final at Annacotty on Saturday afternoon.

However, there was no joy for Bruff in their All-Ireland League Division 2B promotion play-off final when going down 30-15 to Skerries at Holmpatrick.

When UL-Bohs', who had finished second-from-bottom in Division 2A at the end of the regular season, trailed Dungannon RFFC 3-16 at half-time at a showery Annacotty, the Red, Red Robins were facing an uphill battle in their bid to avoid relegation.

However, the home side turned in a much-improved second half display, racking up 17 points without reply, to secure a precious 20-16 victory.

The play-off game began in heavy rain, which made for difficult handling conditions. UL-Bohemian got off to the better start when out-half Harry Byrne kicked them in front with a 10th minute penalty goal.

However, Dungannon, who finished in third spot in 2B at the end of the regular season, took a grip on the game over the remainder of the half, adapting well to the wet and slippery conditions. 

Full-back Ben McCaughey kicked 11 points for the Ulster side, including converting the visitors' 18th minute try which came off the back of a well-executed maul.

UL-Bohs had their chances to add to their points tally in the opening half, but a combination of a lack of composure and patience, as well as some unfortunate handling errors inside their opponents' '22, scuppered their hopes.

Trailing by 13 points at the break, UL-Bohs, who had beaten Sligo 16-14 in their relegation/promotion semi-final two weeks ago, badly needed to score first in the second half.

And this the home side achieved when scrum-half Alan Kiely sniped over for a crucial 44th minute try off the back of an excellent driving maul, followed by effective use of the pick-and-go deep inside the Dungannon '22.

Out-half Byrne also added the conversion to leave just six points between the sides at 16-10.

That score really galvanised the Red, Red Robins who started to began to dominate possession and get on top at scrum-half. 

In contrast to the opening half, the home side also got on the right side of the penalty count as the half wore on, with Dungannon losing two players to the sin-bin.

UL-Bohs made their numerical advantage tell as hooker Kieran O'Shea barged over the tryline from close range in the 52nd minute after the home side made good ground off their driving maul. Byrne's conversion had Ian Keatley's charges in front at 17-16.

Byrne also kicked a 79th minute penalty to increase the Limerick side's advantage to four points, 20-16. However, Dungannon did create an opportunity late on to steal victory. Awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of injury time, the Ulster side opted for a kick to the corner. 

However, the impressive UL-Bohs' line-out managed to force a turnover and the home side cleared their lines which was followed by the full-time whistle, much to the delight of their supporters.

Meanwhile, Bruff, trailed Skerries 10-20 at half-time in their All-Ireland League Division 2B promotion play-off final at Holmpatrick.

Skerries had crossed for two tries in that opening 40 minutes, with Bruff replying through a Tom O'Dwyer try and a conversion and penalty from out-half Sean Kilbridge.

After Skerries moved 15 points to the good with a further penalty goal, Bruff hit back as Shane Duggan struck for a try to leave eight points between the teams at 23-15.

However, a further converted try for the home side helped them secure their place in AIL Division 2B for next season.

Skerries finished two places and 24 points above the South Limerick side in the Division 2C table at the end of the regular season.

UL-BOHEMIAN: 15 Darragh O’Gorman, 14 Jamie McNamara, 13 Captain Paul Clancy, 12 Juan Ignacio Garcia, 11 Ihechi Oji; 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Alan Kiely; 1 Kian Regan, 2 Kieran O’Shea, 3 James Burton, 4 Evan O’Connell, 5 Jay Traynor, 6 Ian Condell, 7 Richard Wallace, 8 Eoin Sweeney. Replacements: 16 Tom Cullen, 17 Pauric Nesbitt, 18 Padraic Galvin, 19 Sean Quirke, 20 David Rowsome, 21 Rory White, 22 Oisin Fagan.

DUNGANNON: 15 Ben McCaughey, 14 Mervyn Brown, 13 Matthew Montgomery, 12 James Girvan, 11 Peter Cashel; 10 Andrew McGregor, 9 John Russell; 1 James Gamble, 2 Daniel Mikolajczyk, 3 Sean O’Hagan, 4 Stephen Todd, 5 Cameron Steenson, 6 David Leyburn, 7 Adam Milligan, 8 James McMahon (capt). Replacements: 16 Ross Stewart, 17 Glenn Sinnamon, 18 Lewis McCrabbe, 19 Alexander Kennedy, 20 Luke McMullan, 21 Jack Weir, 22 Ryan Abernethy, 23 Arek Mikolajczyk.

SKERRIES: 15 Ronan Mulcahy, 14 Oisin McKey, 13 Kevin McGrath, 12 Michael Sherlock, 11 David Goodman; 10 Paul O’Loghlen, 9 Eoghan Carron; 1 Cormac Marrey, 2 Kieran Leonard, 3 Trevor Scuffil, 4 Sam Deering, 5 Ross Halligan, 6 Barry Murphy, 7 Joshua Ericson, 8 Peter O’Neill. Replacements: 16 Tomas O’Donovan, 17 John Sherwin, 18 Ben McKiernan, 19 Paddy Fay Watt, 20 Patrick Finn, 21 John Healy, 22 Dara Lowndes, 23 Taidgh Keane Boylan.

BRUFF: 15 Cian Clifford, 14 Shane Duggan, 13 Jack O’Grady, 12 Andrew O’Byrne, 11 Mark Fitzpatrick; 10 Sean Kilbridge, 9 Jake O’Riordan; 1 Brendan Keogh, 2 Thomas Quigley, 3 Kieran O’Dwyer, 4 Thomas O’Dwyer, 5 Brendan Gleeson, 6 John Clery, 7 Patrick Maher, 8 Cillian Rea. Replacements: 16 Dave Barrett, 17 TJ Coffey, 18 Eamonn Costello, 19 Craig Finn, 20 Conor Fitzpatrick, 21 Sean Hartigan, 22 Paul Collins, 23 Adam O’Dwyer.