Old Crescent earn Limerick bragging rights with AIL win over Thomond

OLD CRESCENT came out on top of their Limerick derby with Thomond in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B South clash by 21-14 at Takumi Park.

Tries in either half from John Moloney and Jed O’Dwyer saw Crescent come back from an early deficit to earn victory. Ben Daly also kicked 11 points for a victorious Crescent outfit.

Sean Rice got Thomond’s try late on that earned them a losing bonus-point, with Evan Cusack nailing three penalties from the ticking tee.

Cusack gave Thomond an early lead with his first penalty on six minutes after a sustained period of pressure.

Thomond were doing all the early running and were nearly in for the opening try when Jake Connolly’s break released Cillian Moughty but Jed O’Dwyer’s tackle denied the away side what would have been a crucial score.

They settled for a second Cusack penalty on 19 minutes but Crescent hit back before the half hour with the game’s opening try.

It came after successive penalties and a lineout maul edged them towards the line after Ben Daly kicked to touch. John Moloney was the man who touched down for the try. Daly added the extras to put Crescent ahead.

Thomond responded positively, winning a scrum penalty close to half time but Cusack missed the target and Crescent went in at the break leading 7-6.

Any hopes of wrestling control back for Thomond were dealt a blow three minutes into the second half when replacement Suliano Mainavolau received a yellow card.

Daly pointed to the posts and landed the penalty from 35 metres to give Old Crescent a four-point cushion.

That became a seven point advantage soon after with Daly nailing another penalty after Daithi Byrnes was on the receiving end of a high tackle.

Crescent had the chance to go further ahead on 13 minutes when Jamie Duggan’s kick in behind the Thomond defence wasn’t dealt with.

From the resultant scrum, Duggan’s sniping run down the blindside opened up a gap but his pass for Jed O’Dwyer on the right wing spilled forward.

Crescent did manage to increase their lead just past the hour mark when a scrum penalty gave Daly a chance to land another penalty and his successful strike left the score at 16-6 in Crescent’s favour.

Thomond got on the board in the second half 10 minutes from time through a Cusack penalty that ensured an exciting finish.

It was Crescent, however, that got the vital score of the game in the 75th minute. Starting a move from inside their own half, the home side blitzed through the Thomond defence.

Bailey Faloon’s pass to the right opened up the space and the ball was worked to the right hand side for O’Dwyer to speed away and dive into the right corner for their second try that put them 21-9 ahead.

Thomond, to their credit, came right down the other end with a couple of penalties after the restart putting them in Crescent territory.

They got their reward with a powerful lineout maul that resulted in a try for Sean Rice that at least secured a losing bonus-point.

There was still time for Thomond to launch another attack but it broke down in midfield with a knock on and it was Old Crescent that held on for a seven-point win.

OLD CRESCENT: Jed O’Dwyer; Junior Okafor, Daithi Byrnes, Jason Awlward, Timmy Duggan; Ben Daly, Jamie Duggan; Joe Rickard, James Rael, Sean Frawley; Riley Kinloch, John Moloney; Bailey Faloon, James McKeogh, John Lyons.

Replacements: Cian Kennedy, Denis O’Dwyer, Darragh McKeogh, Joe McEnery, Evan Cusack.

THOMOND: Jamie McGarry; Sam Birrane, Evan O’Connor, Jake Connolly, Cillian Moughty; Evan Cusack, Aaron Rice; Rian Burke, Colin Slater, John Walsh; Tom Goggin, Morgan Bateman; Joe Costelloe, Kealan McMahon, Jono Bailey.

Replacements: Suliano Mainavolau, Sean Rice, Riann O’Dwyer, Darragh Custy, Adam Guerin.

Referee: Cathal Roddy (IRFU).