Energia All-Ireland League: First Round Review
The Energia All-Ireland League kicked off with a bang, with thrilling matches across all divisions. From impressive debuts to nail-biting finishes, the opening weekend delivered plenty of action for rugby fans.
Division 2A: A Day of Delights
Greystones were the only home team to secure a win in the opening round of Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A. The Wicklow side edged out Navan in a dramatic encounter at Dr Hickey Park. The match saw both sides battling it out for the win with a late penalty try for Navan ensuring they would take home a losing bonus point.
Promoted clubs Instonians and Galway Corinthians also made a strong start to their Division 2A campaigns. Instonians, last season’s Division 2B champions, began life in the third tier with a bonus point triumph over hosts Buccaneers. The Belfast side put on a dominant display, scoring eight tries in total with five of those coming in a blistering second half performance. The Buccaneers’ side was also hit with some tough luck, losing second row Fergus Galvin to the sin bin for a lineout offence and suffering a number of injuries throughout the match.
Galway Corinthians, meanwhile, began life in Division 2A with an impressive bonus point win away to Ballymena. Three first half tries laid the groundwork for Michael Harding’s side, with their impressive pack of forwards setting the tone for the match. Ballymena, however, gave a good account of themselves, grabbing the opening score of the second half with their captain, Adam Lamont, powering over from close range.
Division 2B: Barnhall Come From Behind
A brace of Matt Gorgan tries saw MU Barnhall come from behind at the break to win a high-scoring first round clash with hosts Banbridge at Rifle Park. The Dublin side had a strong start, with Keith Farrell and Adam Chester combining for seven points inside the opening six minutes. However, Banbridge fought back to take a 14-12 lead at half time, with Adam Doherty’s try proving decisive. The second half was a back and forth affair, with both sides trading scores. Gorgan’s two tries in the 69th and 73rd minutes ultimately proved to be the difference.
Division 2C: Dolphin Impress
Dolphin began life in Division 2C with a hard-earned win over Bruff at Kilballyowen Park. Opening half tries from Craig O’Connell and Jordan Soli propelled the Cork side into a 10-0 lead by the interval. Soli’s second try early in the second half extended the lead to 17-3, before Bruff rallied with a late penalty try for a losing bonus point.
Belfast Harlequins also recorded a bonus point win on the opening day, defeating Enniscorthy at Alcast Park. The Belfast side had a strong second half performance with ten points from Ben Power in the closing stages ensuring the result. Enniscorthy showed resilience, and the match was tight until the final whistle, with a one point lead for Scorthy heading into the last few minutes.
AIL Debuts
The opening weekend also saw a number of teams make their Energia All-Ireland League debut. One of those, Ballyclare, marked the occasion with a win over Tullamore at Spollanstown. A bruising encounter in the opening half saw Ballyclare take a 19-7 lead at the break. The second half was a more even contest, with Tullamore scoring two tries to narrow the gap to five points. However, Ballyclare held on for the win, with Mark Jackson’s second half try proving decisive.
It's Only the Beginning
With the first round of fixtures in the books, the Energia All-Ireland League season has gotten off to a thrilling start. The opening weekend produced a number of exciting matches, with several teams making a strong statement. The battle for promotion and survival is sure to be intense, and the league is certain to provide plenty of drama and excitement in the coming weeks and months.
