Tullamore down Dundalk to seal fourth place

TULLAMORE 26 DUNDALK 20. This win ensures that Tullamore finish fourth in the league, which guarantees participation in the All Ireland Junior Cup next season. Tullamore were a bit deflated after last week?s cup loss and struggled for long periods in this game. They had the better back line and deserved the win and the bonus point for scoring four tries. Tullamore attacked from the whistle and winger Paul O? Grady got in for a try after two minutes which Dermot Galvin converted. The home supporters expected Tullamore to push on from this but Dundalk had other ideas and pinned Tullamore in their own half and 22 for the next twenty-five minutes without scoring. Dundalk got over the Tullamore line from a strong maul but the referee could not see if the ball was grounded. When the home side relieved the pressure they attacked with pace and centre Dermot Galvin scored under the posts and then converted the try. 14-0 was a harsh score line on Dundalk but they scored two tries in the thirty third and thirty ninth minutes to leave the score at 14-12 to Tullamore at half time. As in the first half the home side got off to an excellent start with a try from Aaron Deverell after three minutes following a good break by Ivor Scully. Some minutes later Tullamore had a chance to extend the lead but the forwards dropped the ball over the line. Dundalk had their chances as well and were held up over the line after twenty-five minutes. On the half hour mark the visitors scored a try in the corner. With only two points between the sides Tullamore experienced a nervous last ten minutes. However in injury time following some good work by the pack Tullamore had a two-man overlap when winger Rory Deverell got in for a try. Galvin again converted. With the last kick of the game Dundalk scored a penalty to give them a bonus point When news came through that Portlaoise had drawn their match to leave Tullamore six points ahead of them and eight ahead of Dundalk with only one round of matches left there was delight in the home dressing room. Finishing in the top four was the ambition since the early defeats by Navan and Seapoint . MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Next Sunday Tullamore travel to Drogheda to take on Boyne in the last league match. The 2nd team play Navan away next Saturday while the 3rds travel to Longford for their area league match on Sunday. Midlands 3rds league- Tullamore 34 Birr 7 A.I.B. ALL IRELAND JUNIOR CUP Tullamore play their semi-final on Sunday 9th March in Spollenstown against Munster side Clonmel. Clonmel are currently 3rd in the Munster League Division 1.They Defeated Boyne 32-14 and Westport 12-03 while Tullamore defeated Monivea 34-07 and Cup holders Seapoint 20-16 since the start of the new year. The Club is hosting a pre-match lunch on the day with a guest speaker in Billy Keane. Billy is a journalist with the Irish Independent and shares the wit and story telling talents of his famous father John B. While there are invited guests the club will also welcome guests who wish to take in the lunch before the match. Tickets for lunch and admission to match costing 25 euro are available from Chairman, Ciaran Lynch at 087 6744027 or P.R.O. Chris Glennon at 086 8122825. PRIMARY SCHOOLS BLITZ Tullamore R.F.C.s Youth Development Officer John Burns had 200 school children playing tag rugby in the club on Tuesday 19th Feb. Twenty teams played in the blitz competition from ten primary schools. The schools were Ballinamere, Cappagh, Clara, Chareleville, Durrow, Gaelscoil, Killeigh, Lumcloon, Mucklagh, and Rahan. This was the fourth such blitz and the final blitz takes place on Tuesday 26th Feb. The series culminates on the 12th March with the Midlands Area Primary Schools Blitz in Spollenstown when schools from Birr, Edenderry, Longford, Mullingar and Tullamore areas will play tag rugby. John Burns Y.D.O. coaches rugby in these ten primary schools and also Scoil Eoin Pol, Scoil Bhride, Daingean, Geashill, Ballinagar and Kilgeggan since September and also coaches in Tullamore College and Colaiste Choilm. Referees on the day were John Burns, Chris Glennon, Dean Cahill and Derek Maybury, R.D.O. Leinster Rugby. U-10 AND U-12 LEINSTER BLITZ The qualifying competition for the Leinster Finals takes place in Spollenstown next Saturday at 11.00am when Tullamore attempt to qualify with Birr, Edenderry, Mullingar and Longford providing the opposition. The young lads need all the support that can attend. Tullamore U-12 team have been selected by Leinster Rugby to play an exhibition game of Mini-Rugby against Boyne as a curtain raiser to the Magners League match between Leinster and Glasgow on Good Friday 21st March in the R.D.S.