Skerries made it maximum points from their opening two games of the new AIL 2B season, as they secured a bonus point 32-26 victory over UL Bohemians in Holmpatrick.
There will be no getting carried away with things after this result however, as the manner in which the Limerick outfit fought back in the final quarter to earn themselves two valuable bonus points of their own, will leave Skerries with plenty to work on for the upcoming rounds.
In reality, it was a magnificent first half performance that proved decisive in the outcome of this match, as Ronan Mulcahy registered the first points of the day with a well-struck penalty on ten minutes, and then slick hands put Taidgh Keane Boylan away down the right for finished off a well-worked team try that opened up an 8-0 lead.
Supreme finisher Kevin McGrath followed up his match-winning heroics in round one as he found the outside gap from a well-weighted pass from Paul O’Loghlen at the 20-minute mark, and Mulcahy’s conversion had his side in the ascendency at 15-0.
Somewhat shellshocked by the hosts’ electric start, Bohs snapped back soon after the restart, as hooker, Darren Ferrar touched down off the back of a rolling maul.
That was to be the only major first half highlight for the visitors, as Skerries regained their momentum soon after and Jack Litchfield – on as a temporary replacement for O’Loghlen – crossed for his first AIL try in the left corner, after a great initial burst by Davey Goodman.
Mulcahy added the difficult conversion and even found time to extend the lead with another penalty, to leave the scores at 25-5 at the break.
With such a commanding lead, the four-try bonus point was very much on the agenda for Skerries and it duly arrived when Darragh McEneaney took control at the back of a dominant driving maul and steered his way over the line, with Litchfield this time adding the extras, for a seemingly unassailable 32-5 lead, with 25 minutes left to play.
It could be argued that Skerries may have taken their foot of the pedal for the remainder of the game but Bohs – an established presence in division 2A until April – were always going to enjoy a period of dominance and tries from Ferrar, Padraic Nesbitt and Jack Foley, all converted by Oisin Fagan, meant they didn’t come away empty handed.
15. Ronan Mulcahy
14. Taidgh Keane-Boylan
13. Kevin McGrath
12. Mike Sherlock
11. Davey Goodman
10. Paul O’Loghlen
9. John Healy
1. Trevor Scuffil
2. Kieran Leonard (capt)
3. Tomás O’Donovan
4. Sam Deering
5. Cian McGuinness
6. Alex Cleary
7. Darragh McEneaney
8. Peter O’Neill
16. Evann Shelley
17. Rossa Gilbride
18. Ben McKiernan
19. Shane Hannon
20. Jack Litchfield