Barnhall secure top flight status with easy victory

Barnhall are now hoping spring can turn quickly into autumn after moving from the Leinster Junior League to AIL Division Four and with it achieving senior status for the first time in the club's 30-year history.

Connacht champions Connemara All Blacks made the trip on Saturday to Parsonstown, just outside Leixlip, with similar ambitions although on this occasion they were completely outplayed by a far more organised and adventurous Barnhall side.

With home support that would match anything from the top end of club rugby, Barnhall soon took control of the game and never looked back. Slightly nervous at the start, they allowed Connemara to steal an early penalty from John Malone but by the end of the half they had run in four tries.

The first came from winger Angus Waters and that was soon added to by fellow backs Colm Morgan and Conrad Burke, one of three brothers in the side, along with number eight Mark Crossan in the highly superior forwards.

Waters and Morgan were displaying a particularly useful turn of speed while player-coach Ian Morgan was also keeping affairs well under control at full back. Ten minutes into the second half centre Martin Dwyer completed try number five when he ran the ball under the posts following a line-out and Colm Morgan again had little trouble with the conversion, leaving them 31-3 in front.

Dutch international Remco Donkers rounded off their scoring in the 56th minute by claiming the touchdown from a second push-over try and at the stage the celebrations were ready to begin. Connemara pulled one back with a long range run completed by centre Pat O'Neill but there was never any threat on Barnhall's promotion to senior status.

"This was definitely the day for a great performance," said the player-coach. "We were a little nervous for this one but I think getting through the Leinster League was the toughest part. This is what we set out to do four years ago and to get there ahead of schedule is even better. The players and support have put so much effort into it and it's something special to be a part of it all."

Barnhall: I Morgan; C Morgan, M O'Reilly, M Dwyer, A Waters; C Burke, E Burke; P Smyth, E Leech, W Bowden, R Donkers, S McGauran, S Cawley, K Brennan, M Crossan. Replacements: B Leech for E Leech (54 mins), D Burke for I Morgan (72 mins), N Frazer for Donkers (76 mins).

Connemara: H O'Toole; T Burke, PJ Burke, P O'Neill, D Clancy; J Malone, J O'Toole; K Ward, M Bourke, G King, L McGettigan, S Madden, K Keogh, B Keaney, B Mullen. Replacements: P O'Toole for Clancy (58 mins).

Referee: A McGowan (ARUB).