Bangor’s first appearance in the prestigious All Ireland Junior Cup, contested between last season’s top 4 clubs from each of the Irish provinces, served up a difficult away fixture to Clonmel in County Tipperary. Having won the Munster Junior Cup earlier in 2014, then currently top of their league this season, and with a 2 year unbeaten home record, Clonmel were viewed by many as the pre-match favourites. To add extra significance to the fixture, in over 100 years since Clonmel RFC was formed, they had never played against a team from Ulster. For Bangor’s part, their recent good run of results against tough opposition in both league and cup competitions had set them up nicely for what was to be a nail-biting encounter, and one in which respect for their opponent’s reputation and not fear was to be the deciding factor, as they finally overcame the home side with the last play of the game to win by 15-21.

For those who travelled down to Clonmel on Friday, the Tipperary county flags of blue and yellow fluttering from houses and telegraph poles provided an unusually welcome sight! An early night (for some) at the Hotel Minella was in order, with a leisurely morning afterwards before travelling the short distance to Clonmel’s imposing ground.

Bangor got the game underway, playing into a stiff breeze. This wind advantage, combined with a good boot on the Clonmel out half, kept Bangor pinned down for long periods inside their own half. However, when an opportunity to break out of defence came Bangor’s way, they looked sharp both in their handling and line of attack. Penalty opportunities, albeit tricky given the conditions, were missed by both sides. Although the game remained scoreless at half time, it had been an entertaining period of play, with both sides evenly matched.

As the second half got underway, it was Clonmel who came out the blocks with more purpose, winning a penalty in the first minute of play. Although kicking from Bangor’s 10 metre line, the wind had dropped sufficiently for the Clonmel kicker to reach the posts and put the home side ahead by 3-0.

With improved handling and drive, Clonmel maintained their forward momentum and when within striking distance of Bangor’s line adopted their well-practised ‘pick and drive’ approach, eventually crossing the line to score a converted try and stretch their lead to 10-0 after just 6 minutes.

Bangor looked reassuringly unperturbed by these events, and quickly responded with a well-worked move between Jason Morgan and Mike Aspley, before releasing Mike Weir through a gap in the Clonmel defence. Having avoided a couple of defenders, Weir sprinted from the Clonmel twenty two to score under the posts. Mark Widdowson added the conversion, and the score was now 10-7.

The game’s first yellow card was shown to Clonmel’s wing forward for not rolling away in the tackle. Bangor wisely kicked play deep into Clonmel’s twenty two, and set about capitalising from the extra man advantage. Concerted Bangor pressure drew repeated penalty infringements from Clonmel. Having established dominance in the scrums, Bangor opted for this set piece when within 5 metres of the Clonmel line. Curtis Stewart, playing at Number 8, skilfully controlled the ball at the back of the scrum, before picking up and driving over the line, albeit carrying a couple of defenders with him. Widdowson judged the conversion well, using the wind to draw the kick between the posts and thus putting Bangor ahead for the first time in the game by 10-14, with 15 minutes of the second half played.

A lengthy period of cat and mouse ensued, with neither side able to add to their score. However, the first Bangor set-back occurred after 28 minutes when Stewart was yellow-carded for entering a ruck from the side. Having returned to full strength, Clonmel now set about taking advantage of their numerical advantage and, although Bangor defended bravely, it was only a matter of time before they scored their second try, out on the left hand touchline. The difficult conversion was missed, but Clonmel had now just edged ahead by 15-14.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes of normal time, it was the Clonmel players who appeared to be feeling the effects of the pace and intensity of the game so far, with several players needing attention for cramp. Given the knife-edge scoreline, and the short time remaining, the Bangor supporters sensed an element of the home side running down the clock. However, to the referee’s credit, he made it clear on each occasion that ‘time was off’ while players received attention.

Still playing with 14 men, Bangor then suffered another blow when captain Jamie Clegg received a yellow card for pulling down a Clonmel player in the lineout. Now reduced to 13 men, with just a few minutes of normal time remaining, the outlook appeared bleak. Bangor regrouped well, and rode the worst of the storm until Stewart returned shortly afterwards. Now playing well into the referee’s added time, Bangor threw everything at Clonmel, eventually winning a scrum deep inside Clonmel’s twenty two. With the referee indicating that this set piece would be the last play of the game, Bangor patiently kept the ball alive as they moved slowly towards the goal line. The ball was thrust into Stewart’s grasp and, with the support of two other forwards, he twisted and stretched before getting the ball down for the winning score. Widdowson’s successful kick topped off the performance and, with the final whistle, the joy and disappointment of the faces of opposing players was in stark contrast.

To bring Clonmel's 2 year unbeaten home record to an end in such dramatic style and also knock out one of the competition favourites is a notable achievement and something the players and coaching staff can feel justly proud of. With a home tie now in store, Bangor will be hoping to go further when they contest the quarter finals on 22nd November.

Bangor side: O McIlmurry, A Jackson, P Whyte, A Rushe, J Henly, R Latimer, J Clegg (c), C Stewart, R Armstrong, J Morgan, M Widdowson, M Aspley, M Weir, D Charles, C Morgan

Subs: M Crockford, S Irvine, G Irvine, A McCusker, M Thompson

Bangor scores: M Weir (1T), C Stewart (2T), M Widdowson (3C)