Bective Rangers Power Past Creggs to Book Spot in AIL Promotion Final
Bective Rangers FC 40 Creggs RFC 20
Silken Thomas Park, Cill Dara RFC - April 5, 2025 – A view from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD 🐕
Bective Rangers FC are in the AIL Division 2C Promotion Playoff
In a high-stakes clash between two provincial champions, it was Leinster’s Bective Rangers who emerged victorious, overpowering Connacht’s Creggs RFC 40–20 in Saturday’s Energia AIL Provincial League Championship semi-final.
With a place in the All-Ireland League Division 2C promotion final on the line, both clubs entered the tie as champions of their respective provinces.
Bective having topped Leinster’s Premier League, and Creggs fresh off their historic Connacht Junior Cup and league double. This was more than a match; it was a battle for elevation to senior rugby and a shot at joining the national ranks.
Bective made the stronger start, with Oly Foote crossing the line in the 8th minute and Mikey O’Hare converting. Creggs responded swiftly, with Mark Purcell levelling the match after a fine individual try and conversion.
As the first half unfolded, Bective began to show their pedigree. James Gallagher touched down in the 21st minute, followed by a sin-bin for Creggs’ Purcell for a high tackle. Despite a Shane Dowd penalty for Creggs, Bective’s dominance up front continued, as Luke Mion powered over just after the half-hour mark. O’Hare maintained his accuracy from the tee, and although Purcell added another penalty before the break, Bective held a firm 21–13 lead at halftime.
The second half was a scrappy affair early on, with Mark Purcell missing two kickable penalties on 44 and 51 minutes that could have brought Creggs back into the game.
Instead, it was Bective who took control. In the 64th minute, after a dominant lineout and driving maul, referee Brían Barrett, MR IRFU, Richmond RFC, awarded a penalty try to Bective and issued a yellow card to Shane Dowd for repeated infringements. That swung momentum firmly back to the Dubliners, now leading 28-13.
To their credit, Creggs didn’t fold. A slick move in the 70th minute saw Xavier Woodhouse score, and Purcell converted to bring it to 28-20.
However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed two minutes later when Woodhouse saw red for a dangerous high tackle on Bective fullback Tim Carroll, who had made a superb line break.
Bective’s pack turned the screw. Another clinical maul resulted in James Gallagher’s second try, converted by O’Hare, before Gavin Kelly sealed the win with a try five minutes from time. The missed conversion mattered little, as Bective ran out convincing 40-20 winners.
Bective’s head coach Ben Manion praised his side’s composure and execution, noting: “We knew Creggs would come at us hard, and they did. But our lads stuck to the plan and finished strongly. Now we regroup and prepare for one more huge test.”
With promotion just 80 minutes away, Bective Rangers have set their sights firmly on reclaiming their place among Ireland’s elite and now face Munster champions Thomond RFC in the AIL promotion final at the Silken Thomas Park, Cill Darra RFC on Saturday, April 12, 2025, with a 2:30 PM kick-off.
Final Score: Bective Rangers FC 40 (5 tries) – Creggs RFC 20 (2 tries)
Bective Rangers 1XV: 15 Tim Carroll, 14 Mikey O’Hare, 13 Bobby Holland, 12 Matthew Gilsenan, 11 Craig Cantwell, 10 Oliver ‘’Oly’’ Foote, 9 Conor Halpenny, 1 David Kealy, 2 Luke Mion, 3 Connor Kelly, 4 Gavin Kelly, 5 Ger Warde, 6 James Gallagher, 7 Mattie Keane ©, 8 Jamie Lawless.
Finishers: 16 Billy O’Donohoe,17 Colin Jackson, 18 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 19 Donagh Lawler, 20 Ben Garrett, 21 Shane O’Meara.
Scorers: Bective: Tries: James Gallagher - 2, Oly Foote, Luke Mion, Gavin Kelly – 1, Penalty Try; Cons: Mikey O’Hare, - 4.
Referee: Brían Barett MR IRFU – Richmond RFC
