TWO BONUS POINTS THE REWARD FOR BECTIVE’S HEROIC FIGHTBACK

26 September 2026, Energia Park Donnybrook -Round 1, AIL D2BS. A view from the sideline By OMAHD 🐕

BECTIVE RANGERS FC 33 – 36 Old Crescent RFC

There are defeats, and then there are defeats that leave you wondering just how the result escaped you.

For Bective Rangers, Saturday Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B South opener against Old Crescent was very much in the latter category. A pulsating 10-try encounter in Donnybrook eventually went the way of the visitors from Limerick, but Bective’s refusal to accept defeat until the final whistle earned them two valuable losing bonus points.

From the moment Old Crescent crossed for their opening try inside the first quarter, this was never going to be a contest for the faint-hearted.

Timmy Duggan needed just 14 minutes to exploit an opening in the Bective defence and put the visitors ahead. Rafael Junior Okafor then added a second Old Crescent try, and suddenly Bective found themselves playing catch-up before they had properly settled into the contest.

But Bective have never been a side that panics easily. David Fitzgibbon steadied the ship with penalties in the eighth and 23rd minutes, keeping the scoreboard moving while Bective gradually began to find their rhythm.

And when they did, the response was emphatic. Matthew Gilsenan crossed in the 29th minute to give the home supporters something to cheer about, and five minutes later Edward Kelly followed him over the line. Fitzgibbon converted, and what had looked like a potentially difficult opening quarter had been transformed into a genuine contest.

Old Crescent, however, were not prepared to surrender their advantage. Riley Kinloch and Okafor struck before the interval, leaving the visitors narrowly ahead.

At half-time, Bective trailed 18–19, but there was a growing feeling around Energia Park that the game was there to be won.

(Half-time: Bective Rangers FC 18 – 19 Old Crescent RFC)

The second half became a test of endurance as much as rugby ability.

Fitzgibbon added another penalty early in the half, but Old Crescent continued to find ways through the Bective defence, with Duggan claiming his second try and Brian Molloy also crossing as the visitors stretched their advantage.

Bective needed a response. They got one from the man who has become such a formidable presence in the Bective pack. James Gallagher.

In the 55th minute Gallagher powered his way through the Old Crescent defence to score, with Fitzgibbon adding the conversion. The deficit was reduced and, once again, Bective were within touching distance.

The visitors continued to threaten, but Bective simply would not go away.

The final quarter developed into an extraordinary battle of attrition, with the home side throwing everything they had into the attack. Old Crescent defended desperately as Bective repeatedly tested their line.

With the clock well into injury time, Bective were camped inside the Old Crescent 22. Phase followed phase as the Rangers battered away at the visiting defence. And then Gallagher did it again. Deep into the 83rd minute, the Bective number eight found the strength to force his way over for his second try of the afternoon.

Suddenly it was 36–33. Three points separated the sides.

The comeback that had seemed improbable only minutes earlier was now tantalisingly close to completion. Bective threw everything into one final assault, but the Old Crescent defence held firm and the final whistle eventually brought an end to a remarkable opening-day contest.

There was naturally disappointment in the Bective camp. Having fought their way back from a difficult start and come within three points of turning the game around, the opportunity to claim all five points had been tantalisingly close.

Yet there was also plenty to take from the performance. Four tries secured the attacking bonus point, while the three-point margin guaranteed the losing bonus point. In the context of an opening-day defeat, two points from a match that looked to be slipping away early on could prove extremely valuable as the season progresses.

For captain Christopher Hennessy and his side, the most encouraging aspect will surely have been the character displayed after Old Crescent established early control.

Bective could easily have allowed the visitors to dictate the afternoon. Instead, they fought. They fought their way back before half-time. They fought again when Old Crescent threatened to pull clear in the second half. And when the clock was against them, they continued to attack until the final whistle.

There will undoubtedly be lessons to take from conceding six tries, particularly from the early exchanges. But there was also plenty of evidence that this Bective side possesses the resilience and attacking ambition required for another demanding AIL campaign.

On an afternoon when the result ultimately belonged to Old Crescent, the final scoreline tells only part of the story. An 10-try thriller, two bonus points and a reminder that this Bective side will keep fighting until the very end.

The league has only just begun.

Up next: Bective hit the road to take on Bruff RFC in Round 2, with a trip to Kilballowen Park on Saturday, 4th October, KO 2.30pm. It will be another tough test, but Bective will travel full of belief after this heroic fightback.

Scorers:  
Bective Rangers: Tries — James Gallagher (55', 80+3'), Matthew Gilsenan (29'), Edward Kelly (34') Cons: David Fitzgibbon (30', 56') Pens: David Fitzgibbon (8', 23', 46')
Old Crescent: Tries -Timmy Duggan (14', 50'), Rafael Junior Okafor (14', 32'), Riley Kinloch (25'), Brian Molloy (46') Cons: Ben Daly (15', 26', 65')

BECTIVE RANGERS 1st XV:15. Chris Rolland, 14. James McKeown, 13. Alex Walsh, 12. Matthew Gilsenan, 11. Edward Kelly, 10. David Fitzgibbon, 9. Charlie Reilly; 1. Christopher Hennessy (capt), 2. Chris Poole, 3. Conor Kelly, 4. Andrew Treacy, 5. Conor McMenamin, 6. Gavin Kelly, 7. Tiarnan McCloskey, 8. James Gallagher. Replacements: 20 Scott Barron, 21 James Hurley, 22 Evan Galvin, 23 Bobby Holand, 24 Craig Cantwell.
Referee: Henry Richmond, UAR IRFU.