Thurles having won their last game in Newcastlewest in dramatic form last time out, suffered a similar fate themselves when with the scores locked at 12 each and the game in its final moments, Thurles failed to exit their half and gave Richmond one more attacking scrum 45 m out.  Thurles lucky not to concede from a retreating scrum failed to defend down their left-hand side allowing Richmond’s number 13 to sprint free, and despite a suspected knock in the build-up, he managed to link with his support runner who cantered in untouched over the Thurles line, where there was a lack of any meaningful cover defence to prevent the score.

Richmond shaded a scrappy opening 12 minutes of this game, winning two penalties in kickable positions and electing to take shots at goal from distance, but failing to convert either. Despite playing with  strong wind for the opening half Thurlesfailed to take advantage with some poor tactical kicking resulting in balls out on the full and no momentum for the home team until in the 22nd minute, a good penalty kick to the Richmond 22 resulted in good field position for the home team which after a good lineout and good carries through the pack, Thurles won a penalty in kicking range. James Maher flawless off the tee on the day easily landed the penalty from 20m in front. Thurles next score was initiated from some good handling by Thurles in their own 22 releasing winger James O’Mara down the left wing, who kicked long into the Richmond half and good kick chase resulted in a lineout for Thurles in a good attacking position. Thurles went through some phases and won another penalty kick just inside the Richmond 10m line wide on the left. James Maher judged his kick perfectly to push Thurles out to 6 points with 35 minutes on the clock. Richmond had a man in the bin at this stage and Thurles had another good late lineout opportunity, close in, in the closing moments but once again could not add to their total. 

Thurles kicked off the second half and were straight at it and won themselves a great penalty from a turnover by James Butler in the Richmond 22. James Maher converted to leave the score at 9 -0 in favour of Thurles with 42 mins on the clock. Richmond didn’t take long to respond and after some successive hard carries by their pack they spun the ball wide to their number 13 who knifed through the Thurles wide out defence on the left to score their first try which was converted to leave the score more finely poised at 9 – 7. 

The changes came thick and fast in second half with SeamieHolohan making way and Sean Llyod coming on to the wingonly to be substituted again later when Fionn Fogarty received a yellow card necessitating the reintroduction of SeamieHolohan. On 62 minutes Richmond had a scrum 5 metres out with a big blind side and their out half managed to force his way over wide on the left despite desperate home team defence for their second try. The conversion was missedleaving the score at 12 – 9 in favour of Richmond. 

Thurles dominated field position and opportunities in the period from 62 to 75 minutes and had several good chances to score tries. They went close on 70 minutes but were adjudged to have double moved in the act of scoring and were held up over the line a couple of minutes later, to give Richmond much needed respite. Thurles eventually restored parity – James Maher slotting the equalising penalty from 30m with 72 mins on the clock. However, In the dying moments it was the away team who issued the coup de gras, taking advantage of some poor Thurles defence to run in from 40m for the winning score. 

This was a bruising encounter with great physicality on show from both sides but with a misfiring lineout, balls stripped out in contact, some sluggish rucking and clearing of the ball away from the ruck Thurles did not manage to get significant numbers of phases throughout much of this game. Some poor decision making and lack of composure and patience undid them when a try seemed inevitable. Of most concern will be that Richmond succeeded in scoring almost every time they worked the ball into the wide channels . Thurles will renew rivalries with Clonakilty at home next week in what will be another challenging encounter.

Jack Kavanagh, Tom McNamara, John Shaw, James Butler,Jason Theron, Jock Fogarty, Sam Quinlan, Ciaran Ryan, Seamie Holohan, James Maher, Mark Cummins, SonnyDwyer, Fionn Fogarty, James O’Mara, Paddy McGrath,

Subs: Shane Nugent (for Tom McNamara) , Evan Ryan (for James Butler), Rob Donovan (For Jack Kavanagh) Sean Lloyd (for Seamie Holohan), Ciaran Murphy (for Evan Ryan))