Dungannon 2s came close to a spirited comeback at home but ultimately fell just short as Clogher Valley 2s edged a tightly contested encounter by three points.

The visitors made the perfect start, racing into an early lead with three relatively straightforward tries in the opening stages. Dungannon struggled to settle initially, and Clogher Valley capitalised on early defensive lapses to put the home side under immediate pressure and establish control of the scoreboard.

To their credit, Dungannon responded well and grew into the game as the first half progressed. Their persistence was rewarded when Ryan Abernethy crossed for Dungannon’s first try, injecting momentum into the side. Jacob Clarke added the conversion to keep the hosts within touching distance.
Lewis McCrabbe powered over for the home side’s second try, once again converted by Clarke, bringing Dungannon right back into contention

Half time score sat at 17-14.

Dungannon carried that momentum into the second half, showing greater intensity and cohesion, and setting up a tense final quarter.

With the game finely balanced, Dungannon pushed hard for a late equaliser. Clarke was handed the opportunity to draw the sides level with a penalty attempt in the closing moments, but the kick drifted narrowly wide, allowing Clogher Valley to hold on for a 20–17 victory.

Despite the defeat, Dungannon 2s can take plenty of positives from their resilience and second-half performance, pushing their opponents all the way after a difficult start.