AIB All Ireland League Roundup

Munster clubs dominated Leinster clubs in Division 1A of the AIB All Ireland League as Garryowen won the Limerick derby with a victory over U.L. Bohemian.

A penalty six minutes from time by Gavin Dunne secured leader’s St. Mary’s College a bonus point at Temple Hill to keep them top the league after their 16-9 defeat by Cork Constitution.
Penalties by Dunne on 1 and 4 minutes had the Dublin side 6-3 ahead at half time. Scott Deasy kicked a penalty for the home side. A try by prop Stephen Archer, a conversion and penalty by Deasy and a drop goal by Darragh Lyons looked good enough to send Con’ joint top of the table until Dunne’s late penalty.

Shannon kept their challenge alive with a 21-13 win over Clontarf at Castle Avenue in a game that was a repeat of last season’s final. Tries by Stephen Kelly and Felix Jones and a Tadhg Bennett conversion had the Limerick side 12-6 ahead at the interval. Daragh O’Shea kicked two penalties for the home side.
After the break Bennett kicked two penalties and a drop goal and Clontarf’s reply was a try by Martin Dufficy which he also converted.

Dolphin got their challenge back on track with a 12-6 win over Blackrock College at Stradbrook. A try by Nick Williams and a conversion by Barry Keeshan gave the visitors a 7-3 half time lead. James Coughlan scored a try after the break and Blackrock had another penalty from the boot of Ian Madigan.

Garryowen recorded their second win of the campaign when they defeated U.L. Bohemian 9-5 under the Thomond Park lights.
Garryowen led 6-0 at the break and can thank Conor Murray and Willie Staunton who each kicked a penalty and Staunton also added a drop goal. Ed Torrie scored a try for the home side but it’s the Dooradoyle side who still occupy bottom spot.

Young Munster maintained their push for promotion from Division 1B with a 16-9 victory over Galwegians at Crowley Park.
The sides were level 6-6 at half time with Dave Clark and Rob O’Beirne kicking penalties for the home side and “The Cookies” replied with two penalties from Alan Kingsley. Dave Corcoran scored the all important try for the visitors and Kingsley added a conversion penalty, while Galwegians only response was a second penalty by O’Beirne.

U.C.C. got back to winning ways with a deserved 25-6 victory over bottom side Buccaneers at the Mardyke.
Playing with the wind in the opening half, the visitors failed to convert their chances into scores with Adam Kennedy missing four out of five penalty attempts at goal.
An intercept by Brian Dennehy and a conversion and penalty by Andrew Burke had the students 10-3 ahead at the break.
Kennedy reduced the deficit with a second penalty a minute after the restart but tries by Sean Scanlon and Ivan Dineen and a conversion by Scanlon and a Burke penalty made sure of the points for the home side.

Highfield were the only Munster side to win in the Second Division. They eased their relegation worries with tries by Dave Kelly and James Cronin and a conversion and two penalties by Dave O’Brien to give them an 18-3 win over bottom side Greystones at Woodleigh Park.

Bruff’s promotion hopes received a set back at College Park when they went down to Dublin University 34-29, although the Limerick side will have the satisfaction of picking up two bonus points. Nigel Riordan, Aaron Burke, John S Shine and Gary Leonard were try scorers for the visitors. Brian Cahill converted three of the tries and also added a penalty.

Thomond’s promotion hopes received a set back at Kirwin Park when they went down to DLSP 29-8. Eddie Fraher scored a try for Thomond and Declan Cusack kicked a penalty.

Clonakilty moved out of the relegation places after they shared the spoils with Malone 23-23 at Gibson Park. Noel O’Sullivan, Alfie Harte and Kurt Morath were try scorers for the West Cork side and Morath kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Old Crescent are now in second last place after their 19-8 defeat by Old Wesley at Donnybrook. Martin Treacy scored a try for the visitors and Mark Woods kicked a penalty.

Midleton remain top of the Third Division when they collected maximum points from their trip to Hamilton Park when they defeated Ards 40-7. The East Cork side were 21-0 ahead at the break and had two tries from their USA international Junior Sifa, while skipper David Lee, Robert Smyth, Mark O’Connell and Eddie Tobin got a try each. Jeff Hitchmough kicked five conversions.

Sunday’s Well moved into fourth place ahead of Nenagh Ormond on points difference after they collected full points with a 27-5 victory over Connemara at Musgrave Park. Chris Long, Dave Twohig, Tom Parker and Alan Long were try scorers for the Well and Eamon Ronan kicked two conversions and a penalty. Kevin Keogh scored Connemara’s first try of the campaign.

Nenagh Ormond overcame Navan 18-13 at the Tipperary venue with tries from Shane Carey and John Coffey and David Delaney kicked a conversion and two penalties.

RESULTS
AIB League Division 1A:Blackrock College 6,Dolphin 12;
Clontarf 13,Shannon 21;
Cork Constitution 16,St. Mary’s College 9;
U.L. Bohemian 5,Garryowen 9;

Division 1B:Ballynahinch 10,Old Belvedere 29;
Dungannon 15,Ballymena 21;
Galwegians 9,Young Munster 16;
U.C.C. 25,Buccaneers 6;

Division 2:Belfast Harlequins 9,Terenure College 17;
D.L.S.P. 29,Thomond 8;
Dublin University 34,Bruff 29;
Highfield 18,Greystones 3;
Lansdowne 34,Corinthians 5;
Malone 23,Clonakilty 23;
Old Wesley 19,Old Crescent 8;
U.C.D. 13,Bective Rangers 13;

Division 3:Ards 7,Midleton 40;
Instonians 22,Co. Carlow 10;
Nenagh Ormond 18,Navan 13;
Queens University 26,Naas 10;
Rainey Old Boys 5,Banbridge 20;
Sunday’s Well 27,Connemara 5;
Suttonians 28,Barnhall 18;
Wanderers 26,Portadown 16;