AIB All Ireland League Roundup 11.04.09

Munster sides occupy the top four places in the AIB All Ireland League with just one series of games remaining.

Cork Constitution are back in pole position after their last gasp 22-20 win over Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road. Con’ led 13-0 at half time with a try from Evan Ryan which Darragh Lyons converted and Jeremy Manning added two penalties. Lyons kicked a drop goal and Manning added another penalty to have the visitors leading 19-15 with time also up. Old Belvedere took the lead with a try from Marcus McAllister with a minute remaining but Manning struck with his fourth penalty with the final kick of the game.
Scorers Old Belvedere: K Hurrell, L Avua’a, M McAllister tries, C Keane 1 pen, 1 con.
Cork Constitution: E Ryan try, J Manning 4 pens, D Lyons 1 drp gl, 1 con.

Dolphin caused the big shock of the day when they defeated leaders Garryowen 14-9 at Musgrave Park. The home side got off to a dream start with a try from Rory Kenneally, but Garryowen dominated the opening half and with the advantage of the wind Conor Kilroy kicked three penalties to put them into a 9-5 lead at the break. Two penalties by Barry Keeshan put Dolphin in front and an excellent drop goal by Denis McCarthy made sure of the points for the home side.
Scorers Dolphin: R Kenneally try, B Keeshan 2 pens, D McCarthy 1 drp gl.
Garryowen: C Kilroy 3 pens.

Shannon won the Limerick local derby with a 12-6 victory over U.L. Bohemian at Annacotty and moved into third place, but the bonus point that U.L. earned made sure of their place in the top eight for next season.
Mark Butler had the home side 6-0 ahead at half time with two penalties but two tries by Fionn McLoughlin and a conversion by Tadgh Bennett secured the points for Shannon.
Scorers U.L. Bohemian: M Butler 2 pens.
Shannon: F McLoughlin 2 tries, T Bennett 1 con.

Young Munster kept their hopes of playing in the First Division next season alive with a deserved 18-0 win over Buccaneers at Dubarry Park. Clem Casey opened the scoring with a try for the visitors on thirty one minutes and two penalties by Mark Connolly had the Cookies 11-0 ahead at the interval. Mark McHugh increased the lead with a try early in the second half and Connolly converted.
Munster’s must now win their final game away to U.C.D. next week to retain their status in the top flight.
Scorers Young Munster: C Casey, M McHugh tries, M Connolly 2 pens, 1 con.

U.C.C remain on top in the Second Division on points difference from Lansdowne after they had to battle hard to overcome Thomond at the Mardyke on a 16-10 scoreline.
Gavin Dunne put the students ahead with a penalty, but a try by Warren Kelly converted by Declan Cusack had the Limerick side 7-3 ahead at the break. Tries by Ian Nagle and Stephen Archer and a second penalty by Dunne made sure of victory for the College. Cusack kicked a penalty for Thomond to secure a valuable bonus point in their bid to avoid relegation.
Scorers U.C.C.: I Nagle S Archer tries, G Dunne 2 pens.
Thomond: W Kelly try, D Cusack 1 con, 1 pen.

Old Crescent’s hopes of making the top four received a set back when they lost at home to Highfield 15-12. Brian O’Shea kicked four penalties for the home side and Highfield replied with tries from Anthony McGettigan and David O’Hea with Nick Wakely kicking a penalty and conversion.
Scorers Old Crescent: B O’Shea 4 pens.
Highfield: A McGettigan and D O’Hea tries, N Wakely 1 con, 1 pen.

Highfield’s game with Ballynahinch on Easter Monday has been cancelled.

Bruff kept their chances of a top four finish alive with a 23-20 home win over Clonakilty. The bonus point means that Clonakilty are now safe from relegation.
Peter O’Brien, Andy Cashman and Cathal O’Regan scored tries for the Limerick side and Brian Cahill kicked two penalties and a conversion. Clonakilty replied with tries from Noel O’Sullivan and Leonard Harte. Dave Lombard kicked two penalties and a conversion and Gary Cribb added a conversion.
Scorers Bruff: P O’Brien, A Cashman, C O’Regan tries, B Cahill 2 pens, 1 con.
Clonakilty: N O’Sullivan and L Harte tries, D Lombard 2 pens, 1 con, G Cribb 1 con.

Midleton still are in contention for promotion from the Third Division after their 92-0 route of already relegated. The Winners scored fourteen tries with Jeff Hitchmough contributing thirty seven points and Junior Sifa scoring four tries.
Scorers Midleton: J Hitchmough 3 tries, 11 cons, J Sifa 4 tries, M Cronin and G Conway 2 tries each, David Smyth G Sweeney and Damien Smyth tries.

Nenagh Ormond’s recent good run came unstuck at Banbridge when they lost 20-13. Vima Tuidraki scored a try for the Tipperary side and John Lillis kicked two penalties and a conversion.
Scorers Banbridge: A Brown, S McKinstry tries, R Finlay try, pen, con.
Nenagh Ormond: V Tuidraki try, J Lillis 2 pens, 1 con.

Sunday’s Well now look like they will have to beat the Junior side that finishes runners up in the Provincial League Championship in a play off if they are to retain their Senior status after their 19-3 defeat by Suttonians.
Chris Burnett kicked a penalty for the Well to make it 7-3, having trailed 7-0 at half time, but two second half tries saw the Dublin side pick up the points.
Scorers Suttonians:D Mulligan, D Higgins, P Maguire tries, T Taipei 2 cons,
Sunday’s Well: C Burnett 1 pen.

In the All Ireland Provincial League Cashel’s hopes of winning the competition were dashed at the Spafield, when they lost at home to Navan 20-6. The sides were level 6-6 at half time with Pat O’Connor kicking two penalties for the Tipperary side.

In the other tie City of Derry were 33-3 home winners over Monivea and collected maximum points to set up a crucial tie next Saturday away to Cashel.

AIB League Division 1:Ballymena 0,Clontarf 22;
Buccaneers 0,Young Munster 18;
Dolphin 14,Garryowen 9;
Dungannon 22,Blackrock College 14;
Galwegians 26,Terenure College 14;
Old Belvedere 20,Cork Constitution 22;
St. Mary’s College 24,U.C.D. 17;
U.L. Bohemian 6,Shannon 12;

Division 2:Ballynahinch 25,Instonians 12;
Bective Rangers 23,Greystones 29;
Belfast Harlequins 13,Dublin University 34;
Bruff 23,Clonakilty 20;
Lansdowne 34,Malone 12;
Old Crescent 12,Highfield 15;
U.C.C. 16,Thomond 10;
Wanderers 26,D.L.S.P. 29;

Division 3:Banbridge 20,Nenagh Ormond 13;
Barnhall 13,Old Wesley 15;
Co. Carlow 13,Naas 19;
Corinthians 15,Queens University 7;
Midleton 92,Waterpark 0;
Portadown 22,Ards 23;
Suttonians 19,Sunday’s Well 3;

All Ireland Provincial League Championship:Cashel 6,Navan 20;
City of Derry 33,Monivea 3;