All Ireland League Round Up

20th January 2019 By Leonard Allen

UCC meet Highfield in the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday. INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Cork Constitution remain on top spot of Division 1A as UCC and Shannon record surprising away wins.

UCC gained sweet revenge for their 14-12 defeat by Garryowen before Christmas when they won the reverse fixture at Dooradoyle 23-22 thanks to a late penalty by James Taylor. College raced into an early lead with a try from Ryan Murphy and a conversion and penalty by Taylor.

Garryowen hit back with two tries from Diarmuid Barron and a Jamie Gavin conversion but a Taylor penalty had the students 13-12 ahead at the interval. Peadar Collins restored Garryowen’s lead with a penalty but the students replied with a Murphy try and a Taylor conversion. A Sean Rennisson try converted by Collins made it 22-20 for the home side but Taylor’s third penalty decided it.

Shannon moved up to fifth place a point behind Garryowen after their 24-20 win at Belfield against U.C.D. Eathon Moloney, Jack Stafford and Pa Ryan scored tries for Shannon who led 17-6 at half time. Ben Daly converted all three tries and also added a penalty.

Cork Constitution remain in top spot after their 28-5 home win over bottom side Terenure College. Ross O’Neill, Luke Cahill, Kevin O’Brien and Alex McHenry scored tries for Con’ and Aidan Moynihan converted all four tries.

Highfield have extended their lead to seven points in Division 2A after they scored nine tries in their 59-19 away win at Blackrock College. Paul Stack scored four tries, Luke Kingston two and Dave O’Connell and Michael Shinkwin got one each. Shane O’Riordan kicked six conversions and they were also awarded a penalty try.

Cashel still remain in second place after they lost 20-13 away to Navan. James Ryan and Ed Leamy scored tries for Cashel and Jonty Rea kicked a penalty.

UL Bohemian’s promotion hopes received a set-back when they lost at home to Old Crescent 31-10. A try by Brian Walsh and a conversion and a penalty by Mike Mullally had The Robins 10-3 ahead at the interval but a fighting second half display by Crescent saw them score four trys to take maximum points. Val McDermott, Ronan McKenna and Brian Tuohy scored trys. They were also awarded a penalty try with McKenna kicking a penalty and two conversions and Kevin Meade also added a conversion.

Nenagh Ormond moved out of the relegation zone after their 38-17 home win over bottom side Galwegians. Nicky Irwin scored two tries for the Tipperary side and Gerard O’Gorman, John Hayes, Alex Ropeti and Patrick Scully got one each. Ropeti kicked four conversions.

Sunday’s Well lost out to Skerries at Irish Independent Park | Image Credit: David Ribeiro / M. Lee Media

Dolphin lost away to Queens University 31-5 to slip back to eight place.

Sunday’s Well lost at home to Skerries 17-11 a result that sees them in the relegation places in Division 2B. Shane Desmond scored a try for the ‘Well and Eoin Geary kicked two penalties.

A try in the ninth minute of injury time earned Midleton a lucky 13-10 home win over Tullamore in Division 2C. Louis Farnham got the all-important try and Stuart Lee converted and added two penalties.

Thomond eased their relegation worries with a 22-17 home win over high flying Bruff. Aaron McCluskey and Evan Cusack scored tries for Thomond, who were also awarded a penalty try. Cusack kicked a conversion and a penalty. John Cleary scored a try for Bruff and Kevin McManus kicked four penalties to secure a losing bonus point in their quest for a top four finish.

RESULTS:

All Ireland League Division 1A: Clontarf 24, Young Munster 20;

Cork Constitution 28, Terenure College 5;

Garryowen 22, U.C.C. 23;

Lansdowne 66, Dublin University 33;

U.C.D. 20, Shannon 24;

Division 1B: Ballymena 16 Buccaneers 20;

City of Armagh 15, Banbridge 32;

Malone 15, Ballynahinch 8;

Old Belvedere 18, Naas 20;

St. Mary’s College 15, Old Wesley 41;

Division 2A: Blackrock College 19, Highfield 59;