All Ireland League Round Up

Cork Constitution maintained their eight point lead in Division 1A of the All Ireland League as Highfield opened up a twelve point lead in Division 2A.

Clontarf were the visitors to Temple Hill but it was the home side who emerged winners 34-24. Con’ led 24-5 at half time and had tries from Niall Kenneally, JJ O’Neill, Liam O’Connell and Jason Higgins and Aidan Moynihan converted all four tries and added two penalties.

Lansdowne remain in second place after their 43-15 home win against Shannon. Jamie McGarry scored a try for Shannon who were also awarded a penalty try. Fionn McGibney kicked a penalty.

Garryowen remain in fourth place after their 32-31 home win over bottom side Terenure College. Diarmuid Barron scored two tries for the Light Blues and Cian O’Shea and Alex Wootton got one each. Ben Healy kicked a penalty and three conversions and Jamie Gavin also added a penalty.

Both U.C.C. and Young Munster both picked up two points each despite going down to narrow defeats.

Dublin University defeated U.C.C. 31-29 at College Park. John Poland, Cian Bohane, Shane O’Hanlon and Peter Sylvester all scored tries for U.C.C. and James Taylor converted three and also added a penalty.

Young Munster lost 33-31 to U.C.D. at Belfield. Conor Mitchell, Conor Bartley and Calvin Nash scored tries for Young Munster and they were also awarded a penalty try, Shane Airey kicked two conversions and Jack Lyons added a conversion and a penalty.

Highfield continued their impressive run in Division 2A with a 66-0 win away to bottom side Galwegians. Ben Murphy ran in four of Highfield’s ten tries and Dave O’Connell, Paul Stack, Colm Gallagher, Dave O’Sullivan, Chris Bannon and Gavin O’Leary got one each. Shane O’Riordan kicked six conversions and Paul Downes two.

Highfield’s lead is now extended to twelve points following fourth place U.L. Bohemian’s 36-20 home win over second placed Cashel. James Ryan gave Cashel an early 5-0 lead with a try. The home sides replied with a Joe Johnson try converted by Mike Mullally. Jonty Rae and Mullally exchanged penalties before a Rae try and conversion gave Cashel a 15-10 half time lead. Tries from Darragh O’Grady and Hugh Bourke both converted by Mullally made it 24-15 for the home side. Aidan McDonald kept Cashel in touch with a try but further tries from Bourke and Mullally and a conversion secured a maximum points win for “the Robins”.

Old Crescent kept their playoff places alive with a 9-5 away win at Nenagh Ormond. Peter Coman put Nenagh ahead with a try after five minutes which Alex Ropeti converted. Three second half penalties the last two minutes from time from Ronan McKenna earned Crescent the points.

A last minute try earned Blackrock College an 18-13 home win over Dolphin a result that sees Dolphin slip into the relegation zone. Emmet McCarthy was Dolphin’s try scorer and Daryl Foley converted and kicked two penalties.

Sunday’s Well remain bottom of Division 2B after their 23-15 home defeat by Greystones. Cormac Kelliher and Eoin Geary scored tries for the ‘Well and Geary added a conversion and a penalty.

Midleton defeated Division 2C leaders Ballina 17-10 but conceded a penalty in the eight minute of added time which gave the visitors a losing bonus point and a lead of five points ahead of Midleton. Benji Cottle and Mark Corby scored tries for Midleton and Stuart Lee converted both and also added a penalty.

Bruff remain in third place three points behind Midleton and just two ahead of Omagh Academicals who defeated them 27-26 in Omagh. Taylor Jones scored two tries for Bruff and Jack O’Grady and Johnny Clery got one each. Kevin McManus kicked three conversions.

Thomond’s hopes of moving out of the drop zone received a setback when they lost at home to City of Derry 16-13. Keelan Stephenson scored Thomond’s try and Evan Cusack kicked a conversion and two penalties.

RESULTS:

All Ireland League Division 1A: Cork Constitution 34, Clontarf 24;

Dublin University 31, U.C.C. 29;

Garryowen 32, Terenure College 31;

Lansdowne 43, Shannon 15;

U.C.D. 33, Young Munster 31;

Division 1B: Ballynahinch 17, Old Wesley 19;

City of Armagh 32, Buccaneers 27;

Malone 22, Banbridge 15;

Old Belvedere 52, Ballymena 7;

St. Mary’s College 18, Naas 11;

Division 2A: Blackrock College 18, Dolphin 13;

Galwegians 0, Highfield 66;

Nenagh Ormond 7, Old Crescent 9;

Queen’s University 26, Navan 7;

U.L. Bohemian 36, Cashel 20;

Division 2B: Belfast Harlequins 10, Rainey Old Boys 19;

Dungannon 25, Wanderers 10;

MU Barnhall 41, Corinthians 10;

Sligo 27, Skerries 27;

Sunday’s Well 15, Greystones 23;

Division 2C: Bangor 0, Seapoint 13;

Malahide 13, Tullamore 12;

Midleton 17, Ballina 10;

Omagh Academicals 27, Bruff 26;

Thomond 13, City of Derry 16;