All Ireland League Roundup

Five of the six Munster clubs in Divisions 1A and 1B of the All Ireland League recorded wins as the league resumed after last week’s break.

In the top game of the day in Division 1A, Young Munster defeated Lansdowne 24-20 at the Aviva Stadium. Conor Hayes was the hero for “The Cookies “ scoring three tries. Evan Cusack converted all three and added two penalties.

Leaders Garryowen continued their unbeaten run with a 27-22 away win at Ballynahinch. The Light blues led 24-0 at half time with two tries from Pat O’Toole and one by Jack Daly. Tony Butler converted all three tries and also added a penalty. Garryowen’s only score after the break was a second Butler penalty.

After three defeats, Cork Constitution got back to winning ways with a deserving 32-13 win over Dublin University at Temple Hill. Jack Crowley, Greg Higgins, Sean French and Niall Kenneally scored tries for the winners. Aidan Moynihan kicked two conversions and two penalties and Crowley also added a conversion.

UCD. beat UCC 40-31 at Belfield in a game that produced eleven tries. Matthew Bowen scored three for the Cork students and Luke Kerr and George Coomber got one each. Billy Kiernan converted three of the tries.

In Division 1B, a late penalty by Shane O’Riordan earned Highfield a hard earned 20-17 victory over Malone at Gibson Park. Robert Murphy, Miah Cronin and Travis Coomey scored tries for Highfield and O’Riordan kicked a conversion to keep Highfield in top spot on points difference from Old Wesley.

Shannon moved up to fourth place after their 32-10 home win over Old Belvedere where Jake Flannery contributed two tries, three conversions and two penalties. Killian Dineen and Ikem Ugwueru were Shannon’s other try scorers.

Nenagh Ormond recorded their first win of the campaign in Division 2A with a 22-11 home win over UL Bohemian in their basement clash. Fionn McGibney and Harry Byrne exchanged penalties in the opening minutes before a try from Rob Buckley, converted by McGibney edged the Tipperary side ahead. A second penalty from Byrne left the half time score 10-6 in favour of Nenagh. Peter Coman and Derek Corcoran added further tries with McGibney converting the latter. Bohs’ only answer was a try from Teddy Rowsome 11 minutes from time.

Despite being 21-3 down after 25 minutes, Dolphin staged a great fight back but lost 26-20 at home to Ballymena. Cameron O’Shaughnessy opened the scoring with a penalty for Dolphin but the visitors responded with three converted tries. A try by Sam Boyle converted by O’Shaughnessy brought Dolphin back into the game just before half time. Tries from Murray Linn and Cian Scott in a seven minute spell just after the break closed the gap to a point but Ballymena scored a bonus point try twelve minutes from time.

Old Crescent stay rooted to the bottom of the table after they lost at home to Buccaneers 34-20. Dan Hurley and Kevin Doyle were two of Old Crescent’s try scorers and Ronan McKenna kicked a penalty and a conversion.

The Cashel v Old Rainey game was called off because of Covid and both sides will be awarded two points each with an 0-0 result been recorded.

Midleton won the Munster derby at home to Bruff in Division 2C, winning 28-15. Bruff led 12-9 at half time with two tries from Mark Fitzgerald and a conversion by Adam O’Dwyer to three Stuart Lee penalties. Bryan Moore, Dave O’Sullivan and Shane Anderson scored tries after the break for the home side and Lee converted two. O’Dwyer replied with a penalty for Bruff.

Clonmel lost at home to Skerries 24-0 and bottom side Omagh Academicals defeated Sunday’s Well 36-8 to leave the Cork side propping up the table. Ryan Buckley scored a try for the Well and Eoin Geary kicked a penalty.

In the Women’s All Ireland League neither of the Munster sides played. The Ballincollig v Railway Union game was postponed because of Covid issues and the UL Bohemian game against Wicklow was called off.

Results

All Ireland League Division 1A:

Ballynahinch 22, Garryowen 27;
Cork Constitution 32, Dublin University 13;
Lansdowne 20, Young Munster 24;
Terenure College 14, Clontarf 29;
U.C.D. 40, U.C.C. 31;

Division 1B:

Malone 17, Highfield 20;
Naas 20, Old Wesley 36;
Navan 30, Banbridge 20;
Shannon 32, Old Belvedere 10;
St. Mary’s College 35, City of Armagh 13;

Division 2A:

Cashel 0, Rainey Old Boys 0;
Dolphin 20, Ballymena 26;
M.U. Barnhall 16, Queens University 24;
Nenagh Ormond 22, U.L. Bohemian 11;
Old Crescent 20, Buccaneers 34;

Division 2B:

Ballina 24, Greystones 38;
Blackrock College 20, Belfast Harlequins 22;
Dungannon 42, Galwegians 19;
Galway Corinthians 12, Sligo 16;
Malahide 10, Wanderers 40;

Division 2C:

City of Derry 16, Bangor 23;
Clonmel 0, Skerries 24;
Midleton 28, Bruff 15;
Omagh Academicals 36, Sunday’s Well 8;
Tullamore 12, Enniscorthy 15;

Women’s All Ireland League:

Ballincollig 0, Railway Union 0;
Blackrock College 52, Malone 7;
Cooke 7, Galwegians 47;
Suttonians 17, Old Belvedere 22;
U.L. Bohemian v Wicklow postponed;