All Ireland League Roundup

Cork Constitution leap frog Terenure in Division 1A of the All Ireland League as Shannon go top in Division 1B with just one round of games remaining.

At Temple Hill Cork Constitution defeated Terenure College 30-27 thanks mainly to the boot of Tomas Quinlan who converted tries from Vincent O’Brien, Alex McHenry and Conor Kindregan and also added three penalties.

Garryowen kept their play-off place alive with a 22-10 away win over Buccaneers a result that relegates Buccs to Division 1B next season. Diarmuid Barron scored two tries for Garryowen and Tim Ferguson got one. Neill Cronin converted two of the tries and also kicked a penalty.

Young Munster’s playoff hopes ended at home to Lansdowne as the leaders defeated them 27-24. Diarmuid Dee, Colm Skehan, Luke Fitzgerald and Colm Hayes scored tries for the Cookies and Shane Airy kicked two conversions.

Following Ballynahinch’s 14-14 draw with Old Wesley, Shannon moved back to the top of Division 1B with a 12-7 win away to Old Belvedere. Conor Fitzgerald and Ty Chan scored tries for Shannon and Fitzgerald added one conversion.

U.C.C. secured their playoff place with a 32-31 home win over Banbridge in a game that was also their colours match. John Poland, Cian Bohane, Paul Kiernan and John Hodnett scored tries for the students and James Taylor kicked three conversions and two penalties.

UL Bohemian who led Naas 23-3 at half time on the 4G pitch in U.L. had to survive a second half fight back by the Kildare side before emerging 29-20 winners. Darren O’Grady and Adrian Enright scored tries for the Limerick side and Robbie Bourke kicked five penalties.

Trailing 20-19 at half-time Ballymena fought back at Irish Independent Park for a 43-27 victory over relegated Dolphin. Kevin O’Leary, Will Hanly and Colin Sisk scored tries for Dolphin and Barry Keeshan converted all three tries and added two penalties.

The top of the table clash in Division 2A saw Highfield defeated leaders Malone 26-24. With the game in the fifth minute of added time and Malone leading 24-19 and promotion and the title in their grasp, a quickly taken penalty by Highfield saw Eddie Earle touch down to level and Paddy O’Toole’s conversion gave the home side the points and kept the title race open for another week.

Luke Kingston and Brian O’Hea also scored tries for Highfield who were also awarded a penalty try. O’Toole converted one of those tries.

Cashel have moved into third place after their 27-24 home win over Blackrock College. Niall Fitzgerald and Brian Silke scored tries for Cashel and they were also awarded two penalty tries. Darragh Lyons kicked a penalty.

Nenagh Ormond are fourth despite losing at home to Queens University 35-30. David Gleeson scored two tries for the Tipperary side and Willie Coffey, Fergal Brislane and Peter Coman got one each. Clayton Stewart kicked a penalty and a conversion.

Old Crescent hopes of making it seventeen wins from seventeen in Division 2B ended at Parsonstown when NUMI Barnhall held them to a 36-36 draw. Brian Tuohy scored three tries for Crescent and Val McDermott and Ronan McKenna got one each with McKenna kicking four conversions and a penalty.

Sunday’s Well made it six wins in a row after their 31-21 away win at Dungannon. Rob O’Keeffe (2), Eoin Geary, Shane Desmond and Ryan Buckley were the ‘Well try scorers with Geary kicking three conversions.

In Division 2C Thomond lost top place to Sligo despite their 10-7 home win over Tullamore. David O’Halloran scored Thomond’s try and Evan Cusack kicked a conversion and a penalty. Thomond now travel to Sligo for their final game next week where a win will see them automatically promoted.

Midleton defeated Omagh 13-7 with a try from John Gardiner and a conversion and two penalties from Stuart Lee to still keep alive their outside chance of a play-off place.

Bruff eased their relegation worries with a 19-6 home win over Bective Rangers a result that sees Bective relegated from the All Ireland League.

RESULTS:
All Ireland League Division 1A: Buccaneers 10, Garryowen 22;
Cork Constitution 30, Terenure College 27;
Dublin University 11, UCD 10;
St. Mary’s College 30, Clontarf 45;
Young Munster 24, Lansdowne 27;
Division 1B: Dolphin 27, Ballymena 43;
Old Belvedere 7, Shannon 12;
Old Wesley 14, Ballynahinch 14;
U.C.C. 32, Banbridge 31;
U.L. Bohemian 29, Naas 20;
Division 2A: Cashel 27, Blackrock College 24;
City of Armagh 36, Galwegians 39;
Galway Corinthians 23, Greystones 26;
Highfield 26, Malone 24;
Nenagh Ormond 30, Queens University 35;
Division 2B: Belfast Harlequins 56, City of Derry 17;
Dungannon 21, Sunday’s Well 31;
MU Barnhall 36, Old Crescent 36;
Rainey Old Boys 6, Navan 15;
Wanderers 20, Skerries 8;
Division 2C: Bangor 6, Seapoint 11;
Bruff 19, Bective Rangers 6;
Malahide 32, Sligo 34;
Midleton 13, Omagh 7;
Thomond 10, Tullamore 7;