All Ireland League Roundup

As the Men’s All Ireland League reached the halfway stage, several local derbies dominated the weekend’s action.

In Division 1A Young Munster snatched a dramatic win with a late penalty by Julian Lesczynski to defeat Garryowen 25-24 at Tom Clifford Park. The sides were level 10-10 at half time and the visitors were 24-17 ahead entering the final stages when a Stephen McLoughlin try, and Lesczynski’s penalty denied the Light Blues victory. Oisin Pepper, Tom Goggin and Ruadhan Quinn were Young Munster’s try scorers and Lesczynski added one conversion. Bryan Fitzgerald replied with two tries for Garryowen and Dylan Hicks got one and he converted all three tries as well as kicking a penalty.

Cork Constitution kept their challenge of a top four finish alive with a 38-33 home win against U.C.D. Danny Sheahan scored two tries for Con’ and Adam Maher, Daniel Hurley, Aidan Moynihan and Sean French got one each. James Taylor kicked four conversions.

In Division 1B, U.C.C. hopes of a playoff place were dealt a blow, when they lost at home to high flying Nenagh Ormond 34-25, who came late in the game to claim the spoils. Evan Murphy, Jake O’Kelly, Conor O’Shaughnessy and Willie Coffey were the Nenagh try scorers. Conor McMahon kicked four conversions and two penalties. Mike Cogan, Adam Wrona and Neville O’Leary replied with tries for College. Gene O’Leary Kareem kicked two conversions and two penalties.

In the meeting of the bottom two sides in the back pitch in Thomond Park, a late converted try gave bottom side Highfield a much needed boost with a 21-18 win against Shannon to leave them two points behind the Limerick side. David O’Sullivan, Eoin Duggan and Darragh Fitzgerald were the ‘Field try scorers, and all were converted by Shane O’Riordan. Jack Brady and Matt TePau replied with tries for Shannon. John O’Sullivan kicked a penalty, and Sean Nolan added a conversion and a penalty.

In Division 2A, both Munster sides lost with Cashel dropping out of the playoff places after their 30-17 defeat away to M.U. Barnhall. Alan Flannery and Cormac O’Donnell scored tries for the Tipperary side, and Ben Twomey converted both and also added a penalty.

Old Crescent did pick up a losing bonus point as they lost away to Greystones 29-22. Brandon Nash scored Crescent’s try and Ronan McKenna converted and also added five penalties.

U.L. Bohemian’s 22-17 away defeat to Malahide sees them slip out of the top four in Division 2B. Paul Clancy and Darren Farrar scored tries for “The Robins” and Oisin Fagan converted both and also added a penalty.

The meeting of the top two sides in Division2C at Virgin Media Park, saw Dolphin and Midleton share the spoils after playing out a 15-15 draw, with Midleton preserving their unbeaten record with a last minute try from Evan Donovan, which Aaron            James converted. Dolphin controlled the game with all their points coming from the boot of Jordan Soli who kicked five penalties. Joannes du Toit scored Midleton’s opening try and James also kicked a penalty.

Clonmel kept their promotion challenge alive with a 28-22 home win against Bruff. Tom O’Dea scored two tries for Clonmel and Freddie Davies and Harry Buttimer got one each. Josef O’Connor converted all four tries. Bruff replied with two tries from Cillian Rea and they were also awarded a penalty try. Paul Collins kicked a penalty and a conversion.

In the Women’s AIL U.L. Bohemian kept up their challenge with another impressive performance defeating Galwegians 53-10 at Crowley Park. They scored nine tries with Alana McInerney getting two and Laoise McGonagle, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Muirne Wall, Ciara Mcloughlin, Eilis Cahill, Claire Bennett and Chloe Pearse getting one each. Kate Flannery kicked four conversions.

There was no joy for Ballincollig who suffered a 91-0 defeat away to leaders Railway Union.

RESULTS

Energia All Ireland League Division 1A:Clontarf 35,City of Armagh 25;

Cork Constitution 38,U.C.D. 33;

Lansdowne 26,St. Mary’s College 32;

Terenure College 24,Ballynahinch 3;

Young Munster 25,Garryowen 24;

Division 1B:Dublin University 13,Blackrock College 10;

Naas 11,Old Belvedere 51;

Queen’s University 19,Old Wesley 14;

Shannon 18,Highfield 21;

U.C.C. 25,Nenagh Ormond 34;

Division 2A:Galway Corinthians 64,Buccaneers 0;

Greystones 29,Old Crescent 22;

Instonians 33,Banbridge 21;

M.U. Barnhall 30,Cashel 17;

Navan 22,Ballymena 21;

Division 2B:Dungannon 31,Malone 14;

Malahide 30,U.L. Bohemian 17;

Rainey 32,Clogher Valley 20;

Skerries 26,Wanderers 24;

Sligo 7,Galwegians 24;

Division 2C:Belfast Harlequins 21,Ballyclare 21;

Clonmel 28,Bruff 22;

Dolphin 15,Midleton 15;

Monkstown 29,Enniscorthy 40;

Omagh Academicals 3,Tullamore 17;

Energia Women’s All Ireland League:Blackrock College 26,Suttonians 5;

Galwegians 10,U.L. Bohemian 53;

Old Belvedere 60,Tullow 0;

Railway Union 91,Ballincollig 0;

Wicklow 64,Cooke 0;