Senior Rugby Round-Up

League Leaders Lansdowne extend their lead to twelve points at the top of Division 1A following their 34-14 victory over Cork Constitution a Temple Hill today.

The Cork side suffered their second home defeat in a row and for the second week running found themselves with a mountain to climb heading into the break having failed to register any points in the first half.

Craig Ronaldson opened the scoring for Lansdowne with a penalty in the fifth minute. Five minutes later Foster Horan gathered a Cork Con dropped ball and broke from inside his own half to touch down in the left corner. Ronaldson added the extras.

An injury to Cork Constitution Flanker, Brian O’ Hara halted play for a number of minutes as he was replaced by Brian Vaughan. Not long after play resumed, Lansdowne missed the chance to extend their lead when a Ronaldson penalty fell wide.

The visitors continued to heap pressure on the Cork Con defence and when Ferdia Doherty found space in the centre, Ron Boucher was there in support to touch down just right of the posts. Ronaldson slotted the conversion. The closing moments of the half saw the out-half cross the whitewash for a try , which converted took the league leaders into the break with a comfortable 0-24 lead.

Lansdowne extended the gap early in the half with a penalty in front of the posts. Five minutes later, Tadgh Beirne touched down for the all important fourth try which was converted by Ronaldson.

The home side were reduced to fourteen when Andrew O’ Driscoll was shown yellow ten minutes into the half. Ronaldson missed his second penalty of the day when his long-range kick fell just wide.

Similar to last week Con sprung to life in the closing stages of the game and full-back Daragh Lyons was unlucky when he knocked on an intercepted pass on the half way line. The Cork side worked their way into the twenty two and after a series of drives, Captain Gerry Hurley crossed the line in the left corner to register their first points of the day, the conversion courtesy of Johnny Holland. Con continued to attack in the final moments and were rewarded when Cathal O’ Flaherty got over the line in the opposite corner. A further conversion from Holland reduced the gap to 14-34 on the final whistle.

The bonus point win takes the leaders twelve points clear at the summit.

Cork Constitution XV: Daragh Lyons, Niall O’ Driscoll, Cronan Healy, Scott Deasy, Conor Desmond, Jonathan Holland, Gerry Hurley (Capt), James Rochford, Andrew O’ Driscoll, Chris Corkery, Brian Hayes, Philip Donellan, Graeme Lawler, Brian O’ Hara, Cathal O’ Flaherty Replacements: Brian Vaughan, Pat Galvin, Alan Ross, Alex Ryan, Robert Clune.

Lansdowne XV: Ross McCarron (Capt), Cian Aherne, Ferdia Doherty, Simon Morrissey, Foster Horan, Craig Ronaldson, Paddy O’ Driscoll, Ian Prendeville, Steve Collins, Darren O’ Reilly, Willie Earl, Tadgh Beirne, Clive Ross, Charlie Butterworth, Ron Boucher Replacements: Tyrone Moran, Richard Liddington, Mark Feely, Marcus Walsh, Greg Stafford.

Young Munster occupied second spot heading into their game away to Clontarf today. However, a 35-10 defeat at Castle Avenue saw them slip two places into fourth.

Tries either side of the break from Shane O’ Leary and Colin Liston were not enough as Clontarf secured a bonus point victory moving them up to third place, a point above the Limerick side. Young Munster do have a game in hand away to Dolphin at Musgrave Park after their fixture was postponed due to a water logged pitch last month.

Scorers: Clontarf; Tries: Michael McGrath 2, Richie Lane, Adrian D’Arcy, Killian Lett; Cons: Richie Lane; Pens: Richie Lane 2 Young Munster: Tries: Shane O’ Leary, Colin Liston

A last minute 20-18 defeat for Dolphin away to St. Mary’s College at Templeville Road saw them drop four points behind their rivals today with their game in hand against Young Munster yet to be played.

Dolphin took a 10-3 lead into the break after Harry Fleming blocked down a St. Mary’s clearance to score the first try of the afternoon and Barry Keeshan kicked a further five points. While Gavin Dunne kicked a penalty for St. Mary’s.

The in form Gavin Dunne reduced the gap with a well-kicked penalty early in the second half. But the visitors responded with a try from Munster Academy player, Cian Bohane. Dunne and Keeshan exchanged penalties, while the Dolphin out-half also slotted a drop goal between the posts. The Cork side lead 18-12 heading into the final stages of the game. However, a Matthew D’Arcy try following a block down of a Barry Keeshan clearence saw him over the line. With a point between them, the home side were awarded a penalty inside the twenty two. Dunne was on target to secure the win for the defending champions.

Scorers St Mary’s: Try: Matthew D’Arcy; Pens: Gavin Dunne 5 Dolphin: Tries: Harry Fleming, Cian Bohane; Pens: Barry Keeshan 2; Drop: Barry Keeshan; Con: Barry Keeshan

St Mary’s: C Hogan; S Toal-Lennon, M O’Driscoll, R Hudson, D Fanning; G Dunne, M D’Arcy (c); C McMahon, D Fawcwtt, A Lyons; C Ruddock, M Fallon; K Sheahan, G Austen, D Keller. Replacements used P Brophy, R Lennon.

Dolphin: E Mills; J Kiernan, D Barnes, C Bohane, H Fleming; B Keeshan, C Bannon; J Cronin, N Scannell (c), C Condon; J Madigan, D O’Shea; M Cronin, J Quill, B O’Callaghan. Replacements used: R O’Herlihy, C Rowe.

At the bottom end of the table Shannon secured only their third win of the season with a 28-17 victory at home to Old Belvedere. A vital win which takes them within two points of second from bottom, U.L. Bohemian after they were defeated 38-3 by Garryowen in Friday night's game at Dooradoyle.

Shannon romped into a 17-0 half time lead and looked to be in cruise control and on their way to their best win of what has been a pretty poor campaign.

They welcomed back Munster star Niall Ronan who got a late, late, try to deny a spirited Old Belvedere even a bonus point and they got no reward for battling back to make it 17-17.

They might have increased the mounting Shannon troubles but Josh Glynnn was wide with a penalty effort. After that let-off Shannon turned on the style in an amazing final six minutes.

Tadhg Bennett dropped a goal to restore Shannon's lead and then Guerin landed a penalty before Ronan's touchdown for the late try with the conversion going wide off the upright.

Guerin put Shannon in front after eight minutes and he was inches wide with another effort. A prop from each side was sin binned during which period Shannon had their first try when James Loxton finished off a fine movement. Bennett converted to make it 10-0 and when a second Belvedere forward was binned the visitors had only thirteen on duty for a brief few minutes. During that time Richie Mullane raced over and Bennett's conversion made it 17-0.

If Shannon thought they were in for a stroll around Thomond Park in the second half Old Belvedere had other ideas.
Jonathan Slattery and Josh Eden-Whatiri both had close in tries which Glynn conveted and he also kicked a penalty. Suddenly it was all square.

But Shannon have always been known for their spirit and they finished powerfully for a precious win.

Scorers: Shannon: Tries: James Loxton, Richie Mullane, Niall Ronan; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 2: Pens: Rob Guerin 2; Drop: Tadhg Bennett Old Belvedere: Tries: Jonathan Slattery, Josh Eden-Whatiri; Cons: Josh Glynn 2; Pen: Josh Glynn

In Division 1B Bruff travelled to Belfast Harlequins and lost 26-20 but did secure a losing bonus point.

U.C.C. kept up their challenge in Division 2A with a narrow 17-13 away win over bottom side DLSP.

Highfield bounced back after their trauma off the field with a 21-13 home win over City Of Derry. The sides were tied 10-10 at half time. Paddy Ryan and Jason Carton scored tries for the ‘Field and Paddy O’Toole kicked a conversion and three penalties.

Cashel suffered a heavy defeat away to Queens University 38-13. John Ed O’Connor scored a try for the Tipperary side and Pat O’Connor converted and kicked two penalties.

Old Crescent played a 20-20 draw away to Greystones. Brendan Guilfoyle scored a try for Crescent who were also awarded a penalty try. Aidan McNulty converted both and also added two penalties.

In Division 2B Nenagh Ormond kept up their push for promotion with an 18-16 home win over fellow promotion contenders Boyne.

Sunday’s Well came from 18-3 down at Musgrave Park to share the spoils with Sligo. Aidan Reilly and Matt Quinlivan scored tries for the Well and Shane O’Riordan kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Sunday’s Well: D O’Shea; S O’Sullivan, R O’Mahony, C Horgan, P Sheehan; S O’Riordan, P Arigho; I Murphy, J Moynihan (c), F Moynihan; S Walsh, S Desmond; D Loftus, J Mulcahy, E Murphy. Replacements: W McCarthy, J Barry, A Reilly, D O’Connell, M Quinlivan.

Sligo: M Butler; C Keane, J Harimate, A Spring, S Donnelly; P Pearson, M Murphy; R Mannion, T Power, C Mitchell; J Wilson, P Mullan; D Heath, R Kerins, A McNulty. Replacements: R Keegan, A Williams, R Burrows, W Maxwell, A McHale. .

Both Clonakilty and Thomond continued their push away from the relegation zone with victories. Three penalties from James Deasy earned Clonakilty a 9-0 home win over Instonians.

Thomond travelled to Dublin and defeated Suttonians 25-20.

Ulster Bank League Division 1A:

Clontarf 35 Young Munster 10
Cork Constitution 14 Lansdowne 34
Garryowen 38 U.L. Bohemian 3
Shannon 28 Old Belvedere 17
St. Mary's College 20 Dolphin 18

Division 1B:

Ballynahinch 66 Ballymena 5
Belfast Harlequins 26 Bruff 20
Blackrock College 31 Dungannon 5
Buccaneers 37 Malone 30
U.C.D. 17 Dublin University 10

Division 2A:
Banbridge 39 Midleton 14

Bective Rangers 10 Corinthians 12

D.L.S.P. 13 U.C.C. 17
Galwegians 22 Seapoint 26
Greystones 20 Old Crescent 20
Highfield 21 City of Derry 13
Queens University 38 Cashel 13
Terenure College 43 Old Wesley 14

Division 2B:

Ards 38 Navan 31
City of Armagh 28 Naas 13
Clonakilty 9 Instonians 0
Nenagh Ormond 18 Boyne 16
NUIM Barnhall 44 Connemara 12
Rainey Old Boys 26 Skerries 12
Sunday's Well 18 Sligo 18
Suttonians 20 Thomond 25