Senior Rugby Roundup

Cork Constitution and Young Munster remain in the hunt for playoff places in Division 1A of the All Ireland League, following excellent victories.

Young Munster caused the shock of the day with a 24-19 win over second place Clontarf at Tom Clifford Park. Trailing 16-10 at half-time, two second-half tries by Pa Ryan and Dan Walsh converted by Evan Cusack and Conor Hayes earned the home side victory. The winners were awarded a penalty try in the opening half and Cusack kicked a penalty.

Cork Constitution continued their recent good run with a 36-25 home win against Lansdowne. Aidan Moynihan, George Coomber, Luke Kerr, Alessandro Heaney, and Jack Kelleher scored tries for the Temple Hill side and Moynihan kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Shannon picked up a valuable losing bonus point after they lost 34-28 to second placed Dublin University at College Park. Aran Hehir, Dan Hurley, Alan Flannery, and Lee Nicholas scored tries for Shannon. Mike Cooke kicked four conversions.

Garryowen remained rooted to the bottom of the table after their 47-22 defeat by U.C.D. at Dooradoyle. JJ O’Neill scored two tries for the Light Blues and Nick Greene got one. Jack Oliver kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Division 1B leaders Buccaneers maintained their lead with a convincing 29-0 home win against second-placed UCC.

Highfield got back into contention for promotion with a 21-10 home win over Old Belvedere. Richard Cassidy, Cian Bohane, and Miah Cronin scored tries for Highfield and Shane Buckley converted all three tries.

Cashel recorded a 24-19 away win over Dolphin to record a bonus point win in Division 2A to maintain their promotion challenge, while Dolphin slip into the relegation zone. In a rip-roaring opening half Dolphin led 19-17 at the interval, with tries from Barry Fitzgerald, James Rochford, and Rob Reardon. Tomas Quinlan kicked two conversions. Cashel had two tries from Brendan Ryan, with Niall Fitzgerald and Alfredo Bergada also scoring tries. Josh O’Dwyer kicked two conversions.

Old Crescent staged a great recovery at Takumi Park coming from 28-3 down to defeat Nenagh Ormond 29-28 and moved out of the relegation zone also. Cathal Monaghan, Tavita Toia, Michael O’Halloran, and Jack O’Mahony scored tries for Crescent. Ronan McKenna kicked three conversions and a penalty. Nenagh made a great start with tries from David Gleeson, John Hayes, Willie Coffey, and Cian Ryan. Conor McMahon converted all four tries but some stupid mistakes proved costly.

Leaders Queens University proved too strong for bottom side U.L. Bohemian at Dub Lane, winning 48-19.

In Division 2C, Clonmel who were in relegation trouble a few weeks ago moved into the play-off places with a 29-15 away win at bottom-side Ballina. Jason Monua scored two tries for the Tipperary side and Brian O’Dea got one. Dylan Cadogan kicked four penalties and a conversion.

Midleton staged a great recovery at Bangor after trailing 17-3, a second-half revival that yielded tries from Gearoid Collins, Mark Stanton, and Denis Broderick. Stuart Lee converted all three tries and also added three penalties for a 30-17 victory.

Tries from Shane Duggan and Pa Maher both converted by Paul Collins gave Bruff a 14-0 early lead away to runaway leaders Instonians, but the Ulster side came out 36-28 winners. Tony Cahill, and Kieran Bennett also added tries to earn Bruff a four-try bonus point. Collins converted both tries.

Fabien Loughery gave Sunday’s Well an early 3-0 lead with a penalty, but second placed Tullamore hit back to win 29-10. Shane Keevers scored a late try for the ‘Well and Loughery converted.

UL Bohemian staged their best performance of the season with a 55-12 away win at Cooke in the Women’s All Ireland League. Alana McInerney and Ciara O’Dwyer each scored two tries for the visitors and Eilis Cahill, Clara Barrett, Clodagh O’Halloran, Kate Flannery, and Aoife Corry got one each. Nicole Cronin kicked four conversions and Flannery one.

Tries from Denise Redmond and Tiara Siguenza were not enough for Ballincollig who lost 24-12 away to Suttonians. Redmond kicked one conversion.

RESULTS

Men’s All Ireland League Division 1A: Cork Constitution 36, Lansdowne 25;

Dublin University 34, Shannon 28;

Garryowen 22, U.C.D. 47;

Terenure College 38, Ballynahinch 21;

Young Munster 24, Clontarf 19;

Division 1B: Banbridge 7, City of Armagh 10;

Buccaneers 29, U.C.C. 0;

Highfield 21, Old Belvedere 10;

Naas 30, St. Mary’s College 32;

Old Wesley 31, Malone 18;

Division 2A:  21, M.U. Barnhall 22;

Blackrock College 26, Navan 25;

Dolphin 19, Cashel 24;

Old Crescent 29, Nenagh Ormond 28;

Queens University 48, U.L. Bohemian 19;

Division 2B: Dungannon 24, Galway Corinthians 31;

Enniscorthy 10, Belfast Harlequins 30;

Galwegians 11, Malahide 13;

Greystones 29, Rainey Old Boys 7;

Wanderers 19, Sligo 22;

Division 2C: Ballina 15, Clonmel 29;

Bangor 17, Midleton 30;

Instonians 36, Bruff 28;

Skerries 14, Omagh Academicals 3;

Tullamore 29, Sunday’s Well 10;

Women’s All Ireland League: Cooke 12, U.L. Bohemian 55;

Old Belvedere 17, Wicklow 8;

Railway Union 17, Blackrock College 19;

Suttonians 24, Ballincollig 12;