Ulster Bank League Roundup

Young Munster win the big Limerick derby to end Shannon’s unbeaten run as Garryowen cause an upset at Temple Hill with an away victory over Cork Constitution.

Young Munster 9, Shannon 3. (Cormac Liddy)
Young Munster, despite squandering a number of try scoring opportunities and having a player sent off after 31 minutes held out for a deserved win against Shannon at Clifford Park in a teak tough and bruising local derby.
Backed by the very strong wind it took Young Munster only three minutes to go in front when Willie Staunton dropped a goal and when Shannon were penalised in a scrum Staunton doubled the score when he landed a penalty to make it 6-0 after as many minutes
But Shannon got back into the game two minutes later when out half Gareth Quinn McDonagh landed a penalty from in front of the posts when two Young Munster players collided.
Quinn McDonagh picked up a slight knock which opened the way for Tadgh Bennett to make his first appearance of the season and his first action was a penalty but his effort drifted wide.
Shannon almost got in for a try after 22 minutes. Player coach Stephen Keogh and Paddy Butler were involved in a great surge but they were held up at the line and Staunton lifted the siege with a penalty.
Shannon's John Clogan had to retire injured after 24 minutes and Quinn McDonagh returned to the action in the centre.
Staunton failed with a penalty from inside his own half after 26 minutes but the game took a dramatic turn after 31 minutes when a touch judge indicated that he had seen Ger Slattery punch Keogh and the Young Munster hooker was shown a straight red card.
Young Munster set up a good three-quarter movement with Craig O'Hanlon making a great break but he was brought to ground and the half ended with Young Munster leading 6-3.
It took a superb tackle by Luke O'Dea to deny Young Munster a try nine minutes into the second half and two minutes later Staunton landed his second penalty to make it 9-3.
Winger Darragh O'Neill looked certain to grab a Young Munster try but he knocked on when touching down after chasing his own chip ahead.
After 63 minutes Young Munster had a 3 on 1 overlap but again the chance was wasted.
Shannon applied intense pressure in the final minutes but did well to go home with a bonus point.

Cork Constitution 9, Garryowen 13.
Garryowen made it two wins from two visits to Temple Hill this season when they collected the points in this Division 1A game.
In a hard fought opening half Garryowen took the lead on the stroke of half time with a try from Alan Gaughan which Fergal Lawlor converted.
Ten minutes into the second half Gerry Hurley opened Con’s account with a penalty. Garryowen hit back immediately with penalties from Lawlor and Gaughan to go 13-3 ahead with twenty minutes remaining.
Hurley did secure a losing bonus point for the home side with two late penalties.

St. Mary’s College 15, Dolphin 7.
A poor first half performance by Dolphin at Templeville Road saw the Cork side leave Dublin empty handed as they trailed 15-0 at half time. A try by Ronan Doherty and a penalty by Gavin Dunne gave the home side an early 8-0 lead.
A yellow card to Gavin Duffy did not help Dolphin’s cause just before half time and the home side were then awarded a penalty try which Dunne converted.
Dolphin improved in the second half and when Cian Bohane was impeded from scoring a second penalty try was awarded and Barry Keeshan converted but Dolphin were unable to add to this tally despite plenty of possession.

U.L. Bohemian 8, Buccaneers 12. (Cormac Liddy)
A try fourteen minutes into the second half by Martin Staunton, converted by Adam Kennedy, gave Buccaneers victory against UL Bohemian in this Division 1B tie at Annacotty.
The swirling wind posed problems for both place kickers who were off target in the first half and at the end of which UL Bohemian led 8-5.
JJ Hanrahan had the home side in front early on but Buccaneers struck for the opening try. It came after Cathal Sheridan, the Bohes scrumhalf was sin binned. This spurred Buccs to go on the offensive and persistent pressure close-in was rewarded when fullback John O'Brien got in for a try.
Ben Martin replaced Chris Nairn on the wing for the home side who scored a spectacular try after 24 minutes.
They took a quick line-out throw inside their own 22. The ball was moved wide and when Martin McPhail made a superb break through the middle Darren Moroney was at his shoulder to take the pass and race in for a try that Hanrahan was unable to convert.
The only score of the second half was Staunton's try which came following a series of pick and go drives for the line which eventually paid off

U.C. D. 21, Bruff 8.
Despite trailing 18-0 at half time at Belfield, Bruff put in an excellent performance but had nothing to show for their efforts at the end of the day.
John Shine scored a try for the visitors early in the second half and Brian Cahill kicked a penalty but it was not enough to even secure a losing bonus point.

Ballynahinch 31, U.C.C. 11
Ballynahinch stay top of Division 1B after two late converted tries made sure of the points for the Ulster side.
College were trailing 17-11 with ten minutes remaining and looked like they would at least secure their third losing bonus point of the campaign until the home side struck. Brian Slater scored a try for the students and Brian Kingston kicked two penalties.

Old Crescent 23, Seapoint 25
Old Crescent lost their unbeaten record when Seapoint defeated them by two points at Rosbrien.
Will Hanly and Brendan Guilfoyle scored tries for the Limerick side who were also awarded a penalty try. Tom Cregan kicked two penalties and Shane Mullally added a conversion.

Midleton 24, City of Derry 14.
Midleton recorded their first win when they came from 14-10 down at half time to win with two second half converted tries.
Kevin Brierly and Gareth Hogan scored the tries after the break and Jeff Hitchmough got the rest a try, three conversions and a penalty.

Clonakilty 21, Thomond 24.
A try five minutes into injury time by Thomond’s Eugene Payne denied bottom side Clonakilty their first win of the season in a thrilling encounter at The Vale.
Thomond led 16-10 at half time with a try from Darragh Hartery and a conversion and three penalties from Ger Finucane. Matt Kirby replied with a try, conversion and penalty for the home side.
Denis McCarthy closed the gap with a penalty for the home side and a try by Stephen Cotter put Clon’ 18-16 ahead.
Four minutes from time Finucane restored Thomond’s advantage with his fourth penalty but McCarthy replied with another penalty for the home side for a two point lead and then came Payne’s injury time winner.

Naas 3, Cashel 21.
Cashel lost top spot on points difference in Division 2B despite this away victory over Naas.
A try by Kevin Quinlan and a conversion and three penalties by Darragh O’Brien gave the Tipperary side a 16-0 interval lead. O’Brien scored a try after the break to preserve Cashel’s unbeaten run.

Rainey Old Boys 36, Sunday’s Well 9.
Rainey Old Boys moved to the top of Division 2B with this bonus point victory at Hatrick Park.
The home side led 29-3 at half time and despite Shane O’Riordan kicking three penalties for the visitors the home side were totally on top.

Nenagh Ormond 40, Connemara 15.
Connemara’s great start to the season came to an abrupt halt at New Ormond as the home side picked up maximum points to move into third place a point behind the leaders. Conor Brislane scored two tires for Nenagh and Damien Dunne and Shane O’Callaghan got one apiece. Donal Fogarty converted all four tries and also added four penalties.

Highfield 6, Banbridge 25.
After a bright opening at Woodleigh Park Highfield lost their way as Banbridge strolled to bonus point victory.
Colin Mahony kicked Highfield into an early lead with two penalties but costly mistakes allowed Banbridge in for four tries before the break to secure the bonus point.
Despite dominating territorially for long periods after the break the home side were unable to add to their tally.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf 25, Lansdowne 13;
Cork Constitution 9, Garryowen 13;
Old Belvedere 23, Blackrock College 26;
St. Mary's College 15, Dolphin 7;
Young Munster 9, Shannon 3;

Division 1B: Ballymena 32, Galwegians 19;
Ballynahinch 31, U.C.C. 11;
Belfast Harlequins 15, Dungannon 27;
U.C.D. 21, Bruff 8;
U.L. Bohemian 8, Buccaneers 12;

Division 2A: Bective Rangers 22, Queens University 18;
Clonakilty 21, Thomond 24;
Corinthians 6, Dublin University 9;
Greystones 27, D.L.S.P. 17;
Instonians 18, Old Wesley 33;
Midleton 24, City of Derry 14;
Old Crescent 23, Seapoint 25;
Terenure College 16, Malone 15;

Division 2B: Ards 3, NUIM Barnhall 29;
Boyne 6, Navan 17;
City of Armagh 20, Sligo 14;
Highfield 6, Banbridge 25;
Naas 3, Cashel 21;
Nenagh Ormond 40, Connemara 15;
Rainey Old Boys 36, Sunday's Well 9;
Wanderers 5, Suttonians 10;