Ulster Bank League Roundup

Young Munster kept up the pressure on both Clontarf and St. Mary’s College in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League with another derby victory, this time they defeated Garryowen at Tom Clifford Park.

Young Munster 21, Garryowen 15 (Cormac Liddy)
Young Munster maintained their push for honours with a hard win in the local derby at Clifford Park and they had two former Garryowen players to thank to a huge degree for the points and bragging rights.
Out half Willie Staunton dropped an early goal for Young Munster but a splendid movement culminated with a try for Garryowen by Ian Hanley who got in at the corner midway through the half. Declan Cusack could not convert from the touchline with a swirling breeze to further complicate the kick.
The lead lasted only a couple of minutes when Staunton struck again with a superb drop goal but a penalty by Cusack from in front of the posts had Garryowen 8-6 in front.
Just on half time Staunton landed a penalty to have the cookies supporters in happy mood as they headed for their coffees though their 9-8 lead did not guarantee success by any means.
Midway in the second half another bit of magic by Staunton paved the way for their first try. A well placed grubber kick was chased by another former Garryowen player, Andrew Bourke who raced in between the posts and Staunton tapped over the conversion, 16-8, and a bit more comfortable.
And in typical manner Garryowen came back and again a movement involving several players was finished by Alan Gaughan who touched down in the corner. With a superb kick Cusack converted to leave only a point between them.
But a second try by Andrew Bourke who burst through the middle following a ruck ensured the cookies survived
In a tense finish Young Munster held out and Garryowen earned a losing bonus point which they deserved for the late pressure they piled on the Young Munster defence.
Scorers: Young Munster: Andrew Bourke two tries, Willie Staunton 2 drop goals, pen, con.
Garryowen: Ian Hanley, Alan Gaughan tries, Declan Cusack pen, con.

Clontarf 10, Cork Constitution 9.
Clontarf still remain top of Division 1A after this hard earned win over Cork Constitution at Castle Avenue.
The sides were level 3-3 at half time Richie Lane kicking a penalty for the home side and Gerry Hurley for Constitution.
Clontarf were awarded a penalty on the hour mark and Lane converted. Two penalties by Hurley left a point between the sides but Clontarf’s defence held firm in the final few minutes.
Scorers Clontarf: Penalty try, Richie Lane con, pen.
Cork Constitution: Gerry Hurley 3 pens.

Dolphin 17, Old Belvedere 16.
Another victory for Dolphin at Musgrave Park, but defending champions Old Belvedere did come close to recording their first win.
Andy O’Driscoll put the home side ahead with a try after one minute and Barry Keeshan converted. The visitors came more into the game and three penalties from Eamon Fitzgerald had Belvo’ ahead after thirty minutes, but a John Quill try made it 12-9 for the home side at half time.
Dolphin went further ahead with a third try from Rob O’Herlihy early in the second half. A try for Belvo’ by John Kennedy, converted by Danny O’Riordan closed the gap to a point with six minutes to go, but the home side held on for victory.
Scorers Dolphin: A O’Driscoll, J Quill, R O’Herlihy tries, B Keeshan con.
Old Belvedere: J Kennedy try, E Fitzgerald 3 pens, D O’Riordan con.

St. Mary’s College 24, Shannon 12.
St. Mary’s are level on points with Clontarf after this bonus point victory at Templeville Road.
Despite a fine opening quarter by Shannon that failed to produce a score it was St Mary’s who led 12-0 at half time with tries from Matt D’Arcy and Ray Crotty with the latter also kicking a conversion.
Further tries Damian Hall and Marcus O’Driscoll secured the bonus point win for the home side before a late Shannon rally yielded tires from Conor Cunnane and James Murphy. Tadhg Bennett kicked one conversion.
Scorers St. Mary's College: Ray Crotty try, 2 cons, Matt D'Arcy, Damian Hall, Marcus O'Driscoll tries. Shannon: Conor Cunnane, James Murphy tries, Tadhg Bennett con.

U.L. Bohemian 16, Bruff 20. (Cormac Liddy)
Dominance in the forward exchanges by their bigger and heavier pack paved the way for an important win by Bruff in this Division 1B clash in constant rain at Thomond Park on Friday night last.
The relegation threatened county side had a dream start when they went in front inside a few minutes from a Brian Cahill penalty
Ed Torrie levelled matters for UL Bohemian and then he pounced for a try. He charged down an attempted clearance, picked up and went over and he converted to make it 13-3 and it looked like the recent winning form of the home side was going to continue.
Seven minutes before the interval Bruff second row, Alan Bourke, had a try which Cahill again converted to leave it 10-10 at half time.
It was a mainly forward dominated contest and in this department Bruff held the upper hand.
Another Cahill penalty nudged Bruff back in front and while Torrie was on target with two penalties for Bohes, it was a try by full back Brendan Deady, again converted by Cahill that sealed the valuable win for Bruff while UL Bohes were disappointed to have to settle for a losing bonus point.
Scorers U.L. Bohemian: Ed Torrie try 3 pens con.
Bruff: Alan Bourke, Brendan Deady tries, Brian Cahill 2 pens 2 cons.
U.L. Bohemian: Darren Moroney; Rory White, Martin McPhail, Niall Kenneally, Finbarr Ahern; Ed Torrie, Dale Harris; Dave Kilcoyne, Eddie Rossiter, Gary Walsh; Ed Kelly, Darragh Frawley; Conor Kindregan, Brian Walsh, Sean Rennison,
Replacements: Tadgh Power, Tom Doyle, Keith McManus, Ben Martin, Derek Farrell.
Bruff: Brendan Deady; Paul O’Brien, Andrew Cashman, Gary Leonard, Tom O’Callaghan; Brian Cahill, Eoghan Maher; Stephen Foster, Cathal O’Regan, Colm O’Sullivan; Brian Morrissey, Alan Bourke; Mike Carroll, John Shine, Paddy Cleary.
Replacements: David Horan, Ger Collins, John Hogan, Paudge Clery, Brian Carroll, John Carroll. Referee: Jonathan Peak (IRFU).

BELFAST HARLEQUINS 27 UCC 18.
Leaders Belfast Harlequins took another big step towards promotion to Division 1A with this victory at Deramore Park.
The Cork students are now nine points away from avoiding relegation. The visitors trailed 17-6 at half time with Brian Kingston kicking two penalties.
They did prevent the home side from securing a bonus point victory with a better second half performance which yielded tries from Peter McCabe and Joe Holland and Kingston kicked a conversion.
Scorers Belfast Harlequins: Penalty try, Neil McComb, Miles O'Hagan tries Ian Porter 2 cons, 2 pens, Stuart Olding con.
UCC: Peter McCabe, Joe Holland tries, Brian Kingston 2 pens, con.

Clonakilty 13, Old Crescent 18.
Clonakilty still remain bottom of Division 2a after this defeat in their Munster derby game against Old Crescent at The Vale.
The sides were level 3-3 at half time with Denis McCarthy kicking a penalty for the home side and Paul Loughran replying for Crescent.
Kieran Howlin put Clon’ in front with a try but two tries from Brian Dennehy, one of which Loughran converted.
Jason Wycherly added a penalty before Howlin scored a second try for the home side.
Scorers Clonakilty; Kieran Howlin 2 tries, Denis McCarthy pen.
Old Crescent: Brian Dennehy 2 tries, Paul Loughran pen, con, Jason Wycherly pen.

Instonians 12, Midleton 25.
Midleton gave themselves a great chance of avoiding relegation with this victory over fellow strugglers at Shaws Bridge.
Aidan McCarthy and Robert Smith were among Midleton’s try scorers and Jeff Hitchmough kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Thomond 13, City of Derry 37
Thomond slipped into the relegation zone after this home defeat.
Michael Russell and Alan O’Donnell scored tries for Thomond and Ger Finucane kicked a penalty.

Cashel 31, Connemara 17.
Another bonus point victory for leaders Cashel in Division 2B after this victory at the Spafield.
Brendan O’Connor, Ollie McGlinchey, Conor Quinlan and Pat O’Connor secured the bonus point. Pat O’Connor kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Highfield 29, Rainey Old Boys 13.
Highfield kept alive their promotion hopes with this bonus point victory at Woodleigh Park.
Tries from Robert Bogue and David Kelly and a Darragh Masterson conversion had the home side 12-3 ahead at half time.
Masterson extended his side’s advantage with a penalty and then converted a penalty try, before Paul Rooney and Andrew Campbell scored tries for the visitors. Kelly secured the bonus point with his second try and Masterson again converted.
Scorers Highfield: Dave Kelly 2 tries, Robert Bogue try, Pen try, Darragh Masterson 3 cons, pen.
Rainey Old Boys: Paul Rooney, Andrew Campbell tries, Mark Gavin pen.

Nenagh Ormond 22, Suttonians 14;
Nenagh Ormond pushed Suttonians closer to the relegation zone with this home victory.
Peter Hynes, Jamie Quigley and Stephen Quinlan scored tries for the Tipperary side and Hynes kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Boyne 10, Sunday’s Well 8.
Heartbreak for Sunday’s Well at Drogheda as a last minute penalty from Niall Kerby gave the home side a narrow victory.
A try by Richie Sullivan and a Shane O’Riordan penalty gave the ‘Well an 8-0 interval lead.
The ‘Well put in a magnificent second half facing a gale and limited Boyne to a try by Kerby and a conversion that bounced off the post and over the bar to reduce the gap to one.
Scorers Boyne: N Kerby try, con, pen.
Sunday’s Well: R Sullivan try, S O’Riordan pen.
Boyne: N Kerby; C Scanlon, B Duffy, H Kennedy, E Duffy; B Corke, C McGrath; J Kinsella (c), G Cooney, P Cooney; D O’Neill, P Muldowney; I O’Reill, J Kermath, C Smith.
Replacements Used: H Carolan, G Malone
Sunday’s Well: I O’Regan; D Loftus, S Keohane, N Horgan, R Sullivan;, K Barry, R Geary; M Moynihan, J Moynihan, F Moynihan; L Sullivan (c), D Horgan; D Blower, S Walsh, M Kavanagh.
Replacements used: S O’Riordan, J Kidney.