Ulster Bank League Roundup

Exciting finish to Division One of the Ulster Bank League as U.L. Bohemian win promotion to Division 1A and Highfield are promoted to Division 2A at the expense of Thomond.

St. Mary’s College 23, Young Munster 19.
Despite having to play most of the game with only fourteen players Young Munster came very close to handing the Ulster Bank League title to Clontarf for the first time, but a late rally with the introduction of replacement Mark Sexton proved decisive for the Templeville Road side as he scored two tries to secure victory for the Dublin side for the second time in the club’s history.
Willie Staunton kicked two penalties and converted a try by Ger Slattery for a 13-3 interval lead. Gavin Dunne replied for the home side.
Sexton’s introduction saw hi cross for a try shortly after coming n and Dunne converted to leave three points between the sides. Staunton and Dunne each kicked two penalties each and then Sexton struck with a late try which Dunne converted for victory.
Scorers: St Mary’s College: M Sexton 2 Tries: G Dunne, 3 Pens, 2 Cons
Young Munster: Ger Slattery Try, Willie Staunton 4 Pens, Con
St. Mary’s College: Gavin Dunne; Darren Hudson, Stephen Grissing, Marcus, O’Driscoll, Conor Hogan; Philip Brophy, Matt D’Arcy; Colm McMahon, Richard Sweeney, Robert Sweeney; Damian Hall, Stephen Bradshaw; Barry O'Flanagan, Gareth Austin, Hugh Hogan
Replacements: Chris Lilly, David Kilbride, Mark Sexton, Rory Brosnan, Ciaran Ruddock.
Young Munster: Declan Bannon; Mark Doyle, Andrew Burke, Ray Moloney, Darragh O’Neill; Willie Staunton, Brian Haugh; Ger Flaherty, Ger Slattery, Hugh McGrath; Neville Melbourne, Shane O'Neill; Liam Og Murphy, James O'Neill, Mark Rowley’
Replacements: Ger Bourke, Mike O’Sullivan, Sean Duggan, Aaron Carroll, Craig O’Hanlon

Dolphin 3, Shannon 28.
Shannon travelled to Musgrave Park and knew that a win would probably be enough to keep them in the top flight for next season, providing Old Belvedere did not get a bonus point win at Temple Hill.
Shannon led 16-0 at half time with a try from David O’Donovan and a conversion, penalty and two drop goals by Tadhg Bennett’
Barry Keeshan kicked a penalty early in the second half for Dolphin but tries by John Colgan and Alan Bennie and a conversion by Bennett secured the points for the Limerick side.
Dolphin: E Mills; B O’Rahilly, E Moloney, H Fleming, C Nolan; B Keeshan, C Bannon; J Cronin, N Scannell, C Condon; D O’Shea, D O’Mahony; J Kind, J Quill, R Murphy. Replacements: G Duffy, J Cleary, K O’Dwyer, D O'Shea, E O’Shaughnessy. Shannon: R Mullane; M D'Arcy, M Lawler, J Clogan, C Cunnane; T Bennett, R Guerin; K O'Neill, D Fitzgerald, K Griffin, D Heffernan, F Walsh; S Keogh, J Murphy, D Quinlan. Replacements: J Deegan, G McNamara, K Hanley, A Bennie, B Sargent.

Cork Constitution 22, Old Belvedere 25
Cork Constitution went down to their second successive home defeat as Old Belvedere kept their Division 1a hopes alive with a narrow victory and must now face Belfast Harlequins in a play off in two weeks time to secure their place in the top flight next season.
Playing with the advantage of a strong wind in the opening half, Belvo’ found themselves behind after eight minutes when Con’ winger Cathal Quinn got in for a try in the corner.
Gearoid McDonald hit back immediately with a penalty for the visitors but two unconverted tries by Danny Riordan and David Mongan left it 15-5 at half time in favour of the visitors.
Gerry Hurley reduced Con’s deficit with a penalty two minutes into the second half and then came a three try blitz in six minutes. Leo Auva’a scored a try for Belvo’ to extend their lead and McDonald converted. Tries by Brian O’Hara and Jonathan Holland both converted by Hurley levelled the scores.
The visitors upped their game in the final quarter and fourteen minutes from time McDonald kicked a penalty to secure victory and a home play-off in two weeks time to secure their status in the top flight.
Cork Constitution: R Clune; C Quinn, D Lyons, S Scanlon, N O’Driscoll; J Holland, G Hurley; M Gately, A Cudmore, B Cagney; B Hayes, P Donnellan; B Cuttriss, B O'Hara, J Ryan. Replacements: C Corkery, B Vaughan, K Stokes, A White, A Ryan.
Old Belvedere: D Riordan; j Glynn, J Kennedy, A Wynne, D Mongan; G McDonald, S Keogh; V Soden, M Cooney, P O’Regan; D Moore, R Leyden; J Conan, M Oyuga, L Auva'a.
Replacements: D Gilchrist, A Howard, A Trenier, A Sheehan.

Blackrock College 27, Garryowen 33.
Garryowen gave themselves a big boost for next week’s Cup final with Ballymena with this bonus point victory at Stradbrook, a result that relegates Blackrock College for the first time.
A try by Adam O’Loughlin and three penalties by Fergal Lawlor gave Garryowen a 14-10 half time lead.
Blackrock led with an early second half try from Richard Liddy, but tries by Kieran O’Gorman and Paul Neville and a conversion by Lawlor made it 26-15 in favour of the Dooradoyle side.
Blackrock fought back to lead by a point but a late try by James McInerney converted by Lawlor secured the points for the Limerick side.
Scorers: Blackrock College: P McCauge, M Walsh, D Dillon, A Letham, I Byrne tries, D Fitzpatrick Con.
Garryowen: A O’Loughlin Try, K O’Gorman, P Neville, J McInerney Try each: F Lawlor 3 Pens, 2 Cons.
Blackrock College: Andrew Letham; Mark Scott Lennon, Jan Simon Byrne, Robert Keogh, David Rowan; Darragh Fitzpatrick, Marcus Walsh; Sean Byrne, Ryan Fisher, Jonathan Barreto; Des Dillon,
Replacements: Cian Carroll, Shane Burch, Tyronne Moran, Richard Liddy, Ian Byrne.
Garryowen: Lorcan Bourke; Adam O’Loughlin, Corey Hircock, Alan Gaughan, Ian Hanley; Fergal Lawlor, Neil Cronin; Peter O’Shea, James Real, Declan Lavery; Frank McKenna, David Sherry; Shane Buckley, Kieran O’Gorman, Paul Neville’
Replacements: John Mark Griffin, JP Cooney, Anthony Kavanagh, James Gavin, James McInerney.

U.L. Bohemian 34, Belfast Harlequins 14
Starting the day in third place, U.L. Bohemian won Division 1B and promotion with this victory over leaders Belfast Harlequins at Annacotty and a defeat for second placed Dungannon by UCD.
The home side led 14-0 after six minutes with ties by Rory White and Darren Moroney both of which Ban Martin converted. Belfast Harlequins leveled but a try and conversion by Martin made it 21-14 at half time. Martin kicked two penalties after the break and converted a late try by Sean Rennison for the bonus point that secured top spot for the Limerick side.
Scorers U.L. Bohemian: Rory Whyte, Darren Moroney, Sean Rennison tries, Ben Martin Try, 4 cons, 2 pens.
Belfast Harlequins: Pen Try, Michael Allen try: Stuart Olding 2 cons.
U.L. Bohemian: Ben Martin; Darren Moroney, Martin McPhail, Niall Kenneally, Rory White; Ed Torrie, Cathal Sheridan; Kevin Flanagan, Sean Henry, Gary Walsh; Ed Kelly, Conor Kindregan; Eddie Rossiter, Keith Mc Manus, Sean Rennison,
Replacements: Brian Walsh, Darragh Frawley, Rory Cunningham, Dale Harris, Finbarr Aherne.
Belfast Harlequins: Gavin McLaughlin; Michael Allen, Mark Kettyle, William Stewart, Matthew Holmes; Stuart Olding, David Creighton; Richard Lutton, Niall Annett, Tom Fraser; Gareth Rourke, Michael Ferguson; Andrew Gillespie, Laurence Babe, Alistair Heatlie
Replacements: Paul Greenaway, Scott Annett, Paul Rea, Jason Kururangi, Owen Mc Murray.

Bruff 20, Buccaneers 18.
Bruff secured their status in Division 1B with this home win over Buccaneers.
The winning try from replacement Mark Cosgrove five minutes from time proved decisive. John Shine and Brian Cahill also scored tries for Bruff with Cahill adding a conversion and penalty.
Scorers: Bruff: John Shine, Mark Cosgrove tries, Brian Cahill try, conversion, penalty.
Buccaneers: Paul Harte 2 tries, John Carty 2 penalties, conversion.
Bruff: Brendan Deady; Tom O’Callaghan, Andrew Cashman, John Carroll, Paul O’Brien; Brian Cahill, Eoghan Maher; David Horan, Cathal O’Regan, Colm O’Sullivan; Maurice O’Connell, Brian Morrissey; Alan Bourke, John Shine, Mike Carroll.
Replacements: John Hogan, Stephen Foster, Paddy Clery, Tony Cahill, Mark Cosgrove.
Buccaneers: Paul Harte; Callum Boland, Alex Hayman, Adam Kennedy, Conor Finn; Jack Carty, Mark Dolan; Martin Staunton, Gareth Halligan, Diarmuid Higgins; James Tormey, Daniel Qualter; Luke Satchwell, Padraig de Burca, Kolo Kiripati.
Replacements: Shane Reilly, Enda O’Brien, Ruari Byrne, Conor Fitzgibbon, Barry Digby.

Ballymena 41, U.C.C. 6.
Despite taking an early lead with a penalty from Luke Duffy at Eaton Park, relegated UCC were no match for Ballymena
Scorers Ballymena: Pen Try, S Mulholland, A Fraser, R Hackney, C Fitzpatrick, M Irwin, I Vance tries, L Marshall 3 Conversions.
U.C.C.: Luke Duffy 2 Penalties
Ballymena: Martin Irwin; Ali Fraser, Alan Smyth, Richard Aingworth, Caolan Fitzpatrick; Luke Marshall, Blaine McIlroy; Callum Black, John Andrew, Connor Carey; Darrell O’Kane, Joel Andrew; Stephen Mulholland, Aidy Hamilton Ross Hackney;
Replacements: Andrew Warwick, Chris Cundell, Steven Dickey, Paul Pritchard, Ian Vance.
U.C.C.: Luke Duffy; Billy Newman, Cyprian Jouve, Conor Barry, Joe Holland; Dara McNamara, Brian Slater; Luke Cahill, Johnny McCarthy, Brian O’Callaghan; Mike Lenihan, Brian Quill; Shane Moynihan, Wayne Falvey, Paddy Ryan.
Replacements: Donal Mc Sweeney, Willie Ryan, Daryl Foley, James Kiernan.

Thomond 13, Highfield 20
Highfield will swap places with Thomond as they won promotion to Division 2a next season after winning their play off at Liam Fitzgerald Park.
Brian O’Hea was the star for the Cork side scoring a try, two conversions and two penalties. Paul Stack also scored a try for the Woodleigh Park side. Michael Russell replied with a try for Thomond and Derek O’Brien converted and also kicked two penalties.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Blackrock College 27, Garryowen 33;
Cork Constitution 22, Old Belvedere 25;
Dolphin 3, Shannon 28;
Lansdowne 27, Clontarf 28;
St. Mary's College 23, Young Munster 17;

Division 1B: Ballymena 41, U.C.C. 6;
Ballynahinch 29, Galwegians 20;
Bruff 20, Buccaneers 18;
U.C.D. 36, Dungannon 23;
U.L. Bohemian 34, Belfast Harlequins 14;

Division 2A Play Off: Thomond 13, Highfield 20;

Division 2B Play Off: Ards 30, Monivea 17;