Weekend Roundup

It was a busy weekend across the province with 18 Munster Senior and Academy players featuring in the men’s All Ireland League. 

Derby wins for Garryowen and Cork Constitution in Division 1A of the All Ireland League as Highfield lose ground in Division 1B with a third league game without a win.

Garryowen got back to winning ways after a recent poor run defeating local rivals Young Munster 31-24 at Dooradoyle in Division 1A. The visitors led 13-10 at the interval with a try from Dan Walsh and a conversion and two penalties from Evan Cusack. The home side took control after the break with Colm Quilligan scoring two tries and Neil Cronin and Bryan Fitzgerald getting one each. Tony Butler converted all four tries and added one penalty. Walsh scored a second try for Young Munster and Cusack added two penalties.

Cork Constitution kept their hopes of a top four finish alive with a 24-7 home win over UCC. Sean French, Max Abbot and David Hyland scored tries for the Temple Hill side and skipper Aidan Moynihan converted all three and also added a penalty. Jack Kelleher replied with a try for the students and Cian Whooley converted.

A poor first half was Highfield’s undoing in Armagh as they lost to City of Armagh 27-21 in Division 1B. The home side were 21-0 ahead at the interval but two penalty tries and a try by Mark Dorgan converted by James Taylor was not enough to salvage the game for the Cork side.

Shannon moved into the play off places with a hard earned 42-14 home win over Malone. In an evenly contested opening half, tries from Killian Dineen. Lee Nicholas and Kieran Ryan all converted by Jake Flannery had Shannon 21-17 ahead at the interval. Further tries by Nicholas, Alan Flannery and Declan Moore made sure of victory for Shannon and Jake Flannery converted all three.

Cashel kept their top four aspirations in tact with a 36-24 win over Dolphin in Division 2A at Musgrave Park. Trailing 31-3 with twelve minutes remaining Dolphin nearly snatched the game away from the Tipperary side with tries from Daryl Foley, Murray Linn and Dave Jennings. Foley converted two of the tries as well as a penalty in the opening half and Cameron O’Shaughnessy also kicked a conversion, but a late try from Cian Mullane ensured victory for Cashel. Alan McMahon (2), Aidan Butler, Ciaran Ryan and Brendan Ryan  were Cashel’s other try scorers. Mullane kicked three conversions.

Old Crescent were pushed all the way by bottom side Nenagh Ormond to emerge winners 21-20 at Takumi Park. A Val McDermot try converted by Ronan McKenna had the Limerick side 7-6 ahead at half time. Fionn McGibney replied with two penalties for the visitors. Ronan Reynolds extended Crescent’s lead with a try and McKenna converted but a try by Peter Coman converted by McGibney kept Nenagh in the game. Dan Hurley scored a third try for Crescent and McKenna added the extras but Nenagh responded with a converted try but it was not enough to take the spoils.

UL Bohemian suffered a heavy defeat losing 42-7 away to Ballymena.

Midleton’s hopes of a top four finish in Division 2C are almost over, after they lost at home to Omagh Academicals 21-14. Alex O’Brien scored a try for Midleton and Stuart Lee converted and added three penalties.

Bruff pushed leaders Enniscorthy all the way before going down 38-27.at Kilballyowen Park. Mark Fitzgerald, Johnny Cleary and Graham Whelan scored tries for Bruff and Paul Collins converted all three and also kicked two penalties.

Clonmel still searching for their first win of the campaign lost 15-6 at home to Tullamore, with Darren Cass kicking two penalties for the home side.

Costly errors proved crucial to Sunday’s Well who lost 24-10 away to Bangor and remain bottom of the table. Fabien Loughrey scored a try for the ‘Well and Eoin Geary converted and also added a penalty.

In the Women’s Top Four, UL Bohemian defeated Old Belvedere 41-7 at the UL Arena to get their campaign up and running after last week’s defeat by Railway Union. Chloe Pearse and Enya Breen each scored two tries and the other try scorers were Nicole Cronin, Sarah Quin and Clodagh O’Halloran. Cronin kicked three conversions.

Ballincollig made it two wins from two in the Conference after they defeated Wicklow 17-14 at Ashtown Lane. Clare Coombes and Sarah O’Donovan scored tries for Ballincollig and Denise Redmond converted both and also added a penalty.

St. Mary’s  kept their hopes alive of a top two finish in Section C of the Munster Junior League after a hard earned 20-17 win over Charleville at Grove Island. Keith McManus and Shane Ryan scored tries for the Saints and Paul Loughran kicked two conversions and two penalties. Mattie O’Neill replied with a try for Charleville and Jessie Smith landed 4 penalties.

In the only other league game played Killorglin recorded their first league win of the season with a bonus point 24-14 away win over Scariff. The home side took the lead with a try from Jack Devanny and converted by Jason Monaghan. Killorglin hit back with tries from Kevin O’Sullivan and Jamie O’Leary to lead 10-7 at half time. Two tries from Seamus Doyle both converted by Luke O’Shea  ensured the victory for the Kerry side. Scariff were awarded a penalty try late in the game.

RESULTS:

Men’s All Ireland League Division 1A:

Ballynahinch 22, Terenure College 27;

Cork Constitution 24, U.C.C. 7;

Dublin University 9, Clontarf 23;

Garryowen 31, Young Munster 24;

U.C.D. 32, Lansdowne 27;

Energia Women’s All Ireland Top Four: Railway Union 13, Blackrock College 16;

U.L. Bohemian 41, Old Belvedere 7;

Energia Women’s All Ireland Conference: Galwegians 27, Cooke 7;

Suttonians 46, Malone 5;

Wicklow 14, Ballincollig 17;

Men’s All Ireland League Division 1B:

Banbridge 16, Old Wesley 21;

City of Armagh 27, Highfield 21;

Navan 30, Old Belvedere 37;

Shannon 42, Malone 27;

St. Mary’s College 27, Naas 17;

Men’s All Ireland League Division 2A:

Ballymena 42, U.L. Bohemian 17;

Dolphin 20, Cashel 36;

M.U. Barnhall 20, Buccaneers 20;

Old Crescent 21, Nenagh Ormond 20;

Queens University 38, Rainey Old Boys 14;

Men’s All Ireland League Division 2B:

Dungannon 20, Blackrock College 22;

Galway Corinthians 43, Galwegians 15;

Malahide 35, Ballina 25;

Sligo 19, Greystones 20;

Wanderers 45, Belfast Harlequins 8;

Men’s All Ireland League Division 2C:

Bangor 24, Sunday’s Well 10;

Bruff 27, Enniscorthy 38;

City of Derry 14, Skerries 23;

Clonmel 6, Tullamore 15;

Midleton 14, Omagh Academicals 21;