Weekend Roundup

Cork Constitution qualified for the Bateman Cup Final, as UCC retain top position in Division 2A of the Ulster Bank League, with wins for Kanturk and Skibbereen in the Munster Junior League.

Cork Constitution took a step closer to winning the only trophy never to have resided in Temple Hill after their 20-13 away win over Ballymena in the semi final of the All Ireland Bateman Cup.

The visitors led 13-3 at half time with a try from James Ryan and a conversion and two penalties by Gerry Hurley. Ryan increased the visitors lead with a second try which Hurley converted, but the home side rallied with a try by Adrian Hamilton and a conversion and two penalties by Rory Drysdale was not enough to keep the Ulster Cup holders in the competition.

Cork Constitution will face St. Mary’s College in the final on Saturday 27th April after the Leinster Cup holders defeated Galwegians 20-22.

U.C.C. kept their hopes of a quick return to Division 1 rugby of the Ulster Bank League with a 31-17 victory over Old Wesley in this Division 2A contest at Donnybrook. The students led 14-3 at half time with a superb taken try by Darren Sweetnam and three penalties from Sean Óg Murphy. Two tries by Luke Duffy and a penalty and two conversions by Murphy extended the visitors advantage, brfore the home side rallied with two converted tries.

Old Wesley: K Hurrell; B McLaughlin, S Harvey, D Potterton, C Boyd; A Large, I Cassidy; D Henshaw, G Telford, J Burton; I Pirree, I McGinn; R Morrow (c), T Ratahi, S Boyle. Replacements: B Horan, K Knaggs, C Telford, E Fitzpatrick, C Wallace.

UCC: D Sweetnam; O Dennehy, L Duffy, D Horgan, K Slater; S Óg Murphy, D Foley; P McCabe, K Stokes, B Scott; B Quill, D O’Connell; C Gallagher, J McCarthy, W Ryan (c). Replacements: D McSweeney, M O’Mahony, J Fitzgerald, R Barry, C Slowey.

Highfield’s promotion hopes for a second successive season received a setback when they lost away to Corinthians 20-3. Paddy O’Toole kicked a penalty for the Cork side.

Midleton eased their relegation worries with a 13-3 home win over DLSP at the Towns Park. A Brian Gill try and conversion by Jeff Hitchmough left the home side 7-0 ahead at half time. Hitchmough added two further penalties after the break and Ian Burke replied with one for the visitors.

Nenagh Ormond kept their promotion hopes alive in Division 2B with a 10-3 home win over Thomond under the floodlights at Nenagh on Friday night. A try Stephen Carey and a conversion and penalty by Dan Fogarty gave the home side a 10-0 half time lead.

An injury time penalty by Conal Keane gave Skerries a 20-19 win over Sunday’s Well at Musgrave Park. The visitors raced into an early 17-3 lead after fifteen minutes but, a try by Ross O’Mahony and a conversion, drop goal and penalty by Shane O’Riordan made it 17-13 at the break. A penalty and a drop goal seven minutes from time by O’Riordan put the ‘Well ahead, until Keane’ late strike.

Sunday’s Well: N Horgan; S O’Sullivan, D O’Shea, M Quinlivan, R O’Mahony; S O’Riordan, P Arrigho; J Barry, J Moynihan, I Murphy; S Walsh, S Desmond; P Gradaut, J Mulcahy, E Murphy. Replacements: W McCarthy, F Moynihan, MJ Doyle, J Kidney, M Lynch.

Skerries: M Sherlock; D Quirke, M Hewitt, Conal Keane, K McGrath; D Hewitt, Chris Keane; M Nally, C Tonge, R McCorry; M Provizers, J Glennon; R O’Mahony, K O’Connell, R McAuley. Replacements; J Condron, E Gavin, E Harford, E Dempsey, P Devitt.

Clonakilty had to settle for a share of the spoils with Navan at The Vale after they played oy a 17-17 draw. Clonakilty led 14-7 at half time with a try by Kieran Howlin and three penalties by James Deasy. Navan came more into the game in the second half with Deasy kicking a fourth penalty for the home side.

There were only two Munster Junior League games listed for the weekend.

Kanturk closed the gap on leaders Richmond with a 44-3 home win over Clonmel. This a very evenly contested game in the opening half hour with Conor Cooney putting Clonmel ahead with a penalty on seven minutes and Darragh Meade levelling for the home side minutes later. A four try burst by the home side in the final ten minutes of the opening half by Dan McCabe, Luke McCabe, Mark Healy and Bryan O’Neill decided this contest. Meade converted two of the tries to leave it 27-3 at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half Peter Earlie scored his side’s fifth try and further tries by Alan Jones and John Duggan in the final five minutes completed the scoring with Meade converting the last try.

Skibbereen moved up to third place after their 10-3 win over Old Christians at Rathcooney. Steven Hansel gave the visitors a 3-0 half time lead. Conor Mangan levelled for the home side and two minutes from time Patrick Ryan scored a try for Skibbereen which Hansel converted. The home side were camped on the visitors line in time added on but Skibbereen held on for a vital victory.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 2A: Bective Rangers v Greystones Postponed;
City of Derry 38, Queens University 17;
Corinthians 20, Highfield 3;
Midleton 13, D.L.S.P. 3;
Old Wesley 17, U.C.C. 31;
Seapoint v Cashel Postponed;
Terenure College 32, Banbridge 10;

Division 2B: Ards v Naas Postponed;
Clonakilty 17, Navan 17;
Connemara 13, Sligo 29;
Nenagh Ormond 10, Thomond 3;
NUIM Barnhall 53, Instonians 11;
Rainey Old Boys 41, Boyne 7;
Sunday's Well 19, Skerries 20;
Suttonians 10, City of Armagh 19;

All Ireland Bateman Cup Semi Finals: Galwegians 22, St. Mary's College 30;
Ballymena 13, Cork Constitution 20;

Munster Junior League Division 1: Kanturk 44, Clonmel 3;
Old Christians 3, Skibbereen 10;

West Under 13 League Play Off: Castleisland 10, Killorglin 13;

Under 19 Friendly: Bandon 18, Sunday's Well 10;

Under 17 Friendly: Garryowen 7, Tralee 26;
Skibbereen 17, Highfield 5;
Sunday's Well 5, Muskerry 20;

Under 15 Friendly: Sunday's Well 0, Cork Constitution 24;

Womens Munster Cup Group A: Fermoy 0, Ballincollig 10;