Weekend Rugby Roundup

7th April 2013 By Munster Rugby

Dolphin return to winning ways as Shannon keep their slender hopes of survival in the Ulster Bank League alive.

St. Mary's College came from behind to edge out Shannon 27-20 in a thrilling Division 1A Ulster Bank League contest at Templeville Road. Shannon are now four points ahead of bottom side U.L. Bohemian with two games remaining away to Young Munster next week and at home to league champions Lansdowne. A try by Tadhg Bennett and three penalties by Rob Guerin gave them a 14-13 interval lead. Guerin increased that lead with his fourth penalty but his fifth effort late in the game secured what could be a valuable loosing bonus poin for Shannon.

Dolphin bounced back after last week’s disappointing defeat by Cork Constitution with a 31-26 away win over Clontarf at Castle Avenue. Dolphin raced in to a 12-0 lead after ten minutes with tries by Eamon Mills and John Gleeson and a Barry Keeshan conversion, but Clontarf hit back to lead 14-12 at half time. Tries from Niall Scannell, James Kiernan and a second from Mills and two conversions by Keeshan ensured Dolphin returned home with maximum points.

Nenagh Ormond ran in eight tries in their Division 2B 50-19 home win over Ards, a result that boosts Thomond, Sunday’s Well and Clonakilty’s hopes of remaining in the league. Stephen Carey and Sam Nash each scored two tries and Ger Hermese, Shane O’Callaghan, Lemeki Viapula and Mike Slattery got one each. Dave Corcoran kicked five conversions.

Richmond’s hopes of a return to the All Ireland League received a set back at Tullamore as the Leinster champions defeated them 33-22. In a closely fought opening half Richmond trailed 11-10 at half time with a try from Stephen Clancy which Darragh Clancy converted and a drop goal by hooker Pat Humphries. Stephen Clancy and Emmet Harty added further tries for the Limerick side after the break and Brian Mullins kicked a conversion.

Portadown picked up their first win with a 29-10 away win over Monivea and next week’s encounter between them and Richmond should determine who will finish as runners up to Tullamore.

The Munster Junior Cup quarter final tie between Highfield and Skibbereen was postponed due to a mix up in kick off times.

Castleisland have setup an all Kerry meeting in the final of the Munster Junior Plate against Killarney after their narrow 21-20 home win over Bruff. Matthew Ahern and Willie Nolan scored tries for Castleisland, Con Reynolds kicked a conversion and a penalty and JJ Casey added two penalties. Darragh Mulcahy and Brendan Burke replied with tries for Bruff and Ritchie McAuliffe converted both and kicked two penalties.

Dublin University booked their place in the final of the Frazer McMullan All Ireland Under 21 Cup against Lansdowne next week after their convincing 43-11 win over U.C.C. at the Mardyke. Tries by James O’Sullivan, Caleb Morrison and Nick McCarthy and two conversions by Mark Rodgers gave Trinity a 19-6 interval lead. Steve Dinan kicked two penalties for the Cork students. Further tries for the Dublin side by Morrison, Conor O’Riordan, Owen Kelly and George Walsh, two of which Rodgers converted ensured Trinity their place in the decider. Conor Barry scored a late try for the home side.

Kinsale booked their place in the semi final of the Cork County Cup with a 45-13 away win over Crosshaven. Frazer Hodgson scored two tries and five conversions for the winners and Peter Murphy, Ben Alary, Ian Costello, Pat O’Regan and Stephen Coleman got a try each.

Thomond booked their place in the final of the Webb Cup with a 20-17 win over St. Mary’s after extra time.

They will now meet the winners of the Richmond Fethard semi final, after Richmond booked their semi final place with a 37-24 away win over Old Crescent. Ger Barry scored two of Richmond’s six tries with Niall Benson, Eoin Hanly, Keith McCarthy and Brian Begley being their other try scorers. Darragh Clancy kicked two conversions and Benson added a penalty.

Cork Constitution and Kanturk both reached the semi finals of the Junior Two Cup South with away wins. Cork Constitution defeated Dungarvan 42-21. Simon Barry scored four tries and five conversions for the winners and Peter O’Sullivan, Davoren Leung and Cian Parkes got one each. Laurence Houlihan replied with three tries and a conversion for Dungarvan and David Cashman also kicked two conversions.

Sean Cremin played a big part in Kanturk’s 53-3 win over Clonakilty.

Skibbereen advanced to the quarter finals of the Dave Dineen Cup with a 16-5 home win over Tralee. Lorcan Cleary scored a try for the winners and John Hayes kicked three penalties and a conversion.

Waterpark defeated Kinsale 12-0 with tries from David Latimer and Ben Cross and a Geoff Deegan conversion.

Waterford City defeat Mallow 8-7 with a last minute try from Brian Meehan. Conor O’Donovan scored Mallow’s try and Martin O’Connor converted and Daniel Fell earlier kicked a penalty for Waterford.
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Newcastle West defeated Young Munster 36-12 in the opening round of the O’Carroll Plate. Sean McAuliffe scored a try and three conversions for the winners and Mike Costello, Shaun Berkery, Brian O’Sullivan, Michael O’Leary and Ronan Kelliher got a try each. Kevin Moloney and Ritchie McNamara replied with tries for Munsters and Declan Browne kicked a conversion.

Holders Carrigaline advanced to the final of the Kelly Cup with a 25-11 away win over Cobh Pirates. Cobh scored first with a well taken penalty by Brendan Ronan, but Carrigaline responded with a try from Tony O’Keeffe in the corner and another try from Marcus Gates within two minutes. Peter Kelleher converted both. Ronan added another penalty for the Pirates to leave the score at 6-14 at half time. Cobh again scored first in the second half, this time Tom Rice got in for a try in the corner to get within three points. A missed penalty from Cobh was followed by a superb penalty from Peter Kelleher on 70 minutes in a very testing cross field wind. Kelleher added another penalty three minutes later to give Carrigaline a 9 point lead. In the closing minutes Ray Donoghue went over for Carrigaline following a great 40 metre break from Steve Caul.

Dolphin defeated Bandon 34-20 in the semi final of the Mick Barry Cup. Peter Galvin scored two tries for Bandon and Eoin Kelly one. Eoin Sugrue added a conversion and a penalty.

Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf 26, Dolphin 31;
St. Mary's College 27, Shannon 20;

Division 1B: Buccaneers 39, Belfast Harlequins 22;
Dublin University 21, Ballynahinch 28;

Division 2A: Banbridge 51, Seapoint 28;
D.L.S.P. 26, Queens University 26;

Division 2B: Boyne 17, NUIM Barnhall 63;
City of Armagh 8, Rainey Old Boys 34;
Instonians 8, Suttonians 43;
Navan 27, Connemara 17;
Nenagh Ormond 50, Ards 19;
Skerries 32, Sligo 26;

All Ireland Provincial League Championship: Monivea 10, Portadown 29;
Tullamore 33, Richmond 22;

Munster Junior Cup: Highfield v Skibbereen postponed;

Munster Junior Plate Semi Final: Castleisland 21, Bruff 20;

Cork County Cup: Crosshaven 13, Kinsale 45;

Mansergh Cup: Thurles 18, Cashel 12;

Junior Two Cup South Quarter Finals: Dungarvan 21, Cork Constitution 42;
Clonakilty 3, Kanturk 53;

Mick Barry Cup Semi Final: Bandon 20, Dolphin 34;

Dave Dineen Cup: Skibbereen 16, Tralee 5;
Waterpark 12, Kinsale 0;
Waterford City 8, Mallow 7;

Kelly Cup: Cobh Pirates 11, Carrigaline 25;

Webb Cup: Old Crescent 24, Richmond 37;
St. Mary's 17, Thomond 20 (aet);

O'Carroll Plate: Newcastle West 36, Young Munster 12;

Gleeson Memorial Cup: Clonmel 12, Cashel 24;