Weekend Rugby Roundup

There were All Ireland League victories for Cork Constitution in the Energia Men’s All Ireland League and UL Bohemian take the Women’s title, as Garryowen are promoted but UL Bohemian and Dolphin are relegated.

Cork Constitution won their seventh All Ireland title after a 12 year gap since their last success with a hard earned 33-22 victory over holders Terenure College at the Aviva Stadium.

Con’ had to play with fourteen players following a red card for John Forde midway through the opening half and two subsequent yellow cards saw a gritty Con’ side never allow Terenure to push home their numerical advantage.

The Temple Hill side led 17-10 at half time with tries from Rob Heddermann, and Billy Scannell, along with two conversions and a penalty by James Taylor.  It was the boot of Taylor that prevented Terenure from taking control of the game as he kicked three further penalties and converted a try by Danny Sheahan.

UL Bohemian won a thrilling Women’s All Ireland Final 48-38 at the Aviva Stadium in what was a great advertisement for the game. UL Bohs who had already won the Cup now have done the double as they ran in eight of the game’s fourteen tries. Star of the show was UL Bohs winger Chisom Ugwueru who scored three tries and out half Kate Flannery controlled the game with a masterful display. The Limerick side led 22-21 at half time and it was only in the final 10 minutes that Bohs were certain of victory when they raced into a 48-33 lead. Aoife Corry contributed two tries, with Aoife O’Shaughnessy, Éanna Nic Dhonnacha, and Brianna Heylmann getting the others. Flannery kicked four conversions.

Garryowen regained their Division 1A status in the Men’s All Ireland League, after a one year absence, following a comprehensive 34-3 victory over Old Belvedere at Dooradoyle. The visitors hit the front with an early penalty but once Kelvin Langan levelled with a penalty, it was all Garryowen from there to the finish as they ran in five tries. Des Fitzgerald, Bryan Fitzgerald, Oran McNulty, Gordon Wood and Jack Delaney were the try scorers and Langan added three conversions.

UL Bohemian lost 35-21 to Galway Corinthians at Annacotty and so will be playing in Division 2B next season. Jake O’Riordan and Harry Byrne scored tries for UL Bohs and Byrne converted them both, and they were also awarded a penalty try.

For the second successive season Dolphin were relegated as they lost 25-19 at home to Galwegians. It was 13-5 to the visitors at half time with Timmy Phelan scoring Dolphin’s opening try. The home side finished strongly with tries from James Vaughan and Craig O’Herlihy, with Daryl and Ryan Foley each kicking a conversion, but it was not enough to keep Dolphin in Division 2B.