AIB Cup: First Round Reports

The line-up for Tuesday’s draw for the AIB Cup quarter-finals will be without Division One’s top two clubs, Cork Constitution and Clontarf, after both suffered away defeats on Saturday.

The line-up for Tuesday’s draw for the AIB Cup quarter-finals will be without Division One’s top two clubs, Cork Constitution and Clontarf, after both suffered away defeats on Saturday.

AIB CUP: FIRST ROUND: Saturday, January 13

Clonakilty 8 Greystones 0, Shannonvale Cross

Scorers: Clonakilty: Try: Mick O’Hea; Pen: Gearoid Ryan
Greystones: –

A first half try from lock Mick O’Hea steered Clonakilty to a notable AIB Cup win over their Division Two rivals Clonakilty.

Clon, who have never beaten Saturday’s opponents in the AIB League, dug deep to put their name in the hat for the quarter-final draw.

O’Hea’s try came after some great inter-linking between the Cork side’s backs and forwards and the 6ft 7in forward lunged over off a close-in ruck.

‘Stones’ try-scoring chances were limited in the heavy wind and rain at Shannonvale Cross. A late penalty from out-half Gearoid Ryan sent Clon through.

St. Mary’s College 16 Cork Constitution 9, Templeville Road

Scorers: St. Mary’s: Try: Hugh Hogan; Con: Jonathan Sexton; Pens: Sexton 3
Cork Con: Pens: Daniel Nethery 3

St. Mary’s College sent the AIB Cup holders packing from Templeville Road as Cork Constitution lost their grip on a first half lead.

Con, who beat Mary’s in last April’s cup final at Lansdowne Road, led 9-3 at the break courtesy of three penalties from Australian Daniel Nethery.

The Leesiders lost flanker Ross Noonan to a third-minute yellow card, however they hit the front soon after.

But Mary’s, whose pack rose to the occasion, dominated the second half – Leinster new boy Jonathan Sexton thumped over three penalties and converted number eight Hugh Hogan’s try for a famous win.

Shannon 22 Clontarf 13, Thomond Park

Scorers: Shannon: Tries: Pat O’Connor, Les Hogan, Tony Buckley; Con: Tadhg Bennett; Pen: Andrew Thompson
Clontarf: Tries: Niall Carson, Johnny Wickham; Pen: Matt Nethery

Shannon avenged their recent league defeat to Clontarf as they overpowered the Dubliners in the AIB Cup at Thomond Park.

The Limerick giants plotted their course for the quarter-finals when centre Pat O’Connor and props Les Hogan and Tony Buckley all touched down in the first half.

A sizzling break from Andrew Finn teed up O’Connor’s 18th-minute try, then lineout and scrum drives sent Hogan (23) and Buckley (40) crashing over.

‘Tarf cut into the hosts’ 19-3 interval lead when hooker Niall Carson was pushed over and although prop Johnny Wickham also scored off a 75th-minute lineout, Shannon held on.

Ballymena 14 UCD 16, Eaton Park

Scorers: Ballymena: Try: Andy Graham; Pens: Chris Smyth 2, Dirkie Strydom
UCD: Tries: Michael Hastings, Brian O’Neill; Pens: Ian Keatley 2

UCD ended their three-match losing streak as they sent Ballymena packing out of the AIB Cup for another year.

In rain-soaked conditions at Eaton Park, the students hit the ground running and moved into a 16-5 lead at the break.

Former Munster Under-21 winger Michael Hastings scooted in for a try, and nippy scrum half Brian O’Neill also crossed the hosts’ whitewash. Out-half Ian Keatley added two penalties for good measure.

Experienced flanker Andy Graham notched Ballymena’s only try. The Braidmen could only muster three penalties after the restart – two from Chris Smyth and one from Dirkie Strydom.

Galwegians 40 Dungannon 3, Crowley Park

Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: Ambrose Conboy, Aaron McGettigan, John Cleary, Kieran Hickman, Conor Muldoon, Anthony Barrett; Cons: Nick Wakely 2; Pens: Wakely 2
Dungannon: Pen: James Shiells

Galwegians continued where they left off last week as they dumped a depleted Dungannon side at Crowley Park on Saturday.

Paul Young’s men qualified for the AIB Cup’s last-eight with ease as they hit ‘Gannon for six tries – the previous Saturday, they ran seven past Dolphin.

‘Wegians led 22-3 at half-time thanks to efforts from back rowers Ambrose Conboy and Aaron McGettigan, winger John Cleary and full-back Kieran Hickman.

The visitors’ only points came from the boot of James Shiells as two Nick Wakely penalties and further tries from hooker Conor Muldoon and centre Anthony Barrett wrapped up a one-sided game.

Belfast Harlequins 21 Nenagh Ormond 0, Deramore Park

Scorers: Harlequins: Tries: Lewis Stevenson, Keith Pyper, Darren Cave; Cons: Pyper 3
Nenagh: –

Belfast Harlequins ensured their place in Tuesday’s AIB Cup quarter-final draw as they ended Division Three side Nenagh Ormond’s hopes at Deramore Park.

Andy Ward’s charges were left frustrated by a scoreless first half, but bagged three converted tries in the second half to progress.

Former Ireland Under-21 lock Lewis Stevenson powered over for the first, then team captain Keith Pyper notched the second after good work from a Ward-led pack.

Pyper converted both scores and added the extras to a late try from exciting centre Darren Cave who proved to be a constant threat to the Tipperary outfit.

Garryowen 16 Buccaneers 13, Dooradoyle 

Scorers: Garryowen: Try: Kevin Hartigan; Con: Eoghan Hickey; Pens: Hickey 3
Buccaneers: Try: Gareth Halligan; Con: Tom Cregan; Pens: Cregan 2

The classy kicking of Munster’s Eoghan Hickey helped Garryowen win through to the AIB Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Hickey, slotting in at full-back for the benched Conor Kilroy, fired out three first half penalties to set the Limerick side on their way at Dooradoyle.

Leading 9-3 at the break, Garryowen grabbed their only try on 46 minutes when a clever grubber kick from Alan Kingsley was touched down by centre Kevin Hartigan.

A superb line break by young Aidan Wynne paved the way for hooker Gareth Halligan’s final quarter try for Buccs, but time simply ran out for the westerners.

Terenure College 12 Malone 7, Lakelands Park

Scorers: Terenure: Tries: Adam Hughes, Kevin O’Dwyer; Con: McCarthy
Malone: Try: Mark McCrea; Con: Gareth Fry

Terenure College qualified for the AIB Cup quarter-finals but they had to endure a long afternoon at Lakelands.

With a serious-looking neck injury to Malone prop Richard Bartley, who had to go for X-rays in hospital, delaying the second half for 30 minutes, ‘Nure had to dig deep to down their Division Two opponents.

Winger Adam Hughes crossed the visitors’ line after 14 minutes. Robbie McCarthy missed the conversion but found his range after Under-20 player Kevin O’Dwyer’s 22nd-minute try.

Malone only trailed 12-7 at the break after centre Mark McCrea had struck, but the second half was a non-event.