AIB Cup: Wins For Clon, Garryowen And ‘Quins

AIB CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Saturday, February 3

TERENURE COLLEGE 22 CLONAKILTY 31, Lakelands Park

Scorers: Terenure: Tries: David Cazabon, John Bollard, Mark Mahony, Kevin Mahony; Con: Cazabon
Clonakilty: Tries: Derek Dillon, Dan Spencer, Colin Murphy, Eoin Murphy, Paul Dillon; Cons: Alife Harte 3

Clonakilty are taking on the top flight all by themselves after knocking Terenure College out of the AIB Cup at Lakelands.

Clon are the only Division Two side left in the draw for next month’s cup semi-finals, with heavyweights Garryowen, Shannon or Harlequins to provide their opposition, after their fifth league or cup win on the trot.

In the sides’ first ever clash, the Cork side raced into a 26-10 half-time lead – Derek Dillon, Dan Spencer, Eoin Murphy and Colin Murphy all grabbed tries. Hooker Alfie Harte kicked three first half conversions.

Clon centre Paul Dillon scooted in for a 44th-minute try to put the result in little doubt, although cousins Mark and Kevin Mahony did hit back for ‘Nure.

Terenure: D Cazabon; A Hughes, J Bollard, K Coleman, B Flanagan; M Gillespie (M O’Neil), M Mahony; M Hamilton (N McCarron), K Mahony, B Gill (S Nolan), A Moss, K O’Dwyer, B Malony, A Dunlop.

Replacements used: M O’Neill for Gillespie, N McCarron for Hamilton, S Nolan for Gill.

Clonakilty: D Cookson; S O’Donovan, P Dillon, D Lombard, P O’Neil; D Dillon, C Murphy; E Murphy, A Harte, D Spencer, D Wilton, M O’Hea, E Scannell, T Wright, M Keohane.

Replacements used: J McCarthy for O’Donovan, B Dillon for Lombard, H O’Neil for Harte.

Referee: Ger Clancy (Munster)

GARRYOWEN 16 ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 13, Dooradoyle

Scorers: Garryowen: Try: Mark Melbourne; Con: Eoghan Hickey; Pens: Hickey 3
St. Mary’s: Try: Jonathan Sexton; Con: Sexton; Pens: Jonathan Sexton 2

Munster’s Eoghan Hickey rifled over an extra-time penalty to guide Garryowen into the AIB Cup’s last-four at Dooradoyle.

The hopes of St. Mary’s, last year’s runners-up, were left floundering as Hickey’s kicking haul of 11 points proved vital in a high-quality and card-less encounter which was refereed very well by Ulster’s Simon McDowell.

Flanker Mark Melbourne took quick ruck ball and burst over for 26th-minute Garryowen try.

Jonathan Sexton’s two penalties cut the deficit to 7-6 at half-time and after a powerful charge by Hugh Hogan, the Leinster out-half then beat off three tacklers to touch down.

Drama followed as number 10 Hickey landed two penalties to level the tie – it was 13-13 after 80 minutes – and he whacked over the winner, from close to the halfway line, two minutes into extra-time.

Garryowen: W Staunton; A O’Loughlin, F Quaglia, C Doyle, Ciaran O’Boyle; E Hickey, A Kingsley; R Brosnan, D Varley, E McGovern, C Wyatt, D Sheehan, M Melbourne, P Malone, A Kavanagh.

Replacements used: D Sherry for Wyatt, J Staunton for McGovern.

St. Mary’s College: P Brophy; R Gannon, S Grissing, H Gervais, R Doherty; J Sexton, M D’Arcy; C McMahon, M Duggan, Rob Sweeney, G Logan, S Bradshaw, W Duggan, H Hogan, B Donohoe.

Replacements used: M Aboud for Donohoe, E Keane for Logan, D Fanning for Gervias, K Carroll for McMahon.

Referee: Simon McDowell (Ulster)

BELFAST HARLEQUINS 22 GALWEGIANS 19, Deramore Park

Scorers: Harlequins: Tries: Chris McCarey 2, Andy Ward; Cons: Keith Pyper 2; Pen: Rory Blake-Knox
Galwegians: Tries: John Cleary 3; Cons: Nick Wakely

Belfast Harlequins continued their recent rich vein of form by ending Galwegians’ bid for AIB Cup glory at Deramore Park.

Fresh from their recent league wins over Shannon and Blackrock, ‘Quins qualified for next month’s semi-finals with back rowers Chris McCarey (2) and Andy Ward sharing out their tries.

McCarey’s first effort, adding to an early penalty from out-half Rory Blake-Knox, helped the hosts go into the turnaround with an 8-7 buffer.

Winger John Cleary kept ‘Wegians in the hunt with a hat-trick of tries – taking his tally to five tries in two games -but his last came after ‘Quins player-coach Ward had spun out of a tackle and piled over for the clinching score.

Belfast Harlequins: J Lowe; S Rea, M Kettyle, M Caver, J McClaughlin; R Blake-Knox, R Kirkwood; N Conlon, B Hanvey, A Rankin, G Rourke, L Stevenson, A Ward, A Gillespie, C McCarey.

Galwegians: K Hickman; J Cleary, N Wakely, A Barrett, C Mbongwa; D Slemen, L Stringer; D O’Connell, C Muldoon, R Davies, D Boyd, L Scahill, A McGettigan, A Conboy, L Casserly.

Referee: Marshall Kilgore (Ulster)