The AIB League’s divisional leaders, Clontarf, Ballynahinch and Portadown, all scored wins on Saturday, but there were also some notable successes for sides who have struggled to date in the competition – Terenure College and Thomond.
AIB LEAGUE: Saturday, December 6
DIVISION ONE:
BLACKROCK COLLEGE 29 BUCCANEERS 12, Stradbrook
Scorers: Blackrock College: Tries: Royce Burke-Flynn, David Moore, Ian Madigan, Alan Henry, Shane Monahan; Cons: Darragh Fitzpatrick, Ian Madigan
Buccaneers: Tries: Conor O’Loughlin, Alamoti TePou; Con: Simon Rolleston
Blackrock College showed off their finishing skills to full effect at Stradbrook as they scored a deserved five-try win over Buccaneers.
Despite picking up a yellow card, rampaging winger Shane Monahan set up an Ian Madigan try and scored one himself late on.
Buccaneers trailed 12-0 at half-time, after leaking tries to Royce Burke-Flynn and David Moore.
The visitors stayed in the hunt with tries from Conor O’Loughlin and Alamoti TePou, but Blackrock secured the bonus with efforts from Madigan, Alan Henry and Monahan.
GALWEGIANS 14 DOLPHIN 29, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: John Cleary, Cormac O’Beirne; Cons: Robert O’Beirne 2
Dolphin: Tries: Jeff Power 2, Gary O’Keeffe 2, Christy Condon; Cons: Barry Keeshan 2
Galwegians lost their grip on a 7-5 half-time lead as Dolphin powered to their third league win at Glenina.
The Cork men showed a clinical edge as scrum half Gary O’Keeffe (2), full-back Jeff Power (2) and prop Christy Condon helped themselves to tries.
‘Wegians winger John Cleary darted over for a second-minute try, but Power replied for Dolphin in the 24th minute.
Then three tries in the space of ten minutes moved Dolphin into a 17-7 lead and they were not to be denied.
GARRYOWEN 20 CORK CONSTITUTION 19, Dooradoyle
Scorers: Garryowen: Try: Ciaran O’Boyle; Pens: Conor Kilroy 4; Drop: Willie Staunton
Cork Constitution: Tries: Denis Hurley, Tim Kenneally; Pens: Jeremy Manning 2; Drop: Jeremy Manning
Willie Staunton kicked a last-minute drop goal as Garryowen came from 19-6 down to score a memorable league victory over defending champions Cork Constitution.
The younger brother of Ireland international Jeremy Staunton decided this exciting Dooradoyle clash which Con dominated for the first 50 minutes.
Tries from Denis Hurley and Tim Kenneally, allied to two penalties and a drop goal from Jeremy Manning, had them 19-6 ahead.
But Conor Kilroy’s third penalty and a Ciaran Boyle try from a Staunton cross-field kick started the Garryowen comeback.
SHANNON 6 CLONTARF 8, Thomond Park
Scorers: Shannon: Pens: Tadhg Bennett 2
Clontarf: Try: Heinrich Stride; Pen: Darragh O’Shea
Shannon suffered their second defeat of the Division One campaign as Clontarf edged them out at Thomond Park.
Team captain Darragh O’Shea landed a 76th-minute penalty, steering ‘Tarf to their sixth straight league win.
Shannon number 9 Fiach O’Loughlin was whistled up for not rolling away from a tackle close to his posts and O’Shea stepped up to convert the match-winning score.
The sides were locked at 0-0 at half-time before flanker Heinrich Stride touched down for Clontarf and Tadhg Bennett kicked two penalties for Shannon.
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 18 UL BOHEMIANS 6, Templeville Road
Scorers: St. Mary’s College: Tries: Simon Gibney, Darragh Fanning; Con: Barry Lynn; Pens: Barry Lynn 2
UL Bohemians: Pens: Fergal Lawlor 2
St. Mary’s College moved back up to third in the Division One standings after getting the better of UL Bohemians at Templeville Road.
Simon Gibney, stepping in for Matt D’Arcy at scrum half, caught the eye as he scored a try and generally impressed alongside out-half Shaun McCarthy.
13-0 down at half-time, Bohs conceded Gibney’s seven-pointer and two Barry Lynn penalties.
Good work from Gareth Logan and Rob Sweeney helped set up Darragh Fanning’s try for 18-0, before Fergal Lawlor kicked two consolation penalties for Bohs.
TERENURE COLLEGE 19 OLD BELVEDERE 15, Lakelands Park
Scorers: Terenure College: Tries: Kevin Mahony; Con: Conor Gildea; Pens: Conor Gildea 2; Drops: David McAllister 2
Old Belvedere: Tries: Felix Jones, Dan Wyeth; Con: Kieran Hurrell; Pen: Kieran Hurrell
Terenure College ended their AIB League misery at Lakelands as they battled to their first win of the season.
David McAllister kicked drop goals after 44 and 76 minutes to see Terenure to a precious victory.
They have now closed the gap on their basement rivals, UCD and Young Munster, to one and two points respectively.
With Felix Jones and Kevin Mahony swapping tries, ‘Nure led 13-0 at half-time but with Conor Gildea and McAllister kicking 14 points between them, the pair decided the tie.
UCD 6 BALLYMENA 16, Belfield
Scorers: UCD: Pens: Fergus McFadden 2
Ballymena: Try: Jamie Smith; Con: Craig Woods; Pens: Craig Woods 3
Ballymena bagged their third AIB League win on the trot as they accounted for UCD at Belfield.
Jacques Benade’s men continued their push up the Division One table – they now lie fifth – with a composed display against the students.
Leinster’s Fergus McFadden kicked penalties after 3 and 26 minutes to give UCD a 6-3 half-time lead.
However, Ballymena dominated on the restart and a 53rd-minute try from full-back Jamie Smith and two further penalties from scrum half Craig Woods saw them pull clear.
YOUNG MUNSTER 16 DUNGANNON 17, Tom Clifford Park
Scorers: Young Munster: Try: Darragh Payne; Con: Matthew Costelloe; Pens: Matthew Costelloe 3
Dungannon: Tries: Chris Cochrane 2; Cons: John McGuckin 2; Pen: John McGuckin
Young Munster fell to their third successive AIB League defeat as Dungannon came from behind at Tom Clifford Park.
Two tries from centre Chris Cochrane got Dungannon into a winning position and John McGuckin’s touchline conversion of the second touchdown proved all-important.
That kick put ‘Gannon 17-16 ahead but there was further drama when Young Munster’s Matthew Costelloe missed an injury-time penalty.
Three penalties from Costelloe had the Cookies 9-7 ahead at half-time but despite a Darragh Payne try, they ran out of gas.
DIVISION TWO:
Ballynahinch 60 Greystones 13, Ballymacarn Park
Belfast Harlequins 19 Lansdowne 27, Deramore Park
De La Salle Palmerston 13 Bruff 18, Kilternan
Dublin University 9 Wanderers 16, Williamstown
Highfield 13 Bective Rangers 8, Woodleigh Park
Instonians 8 Old Crescent 13, Shaws Bridge
Malone 16 UCC 17, Gibson Park
Thomond 19 Clonakilty 11, Liam Fitzgerald Park
DIVISION THREE:
Ards 28 Waterpark 13, Hamilton Park
Barnhall 12 Corinthians 18, Parsonstown
Connemara 9 Midleton 9, Monastery Field
Old Wesley 32 Naas 10, Donnybrook
Portadown 13 Banbridge 9, Chambers Park
Rainey Old Boys 10 Queen’s University 21, Hatrick Park
Sundays Well 12 County Carlow 19, Musgrave Park
Suttonians 19 Nenagh Ormond 7, John J McDowell Memorial Grounds
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