Categories: All Ireland League Club and Community

Buoyant ‘Belvo Qualify For Semi-Finals

Old Belvedere blasted an under-strength UCC outfit aside at the Mardyke to finish the season as AIB League Division 1B table toppers.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 1B: Saturday, April 10

UCC 3 OLD BELVEDERE 48, the Mardyke

Scorers: UCC: Pen: Brian Derham
Old Belvedere: Tries: Jason Risdon 2, Jonathan Slattery, Leo Auva’a, Max Rantz-McDonald, John Kennedy, Chris Keane; Cons: Andy Dunne 5; Pen: Andy Dunne

The result means that Old Belvedere qualify for the top flight play-offs, with Templeville Road their next port of call as they take on St. Mary’s College in a televised semi-final next Saturday.

Player-coach Andy Dunne kicked five conversions and a penalty for a 13-point haul in this landslide success.

‘Belvo scored seven tries in all, with a brace from New Zealand flanker Jason Risdon.

Fellow back rowers Jonathan Slattery and Leo Auva’a also crossed the students’ whitewash, along with winger Max Rantz-McDonald, centre John Kennedy and Leinster scrum half Chris Keane.

Keane’s provincial colleague Eoin O’Malley impressed throughout for the Dubliners, with current Ireland Under-20 prop Stewart Maguire adding his weight to a powerful scrum.

UCC, who also had a side competing in Saturday afternoon’s All-Ireland Under-21 final against Lansdowne, lived off scraps of possession and right winger Brian Derham rifled a penalty through the uprights for their only points.

22-3 ahead at half-time, ‘Belvo quickly wrapped up the bonus point and the only matter left to dispute was the winning margin as Phil Werahiko’s men coasted to their sixth successive league victory.

UCC: Sean Scanlon; Brian Derham, Brian Dennehy, Ivan Dineen (capt), Willie Walsh; Ronan O’Sullivan, Dearan McGrath; John Ryan, Wayne Falvey, Will O’Donovan, Michael Linehan, Phillip Donnellan, Niall Barry, Shane O’Sullivan, Rob Barry.

Replacements used: Jason Carton, Neville O’Donoghue, Eoghan Kennedy, Colin Crowley.

OLD BELVEDERE: Eddie Devitt; David Mongan, Eoin O’Malley, John Kennedy, Max Rantz-McDonald; Andy Dunne (capt), Chris Keane; Vinnie Soden, Mark Cooney, Stewart Maguire, Richie Leyden, Paul Spivey, Jonathan Slattery, Jason Risdon, Leo Auva’a.

Replacements used: Thomas Sexton, Nermin Lovic, Alan Trenier, Graham Flanagan, Conal Keane.

Referee: Jonathan Peak (IRFU)