All-Ireland League Division 1A: Round 13 Review

All-Ireland League Division 1A showed its unpredictability as four clubs in the bottom half posted wins over the weekend, including bottom side Terenure College’s thrilling 35-26 upset of second-placed Lansdowne at Lakelands Park.

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: DIVISION 1A: Saturday, February 23

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CLONTARF 36 UCC 29, Castle Avenue
Scorers: Clontarf: Tries: Matt D’Arcy, Michael Courtney, Conor Kelly, Royce Burke-Flynn, Sean O’Brien; Cons: David Joyce 4; Pen: David Joyce
UCC: Tries: Michael Clune, Daire Feeney, Ryan Murphy, James Taylor; Cons: James Taylor 3; Pen: James Taylor
HT: Clontarf 21 UCC 7

A Matt D’Arcy-inspired Clontarf took advantage of three of their title rivals all losing on Friday and Saturday as they led from start to finish in a 36-29 bonus point victory over UCC at Castle Avenue.

It was a timely win for the north Dubliners after recent losses to Dublin University and Cork Constitution, as a three-try first half salvo guided them past the Cork students who are becoming notoriously difficult to put away.

UCC may have lost four of their last six games but they continue to pick up bonus points – four of the try-scoring variety and six losing ones – and they pocketed two against ‘Tarf after storming back from a 26-7 deficit early in the second half.

David Joyce converted tries from D’Arcy and Michael Courtney, the former crossing for the sixth time this season, as Andy Wood’s men established a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Angus Lloyd’s slick service on the edge of the visitors’ allowed D’Arcy to spear through a gap between forwards Andrew Davies and Lee McSherry and slide over in the left corner.

D’Arcy then turned provider on the all-weather pitch, flicking a flat pass to the onrushing Courtney who had a 15-metre run to the line. UCC snapped back with a well-worked seven-pointer from winger Michael Clune, but replacement Conor Kelly’s try on the stroke of half-time made it 21-7.

There was another assist from D’Arcy when his terrific offload out the back door – under pressure from John Poland and a couple of lurking defenders – put Kelly raiding over to the right of the posts. ‘Tarf tighthead Royce Burke-Flynn duly crashed over to put 19 points between the sides, securing the former champions’ bonus point in the process.

However, UCC again knuckled down and played their way back into contention with their back row particularly influential. Some terrific ball retention and high-tempo play preceded converted scores from captain Daire Feeney and Ryan Murphy. When number 8 Murphy broke through for his seventh try of the campaign, suddenly it was ‘game on’ at 26-21.

Up popped Mullingar man Sean O’Brien to knife through from his own 10-metre line for an excellent solo try – his third in four games and just reward for another robust performance from the former Ireland Under-20 international. Joyce’s conversion gave ‘Tarf a match-winning cushion of 12 points.

UCC, and out-half James Taylor in particular, made ‘Tarf sweat late on as he scampered clean through from a ruck for their bonus point score and traded closing penalties with his opposite number Joyce. Their hard-earned bonus points, which looked an unlikely outcome 30 minutes earlier, keep Brian Walsh’s youngsters out of the bottom two.

CLONTARF: Jack Power; Michael Courtney, Sean O’Brien, Matt D’Arcy, Ariel Robles; David Joyce, Angus Lloyd; Ivan Soroka, Declan Adamson, Royce Burke-Flynn, Cormac Daly, Ben Reilly, Tony Ryan, Adrian D’Arcy, Michael Noone (capt).

Replacements: Connor Johnson, Ruadhan Byron, Niall Carson, Peter Hoy, Conor Kelly, Mark O’Sullivan.

UCC: Rob Hedderman; Michael Clune, Cian Bohane, Peter Sylvester, Matt Bowen; James Taylor, John Poland; Shane O’Hanlon, Paidi McCarthy, Bryan O’Connor, Cian Barry, Andrew Davies, Daire Feeney (capt), Lee McSherry, Ryan Murphy.

Replacements: Harry Jephson, Daragh Fitzgerald, Cian Fitzgerald, Mark Bissessar, Tom Fitzgerald.

CORK CONSTITUTION 22 UCD 27, Temple Hill
Scorers: Cork Constitution: Tries: Sean French 3; Cons: Aidan Moynihan 2; Pen: Aidan Moynihan
UCD: Tries: Paul Kiernan, Nick Peters, Andy Marks 2, Bobby Sheehan; Con: Conall Doherty
HT: Cork Constitution 10 UCD 15

Cork Constitution’s eight-match winning streak came to an end at Temple Hill on Saturday afternoon as free-running UCD stunned the Division 1A leaders with a 27-22 defeat.

Former Gonzaga College captain Andy Marks bagged a brace of tries for the students and Cork native Paul Kiernan also crossed the whitewash, scoring against the club with whom he started playing rugby as an eight-year-old. He is of rich rugby stock with his dad Michael and grand uncle Tom both stars of yesteryear with Munster, Ireland and the Lions.

After a busy few weeks for club and country, Cork Con gave some of their Ireland Club internationals a rest – most notably captain Niall Kenneally and number 8 Luke Cahill – and promising young centre Sean French, a current Ireland Under-20 international, took the opportunity to shine with a hat-trick of tries.

French’s opening fifth-minute try in the right shot Constitution into a 7-0 lead, but three unconverted efforts had the Andy Skehan-coached visitors 15-10 to the good at half-time. Some tremendous running and support play set up College’s opener for Kiernan, who reached over past Rob Jermyn in the left corner after getting on the end of a break involving Conall Doherty and Tim Carroll.

UCD were rampant at times as their attack fizzed with intent Taking advantage of Duncan Williams’ sin-binning on the half hour mark for scrum interference, UCD scrum half Nick Peters picked from a five-metre scrum and used a neat step off his right to get around the covering JJ O’Neill and cross in the same left corner.

Peters, Doherty, captain Alex Penny and Ronan Foley all stood out for their individual performances. After an Aidan Moynihan penalty goal, Peters launched a first phase move from a scrum which delivered Marks’ first try, Doherty’s pass back inside putting Carroll through with the aid of a hand-off and he fed fellow winger Marks for a straightforward finish.

Brian Hickey’s men were just not at the levels they have been hitting with regularity over the past few months, and UCD kept coming at them, eking out chances which Marks took out wide and hooker Bobby Sheehan from a reliable set piece platform. Doherty added a single conversion to widen the margin to 27-10 with just under half-an-hour remaining.

French did complete his hat-trick with a second half brace, the best of them seeing him support an initial Greg Higgins break and show his footballing skills to scoop up a loose ball near the right touchline and acrobatically dive over in a sliver of space. However, a gritty defensive stand late on ensured UCD deservedly took the spoils.

The setback of a home defeat for the leaders was lessened by the fact that Lansdowne also lost, so Con sit eight points clear at the summit and remain very much on course for a home semi-final. UCD have made big gains in the last week with victories over Young Munster and Con, staying sixth overall but with the big carrot of a place in the top four now just five points away.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Liam O’Connell; JJ O’Neill, Sean French, Greg Higgins, Rob Jermyn; Aidan Moynihan, Duncan Williams; Brendan Quinlan, Jack McHenry, Dylan Murphy, Brian Hayes, Conor Kindregan, Sean Duffy, Ross O’Neill, Evan Mintern.

Replacements: Gavin Duffy, Patrick Casey, James Murphy, Jason Higgins, Jack Costigan.

UCD: Conall Doherty; Andy Marks, Paul Kiernan, Stephen Murphy, Tim Carroll; Matthew Gilsenan, Nick Peters; Sam Griffin, Bobby Sheehan, Liam Hyland, Brian Cawley, Tom Treacy, Jonny Guy, Alex Penny (capt), Ronan Foley.

Replacements: Richie Bergin, Evin Coyle, Cian Prendergast, Tom Foley, Dave Ryan.

SHANNON 24 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 27, Thomond Park back pitch
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: Tony Cusack 2, Eathon Moloney, Pa Ryan; Cons: Fionn McGibney 2
Dublin University: Tries: Aziz Naser, Ronan Quinn, James Hickey, Joe Horan; Cons: Micheal O’Kennedy 2; Pen: Micheal O’Kennedy
HT: Shannon 12 Dublin University 17

Hooker Joe Horan’s 64th-minute try proved just enough for Dublin University as they overcame Shannon 27-24 on Thomond Park’s back pitch on Saturday to move into Division 1A’s top four.

Trinity’s third victory on the trot, which also produced their sixth try-scoring bonus point, has edged them above Garryowen and into a play-off position with five rounds remaining. Those two sides appear to be on a collision course as they are set to meet at College Park in the final round in mid-April.

Shannon, who had lost their previous two games, hit the front in the 16th minute when tighthead Tony Cusack drove over for the first of his two tries. Fionn McGibney’s conversion kept the hosts ahead at 7-5 after the students capitalised on a yellow card, attacking through the forwards with new prop Aziz Naser’s pick-and-go effort getting them on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute.

Trinity’s second try was all about the pace and continuity of their backs as they released Limerick native and former Ireland Under-18 Sevens captain Ronan Quinn to score out wide. Centre James Hickey did likewise in the 33rd minute, making Shannon pay for their defensive lapses. Micheal O’Kennedy added a terrific conversion into the wind to open up a 17-7 lead.

The gap was down to five points at the interval, a well-orchestrated Shannon try off a scrum penalty and a lineout maul seeing Conor Glynn and captain Jade Kriel carry close to the line before the ball was shifted wide for winger Eathon Moloney to go over in the corner. An early penalty on the resumption allowed O’Kennedy to claw back three points and make it 20-12 to the visitors.

Three minutes later, a thunderous break by Waterford youngster Thomas Ahern, who was sprung from the bench, got Shannon right back into try-scoring range and they worked possession wide for centre Pa Ryan to finish off. McGibney’s extras made it a one-point game, and the scoring dried up until early on in the final quarter when a powerful maul sent Horan over the whitewash for his crucial seven-pointer.

However, it was all hands to the pump after Trinity captain Colm Hogan was sin-binned for not releasing after the tackle in the 71st minute. Tony Smeeth’s youngsters held out for five minutes until Cusack went over in the corner from a ruck, rewarding the approach work of Aran Hehir, Moloney and Ryan. The missed conversion left three points between the sides and with a couple of knock-ons halting Shannon’s progress, Trinity showed the necessary composure to hang on.

SHANNON: Jamie McGarry; Jack O’Donnell, Pa Ryan, Robbie Deegan, Eathon Moloney; Fionn McGibney, Aran Hehir; Conor Glynn, Jordan Prenderville, Tony Cusack, Ronan Coffey, Jade Kriel (capt), Luke Moylan, Charlie Carmody, Colm Heffernan.

Replacements: Ty Chan, Sam Karlsen, Thomas Ahern, Ruairi Karlsen, Ben Daly.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Colm Hogan (capt); Cian Crotty, James Hickey, Philip Murphy, Ronan Quinn; Micheal O’Kennedy, Rowan Osborne; Giuseppe Coyne, Joe Horan, Aziz Naser, Ryan Baird, Arthur Greene, Johnny McKeown, Max Kearney, Niall O’Riordan.

Replacements: George Downing, Dylan Doyle, Reuben Pim, Conor Lowndes, James Fennelly, Bart Vermeulen.

TERENURE COLLEGE 35 LANSDOWNE 26, Lakelands Park
Scorers: Terenure College: Tries: Conor Kelly, Adam La Grue, Stephen Caffrey, Jake Swaine 2; Cons: James Thornton 2; Pens: James Thornton 2
Lansdowne: Tries: Penalty try, Peter Sullivan, Joe O’Brien, Ian Prendiville; Cons: Scott Deasy 2, Pen try con
HT: Terenure College 12 Lansdowne 7

Lansdowne out-half Scott Deasy’s 100th All-Ireland League appearance was spoiled by a terrific 35-26 win by resurgent Terenure College at Lakelands Park.

Bottom side Terenure have now won two of their last three games – and were a missed drop goal away from overcoming Garryowen at Dooradoyle last week. Bouncing back from that disappointment, they put a dent in Lansdowne’s drive for a home semi-final with this well-earned five tries-to-four home victory.

Key to ‘Nure’s latest success was a two-try start and once again their backs were in fine form with winger Conor Kelly and centre Adam La Grue crossing to give them a 12-0 lead. Stephen O’Neill showed good strength to ensure he was first to a James Thornton chip kick from the edge of the Lansdowne 22 and he fed the supporting La Grue to score just to the right of the posts.

There was a yellow card apiece as the breakdown battle intensified and a late bout of forward pressure led to a penalty try for the visitors, reducing the arrears at half-time to 12-7.

The home side’s handling was top class at times, drawing in defenders and putting onrushing players through gaps, but in-form Lansdowne winger Peter Sullivan read a midfield pass and turned on the gas to run in an intercept from 45 metres out. His eighth try of the season came against the run of play but had the visitors in front for the first time.

Their third touchdown, finished in powerful fashion by number 8 Joe O’Brien from an inviting ruck pass by Tim Murphy, was also converted by Deasy. That cancelled out a Thornton penalty for a 21-15 advantage and some rare breathing space.

However, Lansdowne knocked on the restart in their 22 and the onrushing ‘Nure forwards reacted quickest, lock Stephen Caffrey crashing over for a gift of a try just two passes later but Thornton’s conversion hitting the post at 21-20.

The hosts regained the lead when returning winger Jake Swaine scooted in from the right for their bonus point score with Lansdowne caught out wide. The momentum swung back to Mike Ruddock’s charges who wrestled back the lead – 26-25 – thanks to a well-executed maul try from former captain Ian Prendiville after ‘Nure’s Harrison Brewer was sin-binned for a high tackle.

However, the home side’s resilience shone through and they had a game-breaker in young centre La Grue. He evaded a tackle from Harry Brennan on halfway and went up through the gears to break in between two defenders and set up Swaine’s second try. Out-half Thornton was able to convert and tag on a late penalty to make certain of this much-needed result.

‘Nure are now within four points of second-from-bottom Young Munster and only five behind eighth-placed UCC, whom they travel to in two weeks’ time. Lansdowne, who host Munsters next Saturday afternoon, remain second in the standings but third-placed Clontarf have reduced the gap to five points.

TERENURE COLLEGE: Tim Schmidt; Jake Swaine, Adam La Grue, Stephen O’Neill, Conor Kelly; James Thornton, Jamie Glynn; Conor McCormack, Robbie Smyth, Jack Aungier, Michael Melia (capt), Stephen Caffrey, Harrison Brewer, Paddy Thornton, Eoin Joyce.

Replacements: Risteard Byrne, Tiarnan Creagh, Matthew Caffrey, Erik Wijten, Mark O’Neill.

LANSDOWNE: Eamonn Mills (capt); Daniel McEvoy, Harry Brennan, Tom Roche, Peter Sullivan; Scott Deasy, Tim Murphy; Martin Mulhall, James Rael, Ian Prendiville, Willie Earle, David O’Connor, Jack O’Sullivan, Aaron Conneely, Joe O’Brien.

Replacements: Ntinga Mpiko, Greg McGrath, Tom Murphy. James Kenny, Conor Murphy.

YOUNG MUNSTER 12 GARRYOWEN 10, Tom Clifford Park (played on Friday)
Scorers: Young Munster: Pens: Shane Airey 4
Garryowen: Try: Peadar Collins; Con: Peadar Collins; Pen: Peadar Collins
HT: Young Munster 6 Garryowen 10

Young Munster head coach Gearoid Prendergast spoke of his relief after his relegation-threatened team recorded their first league win since October with a 12-10 derby defeat of Garryowen at Tom Clifford Park on Friday night.

The Cookies, who endured eight losses and a draw in the last nine rounds, edged their way past the Light Blues thanks to four penalty goals from out-half Shane Airey. It was their own disciplined defence which made a massive difference on the night as they bounced back from leaking a 13th minute try to Peadar Collins.

Speaking afterwards, Prendergast told Limerick’s Live 95FM: “Probably one of our bigger wins, to be honest. Just a really tough game. They’re a quality side, a powerful side. Our defence had to be really disciplined which I thought we were. Early in the game they had a lot of high phases which I think we dealt with that well. It was like a game of chess – who makes the first move – two teams going hard at it.

“It was your typical local derby, what a super crowd may I add. So it was a great atmosphere. I was disappointed with the try, I’d like to see it again on the video. It was after a long defensive block, credit to Garryowen they stayed patient and exposed that short side. But I thought we responded well and didn’t panic.

“We put a lot of emphasis on discipline during the week. If you go back to the game in November that cost us a lot. We had a very high penalty count that night and credit to young Ben Healy on the night, he kicked very well (in a 32-26 Garryowen win). We knew tonight we couldn’t have that, we had to be very disciplined and focused – just not giving away any penalties in kicking range where they could hurt us.”

After chipping away at the home defence through the forwards, Garryowen spotted their opportunity to attack the short side of a ruck and send centre Collins nipping over in the left corner. He also landed a top class conversion and fired over a 36th minute penalty, the latter score in response to two well-struck Airey three-pointers. The visitors were 10-6 to the good at the break.

However, Prendergast’s men managed to keep Garryowen scoreless during the second half and put away the few scoring chances that came their way. Airey was coolness personified as he split the posts after 45 and 70 minutes to move the hosts ahead for the first time. He had a drop goal effort come back off the post but it was not needed in the end, as the Cookies fought tooth and nail for a vital victory.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Alan Tynan; Conor Phillips, Jack Harrington, Luke Fitzgerald, Darragh O’Neill; Shane Airey, Jack Lyons; Conor Bartley, Ger Slattery, Keynan Knox, Tom Goggin, Alan Kennedy (capt), Conor Mitchell, Diarmaid Dee, John Foley.

Replacements: Shane Fenton, David Begley, Fintan Coleman, Derek Corcoran, Stephen Kerins.

GARRYOWEN: Andrew O’Byrne; Liam Coombes, Peadar Collins, Dave McCarthy, Cian O’Shea; Jamie Gavin, Rob Guerin; Mike O’Donnell, Liam Cronin, Andy Keating, Kevin Seymour, Dean Moore (capt), Tim Ferguson, Diarmuid Barron, Sean Rennison.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Niall Horan, Alan Fitzgerald, Mikey Wilson, Bryan Fitzgerald, Harry Byrne.