AIB Cup: Mary’s Too Strong For ‘Stones

…St Mary’s College centre Barry Lynn in action during last year’s AIB Division Two final against UL Bohs. Lynn kicked four conversions, a penalty and a drop goal in the Dubliners’ 39-14 AIB Cup First Round defeat of Greystones on Thursday…

Thursday’s AIB Cup First Round win for St Mary’s College means there are seven Division One teams and one Division Two outfit – Terenure College – left in the running for the 2005/06 title.

AIB CUP: FIRST ROUND: Thursday, December 29

ST MARY’S COLLEGE 39 GREYSTONES 14, Templeville Road

Scorers: St Mary’s: Tries: Henrick Gervais 2, Daragh Fanning, John Kilbride, David Kilbride; Cons: Barry Lynn 4; Pen: Lynn; Drop: Lynn

Greystones: Tries: Ronan O’Carroll 2; Cons: Dan van Zyl 2

The divisional divide proved too much for Greystones, last season’s Division Three champions, at a wet Templeville Road as Division One outfit St Mary’s ran in five tries for a comfortable AIB Cup win.

The Dubliners fielded an experimental side, but had too much in reserve for the gallant Wicklow men, who deservedly got off the mark in the second half thanks to two converted tries from winger Ronan O’Carroll.

An early penalty and drop goal from talismanic centre Barry Lynn got Mary’s motoring on the way to a 27-0 half-time lead. Three converted tries followed in the second quarter.

First, right winger Daragh Fanning charged over for the opening try on 24 minutes. Lynn converted and added the extras to scrum half John Kilbride’s try – a neat chip, chase and collect effort.

A close-in effort from former Wanderers back row Henrick Gervais tallied up Mary’s third try just before the interval.

Replacement full-back Karl O’Brien made a sizzling break to set up Gervais for his second try, eight minutes after the restart, with Lynn converting for 34-0. Two swift backline moves then paved the way for O’Carroll’s two consolation scores, both of which were converted by number 10 Dan van Zyl, but Mary’s had the final say with hooker David Kilbride crossing the visitors’ whitewash with five minutes remaining.

The draw for the Quarter-finals of the AIB Cup takes place on Thursday, January 12. Belfast Harlequins, Buccaneers, Clontarf, Cork Constitution, Galwegians, Garryowen, St Mary’s College and Terenure College are the eight teams left in contention.