AIB League: Controversy At Crowley Park

…Cronan Healy celebrating one of his four tries in the recent AIB Cup final win for Cork Con…

Galwegians were left fuming as Cork Constitution scored two injury-time tries to steal a 20-19 win in AIB League Division One on Sunday.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, April 15-Sunday, April 16

GALWEGIANS 19 CORK CONSTITUTION 20, Crowley Park

Scorers: Galwegians: Ambrose Conboy 2, Ross Davies; Cons: Brendon Bartley, Brian Murphy

Cork Con: Tries: Diarmuid O’Riordan, Cronan Healy; Cons: Conor Quaid 2; Pens: Darragh Lyons, Quaid

At Crowley Park, Limerick referee Dermot Moloney played eleven minutes of time added on in which Con wingers Diarmuid O’Riordan and Cronan Healy crossed for two crucial tries.

‘Wegians led 19-6 going into injury-time but a yellow card for hooker Conor Muldoon heralded their collapse. First, O’Riordan got over in the right corner with Conor Quaid converting and the centre also added the extras to Healy’s controversial 91st-minute score.

Healy, the four-try hero in the recent AIB Cup final win, was seen to punch ‘Wegians wide man Peter Phelan in the aftermath of his try and he was sent to the sin-bin. Quaid converted from close in, referee Moloney awarded ‘Wegians a penalty on halfway for Healy’s indiscretion, the hosts ran it but it came to nothing and a sour taste was left in the mouths of the Galway men, who are still battling off relegation in 14th place.

Con, on the other hand, are back up to fourth and well in sight of a semi-final spot.

Flanker and captain Ambrose Conboy got ‘Wegians off to the perfect start with a try on 10 minutes. Full back Brendon Bartley converted.

Con out-half Darragh Lyons was having an off-day with the boot and missed a couple of penalties before prop Ross Davies sent ‘Wegians in at the break with a 12-0 lead thanks to his close range try.

Lyons (47 minutes) and Quaid (60) booted two penalties for Con’s first points. Disaster seemed to strike for the visitors when they had hooker Des Murray (70) and prop Mike Ross (73) sin-binned in quick succession.

Facing a six-man scrum, ‘Wegians powered over for a 75th-minute score with Conboy getting his second touchdown. All seemed rosy for ‘Wegians with Brian Murphy converting, but Con got the rub of the green in a furious finish.

UCD 17 SHANNON 21, Belfield

Scorers: UCD: Tries: Conor Geoghegan, Niall Kearns, Richard Mandeno; Con: Eoghan Hickey

Shannon: Tries: Brian Tuohy, Donnacha Ryan; Con: Dave Delaney; Pens: Delaney 3

Shannon copper-fastened their place in the Division One semi-finals as a second half try from Donnacha Ryan propelled the champions past UCD.

The young lock struck on 62 minutes, galloping up the touchline for a game-deciding score. College managed a late try through lock Richard Mandeno to earn a deserved bonus point.

Shannon led 16-12 at the break as centre Brian Tuohy scored a try late on. They were down to 13 men at one stage as prop Less Hogan and Munster back row Stephen Keogh were both sin-binned. Hooker Conor Geoghegan and centre Niall Kearns scored UCD’s early tries.

Out-half Dave Delaney kicked a vital 11 points – three penalties and a conversion – for Shannon.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 25 BUCCANEERS 31, College Park

Scorers: Dublin Uni: Tries: Ronan Doherty 2, Philip Howard; Cons: Johnny Watt 2; Pens: Watt 2

Buccaneers: Trevor Richardson 2, David Kelly, Kieran O’Gorman; Cons: Tom Cregan 4; Pen: Cregan

Ronan Doherty scored two tries at College Park but could not prevent Dublin University from slipping to a six-point defeat at the hands of visitors Buccaneers.

The Leinster Colleges winger was on fire, scoring twice in the second half, adding to a Philip Howard effort, to almost see the relegation-threatened hosts grab a vital win.

They were undone however as back rows Trevor Richardson (2) and David Kelly, as well as Donegal-born hooker Kieran “Mucker” O’Gorman shared out four tries for Buccs.

The League’s top points scorer Tom Cregan converted all four of the Pirates’ tries and added a penalty to take his season’s tally to 179 points.

UL BOHEMIANS 33 BALLYMENA 14, Annacotty

Scorers: UL Bohs: Tries: Ben Martin 2, Martin McPhail; Cons: Martin 3; Pens: Martin 4

Ballymena: Tries: Dirkie Strydom, Peter Budina; Cons: Paddy Wallace 2

Australian centre Ben Martin outshone everyone else – scoring 28 points – to help UL Bohemians remain in the hunt for a play-off spot at Annacotty.

Bohs, who led 19-7 at the break, claimed their sixth win on the trot to temporarily move fourth in the table. Cork Con’s win on Sunday has them back in fifth.

The on-song Martin scored two tries and kicked three conversions and four penalties in a man-of-the-match display. Ireland Sevens international Martin McPhail bagged the other try for Bohs.

Full-back Dirkie Strydom and winger Peter Budina crossed for tries for a disappointing Ballymena side. Ulster’s Paddy Wallace converted both.