By Stephen Falvey
Limerick’s representatives in the All-Ireland rugby league had mixed fortunes last weekend with three of the four sides in action suffering untimely defeats. They will have to sit on these results for two weeks before getting back in action.
Young Munster were narrowly beaten at home by Terenure College. This is the second on the bounce for the “Cookies” and they will hope to rectify it in their next outing away to Belvedere.
They started the game quite sluggishly and at one stage were nine points off the Dublin side. 17-9 ahead at the interval, Terenure looked to be cruising to a victory but Munsters launched a comeback to lead 21-17 courtesy of two tries from hooker Ger Slattery. Terenure were desperate not to draw a blank in the second period and Harry Moore cliched a 22-21 win with his seventh try of the season.
Garryowen were the only Limerick side to see victory with a thumping 39-10 away win against Corinthians. They are flying at the moment after another bonus point win. They had a deserved 15-0 lead at half time thanks to Alex Wooton and Andrew O’ Byrne. The home side fought back with two scores and looked to be making serious inroads on Garryowens defence.
Garryowen’s scrum half was the next to cross the whitewash, scoring a great try right in the corner. The Light Blues decisively widened the margin with a John Griffin close range score and try number five followed when flanker Buckley burst out of his own half to run in a fine individual effort. Corinthians conceded again late on when Garryowen hooker Ed Rossiter made it over.
After their heroics against Galwegians in the previous round, Shannon were well beaten last weekend by Buccaneers away from home. Shane Mullaly’s late consolation try proved to be the only score of the game for the Shannonsiders with the impressive Buccaneers sweeping them aside with four tries. The final score in this dismal Shannon performance was 25-7.
U.L Bohemians nearly caused a huge upset against leaders Galwegians. Bohs took a 12-10 lead into the break courtesy of tries from man-of-the-match Jack O’ Donoghue, who raced over from the 22 after 15 minutes, and Darren Moroney, who rounded off a good passing move on the half hour mark.
Out-half Shane Airey converted the first try. A free-flowing back-line move teed up right winger Jerome Harimate for Galwegians’ first half try. John Cleary converted to add to his initial third-minute penalty.Tighthead prop Doron McHugh got on the scoresheet with an unconverted effort for the visitors and while Robbie Bourke’s penalty got Bohs back on terms at 15-all before Connacht Under-20 talent Conor Lowndes held his nerve to convert the match-winning kick.
