THE battle for positions in the All Ireland League continued ahead of the top four places for the play-offs and bottom two places in each section of the league being decided with three rounds remaining.
Young Munster remain in fifth place three points behind Cork Constitution after their 39-24 win over second placed Lansdowne at Tom Clifford Park. Donnacha O’Callaghan (2), Jason Kiely, Conor Philips, and Shane Malone scored tries for the home side, with Evan Cusack kicking four conversions and two penalties.
Another great round of #EnergiaAIL action this weekend.
Here’s @YoungMunsterRFC v @LansdowneFC #PositiveEnergy pic.twitter.com/bExKzzkvco
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 6, 2022
Garryowen got back to winning ways with a 29-26 home win over Ballynahinch, a result that condemns the Ulster side to the relegation play-offs. Dave McCarthy and Matthew Sheehan scored tries for Garryowen and Tony Butler converted both and also added five penalties.
Shannon moved up to third place five points behind Highfield after their away victory against Old Belvedere on a 33-22 scoreline. Kelvin Browne, Killian Dineen, Aran Hehir, Jack Flannery and Kieran Ryan were Shannon’s try scorers and Flannery kicked four conversions.
Aran Hehir goes over in the corner!
🎥 @PrismDigital_ie pic.twitter.com/u8087fgfeE
— Shannon RFC (@Shannon_RFC) March 5, 2022
Clontarf are assured of their play-off place in Division 1A after their 12-11 home win over third placed Terenure College, but the other three places are still up for grabs.
Cork Constitution still hold on to fourth spot despite losing 32-27 to Dublin University at College Park. Alex McHenry scored two tries for the Temple Hill side and Gerry Hurley and Greg Higgins got one each. Aidan Moynihan kicked two conversions and a penalty.
UCC will be facing Ballynahinch in those play-offs in April, after they lost their Colours match against U.C.D. 33-12 at the Mardyke. Daniel Squires and Louis Bruce scored tries for the Cork students and Squires also added a conversion.
Highfield took a step closer towards a play-off place in Division 1B after their 29-13 bonus point win at home to Malone. Sean Garrett, Eddie Earle, Sam Burns and Ben Murphy scored tries for Highfield. Shane O’Riordan kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Old Crescent eased their relegation worries with a 24-17 away win against Buccaneers. The winners did all their scoring in the opening half as they led 24-0 at the interval with two tries from Dan Hurley and one by Val McDermot. Ronan McKenna converted all three tries and also added a penalty.
The big surprise in Division 2A was the defeat of second placed Cashel by bottom side Rainey Old Boys 24-21 at Maherafelt. Brendan Ryan scored two tries for Cashel and Conor Cashman one. Cian Mullane converted all three tries.
Two late penalties from Harry Byrne earned UL Bohemians a 30-24 home win over Nenagh Ormond to keep them nine points ahead of the Tipperary side who occupy the second last spot. Conor McMahon, Patrick Scully and Rob Buckley scored tries or Nenagh. Fionn McGibney converted all three and also kicked a penalty.
Dolphin ran in seven tries in their 47-26 away win at Ballymena, Phil Dowling, Ryan Foley, Brian O’Mahony, Dave O’Mahony and Barry Fitzgerald were their try scorers.
Both Bruff and Sunday’s Well eased their relegation worries with wins in Division 2C. Bottom side Sunday’s Well moved out of the relegation zone with an impressive 46-12 home victory over Omagh Academicals. Maurice Daly scored two tries for the ‘Well and Denis Hurley, Fabien Loughry, Shane Desmond, Ryan Kelleher and Conor O’Brien got one each. Josh Featherstone kicked four conversions and a penalty.
Bruff were 33-22 home winners against Midleton. Paul Collins, Tony O’Connell and Jack O’Grady scored tries for Bruff with Collins converting all three tries and adding four penalties. Rob Carey, Shane Anderson and Ryan Lehane replied with tries for Midleton and Stuart Lee kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Two tries from Luke Hogan converted by Darren Cross were not enough for Clonmel who lost 40-14 away to Skerries.
In the Women’s All Ireland Cup, UL Bohemian defeated Wicklow 39-0. Clodagh O’Halloran, Rachel Allen, Shelly Ring, Aoife Corey, Aaliyah Te Pou and Eilis Cahill were the winner’s try scorers.
Ballincollig lost at home to Cooke 38-25 and Kerry were defeated 29-3 by Malone at Gibson Park.
Results:
All Ireland League Division 1A:Clontarf 12, Terenure College 32;
Dublin University 32, Cork Constitution 27;
Garryowen 29, Ballynahinch 26;
U.C.C. 12, U.C.D. 33;
Young Munster 39, Lansdowne 24;
Division 1B: Banbridge 29, Navan 15;
City of Armagh 21, St. Mary’s College 10;
Highfield 29, Malone 13;
Old Belvedere 22, Shannon 33;
Old Wesley 29, Naas 19;
Division 2A: Ballymena 26, Dolphin 47;
Buccaneers 17, Old Crescent 24;
Queens University 26, M.U. Barnhall 15;
Rainey Old Boys 24, Cashel 21;
U.L. Bohemian 30, Nenagh Ormond 24;
Division 2B: Belfast Harlequins 23, Blackrock College 20;
Galwegians 41, Dungannon 30;
Greystones 53, Ballina 28;
Sligo 22, Galway Corinthians 28;
Wanderers 45, Malahide 15;
Division 2C: Bangor 41, City of Derry 25;
Bruff 33, Midleton 22;
Enniscorthy 41, Tullamore 14;
Skerries 40, Clonmel 14;
Sunday’s Well 46, Omagh Academicals 12;
Energia Women’s All Ireland Cup: Ballincollig 25, Cooke 38;
Blackrock College 57, Galwegians 5;
Malone 29, Kerry 3;
Railway Union 0, Queens University 0;
U.L. Bohemian 39, Wicklow 0;
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