AHEAD of its festive break, the All-Ireland Leagues reached its half-way point at the weekend.
In the top-flight, promotion play-off seeking Young Munster snatched a dramatic win with a late penalty by Julian Lesczynski to defeat Garryowen 25-24 at Tom Clifford Park.
The sides were level 10 points apiece at half time and the visitors were 24-17 ahead entering the final stages when a Stephen McLoughlin try, and Lesczynski’s penalty denied the Light Blues victory.
Oisín Pepper, Tom Goggin and Ruadhan Quinn were Munster’s try scorers and Lesczynski added one conversion.
Bryan Fitzgerald replied with two tries for Garryowen and Dylan Hicks got one and he converted all three tries as well as kicking a penalty.
In 1B, a late converted try gave bottom side Highfield a 21-18 win against Shannon to leave them two points behind the Limerick side.
David O’Sullivan, Eoin Duggan, and Darragh Fitzgerald were the ‘Field try scorers, and all were converted by Shane O’Riordan.
Jack Brady and Matt TePau replied with tries for Shannon. John O’Sullivan kicked a penalty, and Seán Nolan added a conversion and a penalty.
In 2A, Old Crescent did pick up a losing bonus point as they lost away to Greystones 29-22. Brandon Nash scored Crescent’s try and Ronan McKenna converted and also added five penalties.
And, UL Bohemian’s 22-17 away defeat to Malahide sees them slip out of the top four in Division 2B. Paul Clancy and Darren Farrar scored tries for The Robins and Oisín Fagan converted both and also added a penalty.
In 2C, Clonmel kept their promotion challenge alive with a 28-22 home win against Bruff. Tom O’Dea scored two tries for Clonmel and Freddie Davies and Harry Buttimer got one each. Josef O’Connor converted all four tries. Bruff replied with two tries from Cillian Rea and they were also awarded a penalty try. Paul Collins kicked a penalty and a conversion.
In the Women’s AIL, UL Bohemian kept up their challenge with another impressive performance defeating Galwegians 53-10 at Crowley Park. Bohs scored nine tries with Alana McInerney grabbing two and Laoise McGonagle, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Muirne Wall, Ciara Mcloughlin, Eilis Cahill, Claire Bennett and Chloe Pearse getting one each.
Kate Flannery kicked four conversions.
