AIB League – O’Callaghan Celebrates In Style

Ultan O’Callaghan captained Cork Constitution on Saturday in his 100th AIL League game and he marked the historic occasion by scoring the opening try in his sided’s 24-8 victory over Garryowen at Temple Hill. That score came in the 3rd minute and it was converted by Pat McCarthy who also added the points when centre Cian Manony scored just before the break to leave the home side 14 points clear at the break. Mark Connolly finally got Garryowen on the scoreboard with an early second half penalty (14-3) but Con’s third try followed from Stephen McColl and they earned the bonus point when replacement Brendan O’Connor ended up on the end of a good Con passing movement for a 24-8 victory that takes Con to the top of the table.

In Castle Avenue, first half tries from Maurice Logue and Ben Young, helped the visitors, Co Carlow to a 12-6 interval lead over Clontarf whose first half points came from the boot of David McAllister. However, wind-assisted in the second half, Clontarf clawed their way back, David Moore scored a 60th minute try and McAllister landed a penalty five minutes later to give them the lead for the first time. Two minutes from time Simon O’Donnell scored under the posts to seal the outcome but in injury-time Dan Van Zyl landed a penalty to secure a bonus point for the visitors.

Ballymena, leaders at the start of the day, suffered a shock defeat losing 13-8 at home to Blackrock. The home side took the lead with a Mike McComish try after just five minutes and held that lead until the 35th minute when Conor Kilroy landed a long range penalty. Then on the stroke of half-time, Ross Molloy scored Rock’s first try and Kilroy added the points to take a five point (10-5) lead into the break. Ian Humphreys cut the deficit with an early second half penalty but Rock defended resolutely and ten minutes from the end Kilroy landed another penalty to see Rock run out narrow but deserving 13-8 winners.

AIB League Division One – Results

Ballymena 8-13 Blackrock (Ref: B Fitzgerald)
Buccaneers 47-16 Dolphin (Ref: D Moloney)
Clontarf 21-15 Co Carlow (Ref: L Mayne)
Cork Con 24-8 Garryowen (Ref: S McDowell)
Dungannon 21-8 Belfast Harlequins (Ref: D Keane)
Lansdowne 28-32 UCD (Ref: M Kilgore)
Shannon 34-9 Galwegians (Ref: A McKay).