AIB League Final Picture Complete

The make up of the AIB League finals has been completed after Ul Bohemians beat UCC 39-7 in the Division Two semi-final at Thomond Park on Sunday to earn themselves a final clash with Dublin University on Saturday. The home side had their place in the final booked by half-time when they led 22-0 after their pack had bossed procedings in the opening half against a disappointing students side.

In all, Bohs scored six tries, a brace apiece for Barry Murphy and Aidan O’Gorman, with their other tries coming from Kevin Flanagan and Cathal Garvey.

Such was the dominace of the home side and the one-sided nature of the game, that the students didn’t manage a score until the last minute when Dermot O’Kane crossed for a try.
AIB League Division Two Final
Ul Bohemians v Dublin University
Lansdowne Road, 2pm
Saturday May 8th.

The Division One final brings together Cork Constitution and Shannon, two of the most consistent sides in the competition. Con booked their place with a 20-6 win over Buccaneers in Temple Hill while Shannon were 27-13 victors over Belfast Harlequins at Thomond Park.

Con’s win was fashioned by a solid team performance with outstanding performances from Anthony Horgan operating at full-back and from David Pusey, Shane O’Connor and Brendan O’Connor up front.

Con led 10 -0 thanks to a converted Cronin Healy try and Pat McCarthy drop-goal but saw that lead reduced to just four points after David Connellan had landed penalties in the 39th and 50th minutes.

By then Con had been reduced to 14 after replacement Joey Sheahan had been yellow-carded by referee Alain Rolland.

On the hour mark, O’Connor (Brendan) picked a ball at the back of a retreating seven man scrum and made valuable yards and when Con swept the ball wide, Horgan and Healy were involved in setting Jean-Vincent Igarza off for the decisive score.

Their victory was somewhat marred by injury to McCarthy and the hugely influential Ultan O’Callaghan both of whom are doubtful for the final on Saturday.

There was a similar trend to the game in Thomond Park in that the home side raced into the lead and then saw that lead reduced before they pulled away for a comfortable victory.

Again it was the Shannon pack who dominated with the old reliable Tommy Cregan and just as reliable Andrew McNamara on hand to steady the ship when needed.

Shannon led 15-3 at the interval, their tries coming from Brian Touhy and Mossie Lawlor, Cregan adding the extras.

They looked to be in no great danger whenAjay Derwin landed a 46th minute penalty and Harlequins then looked to have blown their chances when Derwin missed a relatively easy kick just three minutes later. However that all changed in the 56th minute when Rory Best ran in for a simple try from a lineout, Derwin landed the kick from the touchline and suddenly there was just two points separating the sides.

Cregan kicked a penalty, missed another and kicked his third in the 62nd minute to ease Shannon two scores clear before McNamara smacked over a smashing 25 metre drop-goal to seal the issue, Cregan finishing with a penalty.
AIB League Division One Final
Cork Constitution v Shannon
Lansdowne Road, 4pm.
Saturday May 8th

Ards will contest their first final thanks to an impressive 33-19 win over Highfield at Woodleigh Park. They will play a Greystones side who also scored 33 points in getting past City of Derry at Dr Hickey Park. However City of Derry’s final total was 28 and they gave the home side the fright of their lives.

Greystones led 19-0 at half time but the northern side came right back into it before the home side prevailed by a five point margin.
AIB League Division Three Final
Greystones v Ards
Lansdowne Road, 12 noon
Saturday May 8th.