AIB League: Bohs Grab Late Draw

UL Bohs prop Mike Storey

UL Bohs grabbed a late 20-20 draw against Blackrock on Saturday, but Ben Martin’s missed conversion cost them the win. Elsewhere, Cork Con and St Mary’s chalked up wins.

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION ONE: Saturday, October 29

UL Bohemians 20 Blackrock College 20, Annacotty

Scorers: UL: Tries: Cathal Garvey, Mike Storey, Mark Butler; Con: Fergal Lawlor; Pen: Lawlor

Blackrock: Tries: Dave Dillon, Karl Gilligan; Cons: Paddy O’Toole 2; Pens: O’Toole 2

Blackrock College crept back up to fourth in the Division One table despite missing out on full points in this staelmate with Bohs.

‘Rock led 20-15 at half-time at Annacotty thanks to tries from player-coach Dave Dillon and Karl Gilligan, a summer signing from St Mary’s.

Flanker Dillon struck after only three minutes as the visitors went into an early 10-0 lead. Bohs hit back through tries from prop Mike Storey (15 minutes) and full-back Cathal Garvey (28).

But ‘Rock earned their five-point interval lead thanks to a 32nd-minute try from Gilligan – fly-half Paddy O’Toole converted to add to his earlier conversion and brace of penalties.

It stayed at 20-15 until ten minutes from time when Mark Butler, on as a replacement for Fergal Lawlor, touched down after an initial incision from Bohs centre Ben Martin.

The latter had a chance to steal the win, but missed the conversion.

Ballymena 12 Cork Constitution 22, Eaton Park

Scorers: Ballymena: Pens: Dirkie Strydom 4

Cork Con: Tries: Andrew O’Brien, Richard Lane, Conor Quaid; Cons: Quaid, Neil Whitworth; Pen: Quaid

Brian Walsh’s Cork Constitution side kept pace with Division One leaders Shannon as Andrew O’Brien, Richard Lane and Conor Quaid ran in tries at Eaton Park.

Quaid started the ball rolling on 13 minutes when he intercepted a midfield pass to run in at the posts. Four penalties from Dirkie Strydom saw Ballymena move into a 12-7 lead before Con scored 17 points in the final quarter-of-an-hour to grab their third straight win.

First, O’Connor was mauled over on 71 minutes. The winning try came four minutes later when full-back Lane coasted over with substitute Neil Whitworth converting.

St Mary’s College 21 County Carlow 8, Templeville Road

Scorers: St Mary’s: Jonathan Sexton 2, Gareth Logan; Cons: Sexton 3

Carlow: Try: Padraig Brennan; Pen: Greg Jacob

Jonathan Sexton did the damage for St Mary’s College as they racked up their first win of the new Division One campaign – a 21-8 win over County Carlow.

The Leinster Under-21 fly half scored two tries and landed three conversions as the Dubliners moved off bottom spot.

Sexton blazed over from 20 metres to answer an early penalty from Greg Jacob and hand Mary’s a 7-3 buffer for the second half.

Former schoolboy international Sexton then added his second and lock Gareth Logan managed a third Mary’s try in the closing quarter. A close range maul saw Carlow’s Padraig Brennan net a consolation score.

Mary’s had hooker sent-off for a second yellow card offence on 68 minutes.