AIB Division 2 Semi Finals
Fittingly the two teams who finished in the top two positions in the AIB League Division Two table will contest next Saturday’s final at Lansdowne Road.
AIB LEAGUE:
DIVISION TWO: SEMI-FINALS:
Terenure College 55 UCC 14, Lakelands
Dolphin 26 Young Munster 24, Musgrave Park
…UCC and Terenure observe a minute’s silence for George Trenier, before their AIB League Divison 3 Semi Final. Terenure went on to win by 55 – 14…
Fittingly the two teams who finished in the top two positions in the AIB League Division Two table will contest next Saturday’s final at Lansdowne Road.
Promoted duo Terenure College and Dolphin will face off in another Leinster-Munster clash, just like the Clontarf-Shannon tussle for Division One honours. At Lakelands, Terenure ran riot against an injury-hit UCC side, scoring eight tries in a 55-14 semi-final victory.
The Cork men, who trailed by 22-7 at the break, had little to offer in reply. Nure’s James Blaney added to his growing reputation as a try-scoring hooker – he bagged 14 in the League proper – as he touched down three times against the students.
Half backs Dave McAllister and Mark Mahony (2) shared out three tries, while lock Roy McDonnell and flanker Peter O’Malley also crossed the UCC whitewash. Leinster A out-half McAllister also kicked six conversions and a drop goal. Club captain Dermot Blaney, who is the younger brother of James and has been plagued by injuries this season, described his side’s performance as brilliant afterwards.
Looking ahead to the final, Nure coach Kevin West said: It was really close the last time we played Dolphin – 29-24 in our favour. It was the hardest and probably the most physical game we’ve played all season so we’ll expect more of the same next weekend.
Dolphin claimed a 26-24 win in their semi-final against Young Munster at Musgrave Park. Captain James Coughlan proved inspirational as he began the game at centre, finished it at number eight and in between, scored his side’s first try. It was his tenth touchdown of the AIB League run.
Winger Ed Mills notched Dolphin’s second try of the afternoon, whilst out-half Barry Keeshan’s 16-point kicking haul – he landed two conversions, three penalties and a drop goal – proved especially crucial.
Munsters, to their credit, fought to the finish with centre Clint Casey tallying up a hat trick of tries and full back Mark Connolly converting all three and adding a penalty. The Division Two final kicks off at 2.00pm at Lansdowne next Saturday.
Picture Courtesy of http://www.terenurecollegerfc.com/