AIB League: Results Round-Up
AIB League Division One has new leaders for the third week running after Blackrock College slipped up at Belfield on Saturday and Clontarf chalked up win number four to move two points clear at the top.
2008/09 AIB LEAGUE: Saturday, October 25
DIVISION ONE:
BALLYMENA 14 UL BOHEMIANS 9, Eaton Park
Scorers: Ballymena: Try: Tommy Seymour; Pens: Tommy Woods 2; Drop: Tommy Woods
UL Bohemians: Pens: Aidan McNulty 3
Ballymena got back to winning ways in AIB League Division One with their new Kiwi out-half Tommy Woods the match winner against UL Bohemians.
Woods landed a trio of second half penalties at Eaton Park, two of them coming after Bohs had moved 9-8 ahead.
The Limerick side led 6-5 at the break thanks to a brace of penalties from full-back Aidan McNulty.
Ballymena worked winger Tommy Seymour over for a try in the second quarter and they outlasted the visitors in the end.
DUNGANNON 22 DOLPHIN 16, Stevenson Park
Scorers: Dungannon: Tries: James Bates, John McGuckin, Paul Magee;
Cons: John McGuckin 2; Pen: John McGuckin
Dolphin: Try: Dave Ryan; Con: Barry Keeshan; Pens: Barry Keeshan 3
Dungannon dug deep to claim their second win of the AIB League campaign, coming under late pressure from Dolphin at Stevenson Park.
Barry Keeshan kicked Dolphin’s only points of the first half as they trailed 17-3 at the interval.
Scrum half James Bates (23 minutes) and winger John McGuckin (33) both crossed for Dungannon tries.
Centre Paul Magee raced clear to touch down for the hosts after the break, but a Dave Ryan try and two more Keeshan penalties saw Dolphin rescue a bonus point.
GALWEGIANS 14 OLD BELVEDERE 12, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: David Nolan, Penalty try; Cons: Robert O’Beirne 2
Old Belvedere: Tries: Dave Mongan, Leo Auva’a; Con: Eamonn Fitzgerald
Galwegians moved up to fifth in the Division One table as they ended Old Belvedere’s winning start to the campaign at Crowle Park.
In atrocious conditions, the sides split four tries but Robert O’Beirne’s two successful conversions proved crucial.
An early try from lock David Nolan had the home side 7-0 ahead at half-time.
Two tries in the space of nine minutes from Dave Mongan and Leo Auva’a put the visitors ahead, but a 58th-minute penalty try was the decisive score for the Galway men.
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 16 CORK CONSTITUTION 9, Templeville Road
Scorers: St. Mary’s College: Tries: Conor McPhillips, Hugh Hogan; Pens: Shaun McCarthy 2
Cork Constitution: Pens: Richie Lane 3
Cork Constitution’s grip on the Division One trophy loosened further at Templeville Road as St. Mary’s College claimed a gritty victory.
Con lost to Young Munster last weekend for their first defeat in 12 AIB League matches and Mary’s clinically repeated the trick.
They led 16-0 at half-time – quick hands put Conor McPhillips over for a try and back rower Hugh Hogan also touched down.
Shaun McCarthy booted two penalties and although Con’s Richie Lane replied with three successful kicks, the damage had been done.
TERENURE COLLEGE 10 SHANNON 35, Lakelands Park
Scorers: Terenure College: Try: Alex Dunlop; Con: David McAllister; Pen: David McAllister
Shannon: Tries: David O’Donovan, John O’Connor, Tadhg Bennett 2; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 3; Pens: Tadhg Bennett 3
Gradually Shannon are getting their AIB League bid back on track and on Saturday afternoon an in-form Tadhg Bennett helped them overwhelm Terenure College.
Bennett kicked the levelling penalty in last week’s 17-17 draw with Garryowen and at Lakelands he tallied up 25 points.
A 25th-minute try from David O’Donovan propelled the visitors into a 16-3 half-time lead.
With lock Kevin O’Dwyer in the sin-bin, Terenure leaked further tries to John O’Connor and Bennett before ‘Nure captain Alex Dunlop grabbed a pushover score.
UCD 10 BLACKROCK COLLEGE 6, Belfield
Scorers: UCD: Try: Kevin McLaughlin; Con: Fergus McFadden; Pen: Fergus McFadden
Blackrock College: Pens: Darragh Fitzpatrick 2
A fired-up UCD handed table toppers Blackrock College their first defeat of the new season at Belfield.
There was plenty to admire in this Dublin derby and though ‘Rock edged the first 20 minutes, Fergus McFadden landed a penalty to nudge UCD 3-0 ahead at half-time.
Flanker Kevin McLaughlin then bulldozed through for a try for the students, off a clever pass from Killian Lett.
McFadden converted and two Darragh Fitzpatrick penalties were all the visitors could muster as UCD secured their first league win.
YOUNG MUNSTER 0 CLONTARF 7, Tom Clifford Park
Scorers: Young Munster: –
Clontarf: Try: Aaron Dundon; Con: Daragh O’Shea
Clontarf are Division One’s new leaders as they brought Young Munster down to earth after last week’s shock win over champions Cork Constitution.
‘Tarf’s heavier pack dictated play in the driving rain and high winds.
They seized their chance just before half-time, pouncing for the game’s only try through hooker Aaron Dundon.
He scored under the posts after a maul and a series of recycles. Centre Daragh O’Shea tagged on the conversion.
Both sides had their spells of dominance but the Dubliners deservedly held on.
GARRYOWEN 19 BUCCANEERS 8, Dooradoyle
Scorers: Garryowen: Try: Ciaran O’Boyle; Con: Conor Kilroy; Pens: Conor Kilroy 4
Buccaneers: Try: Kolo Kiripati; Pen: Simon Rolleston
Garryowen’s first AIB League game under the floodlights at Dooradoyle proved a success thanks to man-of-the-match Conor Kilroy.
The experienced full-back booted four penalties and converted Ciaran O’Boyle’s try in first half injury-time to give the light blues their first win of the league campaign.
Out-half Simon Rolleston kicked Buccaneers into an early but they were left trailing by 16-3 at the break.
Buccs flanker Kolo Kiripati burst through for a try, however Kilroy’s accurate place-kicking was the deciding factor.
DIVISION TWO:
Ballynahinch 40 Thomond 8, Ballymacarn Park
Belfast Harlequins 20 Wanderers 17, Deramore Park
De La Salle Palmerston 3 Greystones 17, Kilternan
Dublin University 13 Bective Rangers 13, College Park
Highfield 12 Clonakilty 3, Woodleigh Park
Instonians 20 UCC 28, Shaws Bridge
Lansdowne 17 Old Crescent 9, The RDS
Malone 3 Bruff 9, Gibson Park
DIVISION THREE:
Ards 17 Naas 10, Hamilton Park
Barnhall 9 Banbridge 3, Parsonstown
Connemara 3 Portadown 5, Monastery Field
Nenagh Ormond 13 Queen’s University 8, New Ormond Park
Old Wesley 16 Corinthians 11, Donnybrook
Rainey Old Boys 3 County Carlow 3, Hatrick Park
Sundays Well 6 Midleton 8, Musgrave Park
Suttonians 38 Waterpark 0, John J McDowell Memorial Grounds
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