AIB Cup: Results Round-Up
It was an action-packed day as the first 14 matches in the second round of this season’s AIB Cup took place around the country. 70 tries were scored in total and there were six Division One casualties, including current table toppers Clontarf and last season’s beaten cup finalists Blackrock College.
2008/09 AIB CUP – SECOND ROUND: Saturday, November 1
UCC 37 PORTADOWN 0, The Mardyke
Scorers: UCC: Tries: Sean Scanlon, Sam Cronin 2, Scott Deasy, Brian Derham, John Moynihan; Cons: Scott Deasy, Gavin Dunne; Pen: Scott Deasy
Portadown: –
HT: UCC 8 Portadown 0
Team captain Sam Cronin led by example as UCC gained a comfortable passage through to the AIB Cup third round, accounting for Portadown at the Mardyke.
The Ports, the current Division Three leaders, made a fight of it in the first half and only trailed by 8-0 at half-time.
Full-back Sean Scanlon got over for UCC’s opening try, after Scott Deasy had opened the scoring with a penalty.
But the second half saw one-way traffic as scrum half Cronin, centre Deasy, winger Brian Derham and replacement hooker John Moynihan all touched down for the Cork students.
YOUNG MUNSTER 18 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 15, Tom Clifford Park
Scorers: Young Munster: Tries: David O’Dwyer, Derek Corcoran; Con: Ger Slattery; Pens: Pierre Duboit, Ger Slattery
Belfast Harlequins: Tries: Rory Blake-Knox, Shane Stewart; Con: Keith Pyper; Drop: Myles O’Hagan
HT: Young Munster 3 Belfast Harlequins 10
Young Munster recovered from conceding seven poimnts inside four minutes to end Belfast Harlequins’ AIB Cup hopes at Tom Clifford Park.
Rory Blake-Knox capitalised on an attemped clearance to race in for the early try for the visitors which full-back Keith Pyper converted.
Pierre Duboit kicked a Young Munster penalty but Miles O’Hagan’s drop goal had ‘Quins 10-3 in front at the interval.
Prop David O’Dwyer notched an early second half try for Young Munster and after 57 minutes, hooker and former Schools international Ger Slattery added a penalty to edge the hosts 11-10 in front.
Team captain Derek Corcoran rounded off a superb three-quarters move for another Cookies try and Slattery slotted over the conversion.
Two minutes from the end, ‘Quins had a second try when former Ulster centre Shane Stewart went over in the corner but it was too little, too late.
ARDS 14 OLD WESLEY 13, Hamilton Park
Scorers: Ards: Try: Al McGrugan; Pens: Ajay Derwin 2; Drop: Stewart Paul
Old Wesley: Tries: Alan Thompson, Alan Large; Pen: David Smith
HT: Ards 8 Old Wesley 8
Ards beat their Division Three compatriots Old Wesley by a single point in a lively encounter at Hamilton Park.
The Newtownards outfit made it through to the AIB Cup’s third round for the first time in their history.
Following up on their 34-10 opening round win over Suttonians, Ards outlasted Wesley during a tightly-contested second half.
The sides were level at 8-8 at the break but a Stewart Paul drop goal and Ajay Derwin’s second penalty of the afternoon sent the hosts through.
BALLYNAHINCH 33 COUNTY CARLOW 10, Ballymacarn Park
Scorers: Ballynahinch: Tries: Penalty try, Michael Graham, Adam Craig, Harry McAleese, Niall McBriar; Cons: Ryan Bambry 4
County Carlow: Try: Steve Dalton; Con: Billy Murphy; Pen: Billy Murphy
HT: Ballynahinch 21 County Carlow 3
Ballynahinch proved too strong for County Carlow at Ballymacarn Park on Saturday afternoon, thanks to an exciting five-try display.
Unbeaten in the AIB League and top of the Division two table, ‘Hinch built up a 21-3 interval lead.
They had converted tries from Michael Graham and Adam Craig, adding to an 11th-minute penalty try.
Billy Murphy kicked a sole first half penalty for a largely second string Carlow side.
He also converted a 70th-minute try from Steve Dalton, but further tries from Harry McAleese and Niall McBriar, with Ryan Bambry adding the extras to McBriar’s score, eased ‘Hinch to victory.
BECTIVE RANGERS 13 TERENURE COLLEGE 6, Donnybrook
Scorers: Bective Rangers: Try: Val Baynes; Con: Jack Ryan; Pens: Jack Ryan 2
Terenure College: Pens: David McAllister 2
HT: Bective Rangers 10 Terenure College 6
Division One’s basement side Terenure College fell to their Dublin rivals in a hard-fought clash at Donnybrook.
Bective Rangers pulled through, with Jack Ryan’s penalty proving to be the only score of the entire second half.
Out-half David McAllister had kept ‘Nure in touch with two first half penalties.
But a Val Baynes try, which Ryan converted to add to a penalty, steered Bective ahead and put them on their way to a deserved win.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE 20 SHANNON 40, Stradbrook
Scorers: Blackrock College: Tries: Kyle Tonetti 2; Cons: Darragh Fitzpatrick 2; Pens: Ian Madigan 2
Shannon: Tries: Marcus O’Driscoll, Fionn McLoughlin, Andrew Finn, Tadhg Bennett, Richie Mullane; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 3; Pens: Tadhg Bennett 3
HT: Blackrock College 6 Shannon 18
In what was a repeat of last season’s final, Shannon began their defence of the AIB Cup title with a stylish win over Blackrock College.
Shannon took early control of this Stradbrook tie thanks to in-form out-half Tadhg Bennett.
He kicked two penalties and added a conversion to tries from Marcus O’Driscoll and Fionn McLoughlin as the visitors claimed an 18-6 half-time lead.
‘Rock rallied with two converted tries from centre Kyle Tonetti, however touchdowns from Andrew Finn, Bennett and Richie Mullane saw Shannon gave revenge for their recent 41-27 league defeat at this venue.
BUCCANEERS 20 CLONTARF 18, Dubarry Park
Scorers: Buccaneers: Tries: Adrian Hanley, Kolo Kiripati; Cons: Alan Gaughan 2; Pens: Alan Gaughan 2
Clontarf: Tries: Ben Reilly, Niall O’Brien; Con: Daragh O’Shea; Pen: Daragh O’Shea; Drop: Peter O’Brien
HT: Buccaneers 7 Clontarf 11
Division One leaders Clontarf came a-cropper at Dubarry Park as Buccaneers scrapped their way to a memorable AIB Cup win.
Two penalties from Alan Gaughan in the final quarter saw Buccs come from 18-14 down with a late surge.
The Pirates, missing all of their Connacht players bar scrum half Conor O’Loughlin, grabbed an early try through Adrian Hanley.
‘Tarf led 11-7 at the break thanks to scores from Daragh O’Shea (penalty), Peter O’Brien (drop goal) and Ben Reilly (try).
Kolo Kiripati burst through for a Buccs try on the resumption. Former Buccs favourite Niall O’Brien then touched down at the other end but Gaughan ensured the home side had the last laugh.
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