AIB League: Results Round-Up
Clontarf tightened their grip on top spot in AIB League Division One as they beat Blackrock College to maintain their winning run in this season’s competition. In Divisions Two and Three, leaders Ballynahinch and Portadown failed to win for the first time in the campaign but are still top of their respective tables.
AIB LEAGUE: Saturday, November 29
DIVISION ONE:
BALLYMENA 34 TERENURE COLLEGE 3, Eaton Park
Scorers: Ballymena: Tries: Jamie Smith 2, Tommy Seymour 2, Craig Woods; Cons: Craig Woods 3; Pen: Craig Woods
Terenure College: Pen: David Cazabon
Division One’s bottom club Terenure College slumped to their fifth straight league defeat as Ballymena bossed them at Eaton Park.
The omens were not good for ‘Nure when they arrived late, the kick-off was delayed and Ballymena full-back Jamie Smith got over for an early try.
A further Craig Woods penalty had the Braidmen 8-0 ahead at half-time.
Winger Tommy Seymour touched down for 15-0 and although David Cazabon replied with a penalty, Ballymena notched the bonus point with late tries from Smith, Woods and Seymour.
CLONTARF 26 BLACKROCK COLLEGE 8, Castle Avenue
Scorers: Clontarf: Tries: Martin Dufficy, Michael Keating, Paul O’Donohoe; Con: Daragh O’Shea; Pens: Daragh O’Shea 3
Blackrock College: Try: Royce Burke-Flynn; Pen: Darragh Fitzpatrick
Scrum half Paul O’Donohoe turned in a man-of-the-match display as Clontarf beat close rivals Blackrock College at Castle Avenue.
Andy Wood’s men are now five points clear of second-placed Shannon, thanks to their fifth straight league win.
Darragh Fitzpatrick booted Blackrock ahead but ‘Tarf, with their forwards excelling, snapped back to lead 10-3 at half-time.
Blackrock had David Moore and David Rowan sin-binned and ‘Tarf put Martin Dufficy over for a try.
Two five-pointers from Michael Keating and O’Donohoe then put the result beyond doubt.
CORK CONSTITUTION 25 GALWEGIANS 7, Temple Hill
Scorers: Cork Constitution: Tries: Richie Lane, Billy Holland, Duncan Williams; Cons: Richie Lane 2; Pens: Richie Lane 2
Galwegians: Try: Chris Brigl; Con: Robert O’Beirne
Defending champions Cork Constitution got back to winning ways in the AIB League with a measured win over Galwegians.
Con made a blistering start at Temple Hill with full-back Richie Lane getting over for a second-minute try.
He added the conversion and flanker Billy Holland also crossed in the 22nd minute to hand Brian Walsh’s men a 12-0 interval lead.
South African centre Chris Brigl nipped over for a try for ‘Wegians but two Lane penalties and Duncan Williams’ 79th-minute try sealed the issue.
DOLPHIN 38 ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 3, Musgrave Park
Scorers: Dolphin: Tries: Paul Hurley, James Coughlan 2, Warren De Bruin; Cons: Barry Keeshan 3; Pens: Barry Keeshan 4
St. Mary’s College: Pen: Barry Lynn
Dolphin scored their first win in three AIB League games as they beat former table-toppers St. Mary’s College.
The Cork side ran in four second half tries to burst clear after ending the first half with a 6-3 lead.
Barry Keeshan opened the game with two penalties before experienced full-back Barry Lynn replied for Mary’s.
Munster’s James Coughlan excelled for Dolphin in both halves and he got over for two tries, with Paul Hurley and Warren De Bruin also crossing the whitewash for the hosts.
DUNGANNON 23 BUCCANEERS 36, Stevenson Park
Scorers: Dungannon: Tries: Nigel Brady, Thomas Anderson, Neil O’Kane; Con: Richard McCarter; Pen: James Shiells; Drop: James Shiells
Buccaneers: Tries: Danny Riordan 2, Kolo Kiripati, Garrett Halligan, Alex Hayman, Kieran O’Gorman; Cons: Alan Gaughan 3
After three successive league defeats, Buccaneers claimed a relieving win at Stevenson Park as they ran six tries past Dungannon.
Connacht’s Danny Riordan grabbed two of those, with Kolo Kiripati, Garrett Halligan, Alex Hayman and man-of-the-match Kieran O’Gorman also touching down.
Buccs had the bonus point secured by half-time, leading 26-6. Dungannon’s only response was through the boot of James Shiells.
The Tyrone men closed the gap to 26-16 with tries from Nigel Brady and Thomas Anderson but Hayman and O’Gorman made the game safe.
OLD BELVEDERE 14 GARRYOWEN 26, Anglesea Road
Scorers: Old Belvedere: Try: Felix Jones; Pens: Kieran Hurrell 3
Garryowen: Tries: Ciaran O’Boyle 2, Anthony Kavanagh; Con: Conor Kilroy; Pens: Conor Kilroy 2; Drop: Willie Staunton
Garryowen chalked up their second league win with a determined display at Anglesea Road.
The Garryowen forwards held the edge over a Belvedere pack that contained three Under-20 players and Conor Kilroy and company took advantage on the scoring front.
The sides swapped tries through Ciaran O’Boyle (11 minutes) and Felix Jones (14) meaning Belvedere were only 14-11 behind at half-time.
Out-half Kieran Hurrell kicked them level but Garryowen seized control for the remainder, with Anthony Kavanagh (53) and O’Boyle (59) tagging on decisive tries.
SHANNON 36 UCD 9, Coonagh
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: Eoghan Grace 2, Kevin Griffin, Tadhg Bennett, Andrew Thompson; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 4; Pen: Tadhg Bennett
UCD: Pens: Simon Gillespie 3
Young flanker Eoghan Grace helped himself to two tries as Shannon blitzed UCD to move up to second in the table.
Geoff Moylan’s side had the game by the scruff of the neck, leading by 26-6 at the interval at Coonagh.
With their pack dominating, Grace and prop Kevin Griffin both touched down and veteran centre Andrew Thompson added another.
UCD full-back Simon Gillespie landed three penalties but Shannon number 10 Tadhg Bennett led the scoring with 16 points (try, four conversions and a penalty).
UL BOHEMIANS 24 YOUNG MUNSTER 6, Thomond Park
Scorers: Scorers: UL Bohemians: Tries: Tommy O’Donnell, Giles Boland; Con: Fergal Lawlor; Pens: Fergal Lawlor 2; Drops: Fergal Lawlor 2
Young Munster: Pens: Ger Slattery 2
Facing their Limerick rivals, UL Bohemians pushed home for a deserved win at Thomond Park.
Bohs took the spoils in what was a repeat of the first ever game played at the Limerick ground – a Munster Senior League tie back in 1934.
Two penalties from hooker Ger Slattery had Young Munster 6-3 ahead at half-time.
But despite losing prop Mike Storey to the sin-bin, Bohs blasted back with tries from Tommy O’Donnell and Giles Boland and out-half Fergal Lawlor kicked an impressive 14 points.
DIVISION TWO:
Bective Rangers 30 Instonians 15, Donnybrook
Bruff 13 Dublin University 12, Kilballyowen Park
Clonakilty 13 Malone 17, Shannonvale Cross
Greystones 26 Highfield 9, Dr Hickey Park
Old Crescent 26 Ballynahinch 24, Rosbrien
Thomond 6 De La Salle Palmerston 12, Liam Fitzgerald Park
UCC 7 Belfast Harlequins 0, The Mardyke
Wanderers 6 Lansdowne 12, Merrion Road
DIVISION THREE:
Banbridge 7 Connemara 12, Rifle Park
County Carlow 14 Old Wesley 11, Oak Park
Corinthians 18 Sunday’s Well 14, Corinthian Park
Midleton 28 Barnhall 16, Towns Park
Naas 19 Rainey Old Boys 23, Forenaughts
Portadown 19 Suttonians 19, Chambers Park
Queen’s University 40 Ards 13, Dub Lane
Waterpark 7 Nenagh Ormond 37, Ballinakill
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