AIB League: Results Round-Up
There was plenty of action in the AIB League over the weekend, with Ballymena, Garryowen and Dolphin amongst the sides improving their play-off prospects in Division One and Corinthians scoring a comprehensive victory over Connemara in their Galway derby.
AIB LEAGUE: Saturday, December 13/Sunday, December 14
DIVISION ONE:
DUNGANNON 19 GARRYOWEN 26, Stevenson Park
Scorers: Dungannon: Try: Richard McCarter; Con: John McGuckin; Pens: John McGuckin 4
Garryowen: Tries: Ciaran O’Boyle, Anthony Kavanagh; Cons: Conor Kilroy 2; Pens: Conor Kilroy 4
Garryowen climbed temporarily up to fourth place in the Division One standings with a hard-fought win over Dungannon at Stevenson Park on Saturday.
Full-back Conor Kilroy stamped his authority on the game, kicking 16 points and forming a strong defence in the back-three.
Garryowen scored tries through winger Ciaran O’Boyle and flanker Anthony Kavanagh on the way to building a 20-13 half-time lead.
Richard McCarter crossed the visitors’ whitewash in the first half and two penalties after the break from John McGuckin gave Dungannon a losing bonus point.
GALWEGIANS 15 YOUNG MUNSTER 10, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: Penalty try, Conor Muldoon; Con: Matt Brandon; Drop: Cormac O’Beirne
Young Munster: Try: Mike Prendergast; Con: Matthew Costelloe; Pen: Matthew Costelloe
Connacht hooker Conor Muldoon scored one of Galwegians’ two tries in their narrow win over Young Munster at Crowley Park.
‘Wegians gained a penalty try in the 28th minute and added a second touchdown through Muldoon to lead 12-10 at half-time.
However, a Mike Prendergast try and five points from the boot of full-back Matthew Costelloe had Munsters well in the hunt.
It took a terrific drop goal from Cormac O’Beirne from all of halfway to decide the tie during a scrappy second half.
OLD BELVEDERE 17 BLACKROCK COLLEGE 22, Anglesea Road
Scorers: Old Belvedere: Tries: Jonathan Slattery, Richie Leyden; Cons: Ruairi Cushion 2; Pen: Ruairi Cushion
Blackrock College: Tries: Gary Brown, Alan Henry, Kyle Tonetti; Cons: Ian Madigan 2; Pen: Ian Madigan
Old Belvedere and Blackrock College shared out five tries in their derby clash at Anglesea Road.
With tries from back-line trio Gary Brown, Alan Henry and Kyle Tonetti, Blackrock edged what was an entertaining tussle.
Leinster man Brown, playing at outside centre, scorched over for the opener and the visitors led 10-3 at half-time.
A Jonathan Slattery try closed the gap to 15-10 but with Tonetti scoring on the hour mark, Richie Leyden’s late try was only enough for a losing bonus point for Belvo.
TERENURE COLLEGE 18 UCD 19, Lakelands Park
Scorers: Terenure College: Tries: Kevin Mahony, Ciaran Smyth; Con: David McAllister; Drops: Mark O’Neill, David McAllister
UCD: Tries: Vasily Artemiev; Con: Fergus McFadden; Pens: Fergus McFadden 3; Drop: Ian McKinley
Leinster star Fergus McFadden proved cool under pressure as he kicked UCD to a vital win at Lakelands Park.
The students secured only their second league victory, courtesy of McFadden’s three late penalty goals.
Vasily Artemiev grabbed the lead try for the visitors, but Terenure cut the half-time deficit to 10-5 with a Kevin Mahony touchdown.
Flanker Ciaran Smyth then breached the UCD defence for try number two. Drop goals from Mark O’Neill and David McAllister had ‘Nure 18-10 ahead before McFadden stole the show.
BUCCANEERS 17 BALLYMENA 21, Dubarry Park
Scorers: Buccaneers: Tries: Conor O’Loughlin, Aidan Wynne, Garrett Halligan; Con: Alan Gaughan
Ballymena: Tries: Jamie Smith, Craig Woods; Con: Craig Woods; Pens: Craig Woods 3
Ballymena chalked up their fourth straight AIB League victory with a late comeback against Buccaneers.
Buccs’ first league match under the Dubarry Park floodlights went the way of the Braidmen as scrum half Craig Woods snatched a last-minute try.
Two touchdowns from Conor O’Loughlin (1 minute) and Aidan Wynne (8) shot Buccs ahead.
Ballymena turned a 12-3 deficit around with two Woods penalties and a Jamie Smith try. And although Garrett Halligan crossed for Buccs in the 67th minute, the visitors had the final say.
DOLPHIN 16 CLONTARF 10, Musgrave Park
Scorers: Dolphin: Try: Barry O’Mahony; Con: Barry Keeshan; Pens: Barry Keeshan 2; Drop: Barry Keeshan
Clontarf: Try: Phil Howard; Con: Daragh O’Shea; Pen: Daragh O’Shea Coonagh
SHANNON 26 ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 20, Coonagh
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: Richie Mullane, Marcus O’Driscoll, Tadhg Bennett; Con: Tadhg Bennett; Pens: Tadhg Bennett 3
St. Mary’s College: Tries: Conor McPhillips, Conor Donohoe; Cons: Barry Lynn 2; Pens: Barry Lynn 2
UL BOHEMIANS 19 CORK CONSTITUTION 25, Annacotty
Scorers: UL Bohemians: Try: Giles Boland; Con: Paul Warwick; Pens: Paul Warwick 4
Cork Constitution: Tries: Tom Gleeson, Ed Leamy, Billy Holland; Cons: Richie Lane, Jeremy Manning; Pens: Jeremy Manning 2
Munster’s Paul Warwick did his best to thwart Cork Constitution at Annacotty on Sunday but a late surge from the Leesiders saw them overhaul UL Bohemians.
Warwick, who was a second half replacement against Clermont Auvergne, was permitted to play for 50 minutes.
Having kicked four penalties and converted Giles Boland’s try, the Australian left the pitch with Bohs leading 19-11.
But with Kieran Essex in the sin-bin, Bohs leaked a converted try to Ed Leamy and then Billy Holland followed suit to complete Con’s comeback.
DIVISION TWO:
Old Crescent v Belfast Harlequins, Rosbrien (Postponed)
Clonakilty 13 De La Salle Palmerston 5, Shannonvale Cross
Wanderers 14 Instonians 14, Merrion Road
Bective Rangers 10 Malone 6, Donnybrook
Greystones 20 Thomond 13, Dr. Hickey Park
Lansdowne 13 Ballynahinch 10, The RDS
UCC 23 Dublin University 10, The Mardyke
Bruff 10 Highfield 10, Kilballyowen Park
DIVISION THREE:
Queen’s University 20 Old Wesley 3, Dub Lane
Banbridge 16 Suttonians 11, Rifle Park
County Carlow 11 Barnhall 9, Oak Park
Corinthians 31 Connemara 3, Corinthian Park
Midleton 15 Portadown 5, Towns Park
Naas 15 Sundays Well 10, Forenaughts
Nenagh Ormond 9 Ards 18, New Ormond Park
Waterpark 18 Rainey Old Boys 50, Ballinakill