Ballynahinch created the upset of this season’s AIB Cup when they toppled defending champions Shannon off their perch at Coonagh, with New Zealand recruit Ryan Bambry kicking his side to a 15-14 win. Elsewhere, UCC, Galwegians and Dolphin all claimed home successes to progress to the quarter-finals.
AIB CUP – THIRD ROUND: Saturday, January 10
SHANNON 14 BALLYNAHINCH 15, Coonagh
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: John O’Connor, Fiach O’Loughlin; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 2
Ballynahinch: Pens: Ryan Bambry 5
Number 10 Ryan Bambry was the scoring hero for Ballynahinch as they dethroned reigning AIB Cup champions Shannon at Coonagh.
‘Hinch, revved up for big game after their maiden Ulster Senior League success last weekend, were 12-0 to the good by half-time with Bambry knocking over four penalty goals.
Shannon snatched the lead when John O’Connor (44 minutes) and Fiach O’Loughlin (50) both touched down, with Tadhg Bennett converting both.
But a fifth Bambry kick, in deepest injury-time, saw the visitors claim a famous win.
UCC 9 OLD BELVEDERE 8, The Mardyke
Scorers: UCC: Pens: Gavin Dunne 3
Old Belvedere: Try: Dave Mongan; Pen: Eamonn Fitzgerald
Old Belvedere scored the only try but Gavin Dunne’s hat-trick of penalty goals was enough to guide UCC into the AIB Cup quarter-finals at the Mardyke.
Belvedere winger Dave Mongan dotted down in the closing stages of this lively tie, adding to a penalty from centre Eamonn Fitzgerald.
But, in tricky conditions, the assured Dunne won the day for the Cork students, who led 6-3 at half-time.
After going 8-6 down, UCC’s hard-working pack eked out a final chance for Dunne which he gleefully took.
GALWEGIANS 14 NENAGH ORMOND 3, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Try: Chris Brigl; Pens: Robert O’Beirne 3
Nenagh Ormond: Pen: John Lillis
Full-back Robert O’Beirne kicked a hat-trick of penalty goals as Galwegians maintained their AIB Cup push at Crowley Park.
Nenagh Ormond made a real battle of this game but an early John Lillis penalty was all they had to show for their efforts.
The visitors had a gusty wind behind them for the opening 40 minutes.
However, an O’Beirne penalty and a try from South African centre Chris Brigl right on half-time gave Galwegians an 8-3 advantage. Two more O’Beirne kicks settled the issue.
DOLPHIN 44 ARDS 6, Musgrave Park
Scorers: Dolphin: Tries: George Finn, Nick Williams, Gary O’Keeffe, Rory Kenneally 2, Paul Hurley 2; Cons: Barry Keeshan 3; Pen: Barry Keeshan
Ards: Pens: Michael Lawton 2
Munster back rower Nick Williams scored a try on his debut for Dolphin as the Cork side easily accounted for Division Three outfit Ards at Musgrave Park.
George Finn, Williams, Gary O’Keeffe and Rory Kenneally each touched down as Dolphin turned around with a 25-6 half-time buffer.
Ards’ only points of the game came from two Michael Lawton penalties, and although Dolphin had Barry O’Mahony and Williams sin-binned after the break, Kenneally and his fellow winger Paul Hurley shared out three more tries.
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