All-Ireland League: Division 2 Round-Up
The adverse weather conditions disrupted round 6 of All-Ireland League Division 2, with only four matches going ahead as scheduled. Terenure College took advantage by beating Malone at Gibson Park to climb to sixth in the standings, while Midleton, Queen’s University and Thomond also posted victories.
ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2 RESULTS: Saturday, November 27
Belfast Harlequins 12 Midleton 31, Deramore Park
De La Salle Palmerston v Ballynahinch, Kirwan Park (match postponed due to unplayable pitch)
Dublin University v Corinthians, Trinity Sportsground, Santry (match postponed due to unplayable pitch)
Malone 16 Terenure College 29, Gibson Park
Old Wesley v Ballymena, Donnybrook (match postponed due to unplayable pitch)
Queen’s University 13 Bective Rangers 11, Dub Lane
Thomond 32 Clonakilty 21, Liam Fitzgerald Park
UCD v Old Crescent, Belfield Bowl (match postponed due to unplayable pitch)
Terenure College extended their unbeaten run in Division 2 to four matches – three wins and a draw – as they ran out 29-16 winners over Malone at Gibson Park.
Out-half Josh Pentland accounted for 11 of Malone’s points, but Terenure’s pack were dominant on the day and forwards Peter O’Malley, Kevin O’Dwyer, Robbie Smith and Brian Moroney shared out the tries.
The result marked ‘Nure’s second bonus point win of the league campaign and they will be quietly confident of overturning Dublin University at Lakelands Park next Saturday.
Three yellow cards contributed to Belfast Harlequins’ woes as they suffered their third defeat in five league outings, going down 31-12 to Midleton at Deramore Park.
Flanker Alastair Heatlie, hooker and captain Robert Logan and out-half Mark Kettyle were all sin-binned in the opening half, which ended 17-0 in Midleton’s favour.
The Corkmen, coached by former Munster and Ireland skipper Terry Kingston, scored four tries in all – three from inspirational captain David Lee and another from lock Donovan Gee.
Tries from Logan (46 minutes) and centre Willie Stewart (72) raised hopes of a possible losing bonus point for the hosts, but Harlequins leaked a late try themselves to end their bid for such a result.
At Dub Lane, Queen’s University defeated high-flying Bective Rangers with a late penalty from winger Chris Quinn steering them to a 13-11 win.
It was the Belfast students’ third victory in four league games and sets them up nicely for a crack at table toppers Ballynahinch next weekend.
Recent Ulster debutant David McIlwaine scored Queen’s opening try and five points from the boot of Quinn had them 10-3 ahead at half-time.
Out-half Gearoid O’Grady landed a first half penalty for Bective and kicked another after the resumption. A try from flanker Conor Harbison signalled a revival for the Dubliners, but Quinn held his nerve to settle the issue.
Meanwhile, at Liam Fitzgerald Park, Thomond lifted themselves away from the foot of the table by overcoming Clonakilty 32-21 for their first win of the league season.
Martin Ryan’s men, who were hammered by Ballynahinch in their last league game, bottled up that hurt and charged into a 22-9 half-time lead against their Munster rivals.
Winger Mark Cosgrave struck for two well-taken tries and back rower Diarmuid Ryan and full-back Kevin O’Mahony, with the bonus point score, also crossed the Clonakilty whitewash.
Thomond’s league debutant Dermot Fitzgerald had a memorable afternoon, kicking two penalties and three conversions for a 12-point haul.
Clonakilty, who remain bottom of the table, had tries from prop and captain Tom Ryan and centre Kieran Howlin, with full-back Denis McCarthy, formerly of Dolphin, kicking three penalties and a conversion.