AIL Roundup: Division 1A Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Semi-Finals

It’ll be Highfield and Shannon who will battle it out for a place in next season’s Division 1A in a repeat of last year’s final after they saw off Old Belvedere and Old Wesley.

Old Belvedere 17-19 Highfield, Ollie Campbell Park

Highfield opened the scoring as Luke Kingston raced through for a try that Taylor converted.

Old Belvedere replied through hooker Calum Dowling touching down with Micheál O’Kennedy converting.

Prop Daragh Fitzgerald responded quickly to gather the ball and crash over, putting Highfield 12-7 up at half-time.

Highfield scrum-half Chris Banon then went over and Taylor crucially kicked the touch-line conversion to stretch the lead to nine points.

But with ten minutes remaining Connor Owende powered over and the O’Kennedy conversion made it a two-point game but Highfield held on.

Shannon 24-6 Old Wesley, Thomond Park

Despite trailing 6-0 early in the opening half at Thomond Park due to two Ian Cassidy penalties, Shannon emerged comfortable winners on a 24-6 scoreline against Old Wesley. 

Jordan Prenderville, Josh Costelloe, Colm Heffernan, and Aran Hehir scored tries for Shannon, and Michael Cooke added two conversions to seal a routine victory and move within 80 minutes of retaining their top flight status.

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.

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