AIL Roundup: Division 1A Round 13

1A is even more competitive looking after the weekend, Clontarf sit top by two points, while Cork Con and Lansdowne are only separated by score difference. Terenure strengthened their hold on the fourth place, while at the foot of the table UCD moved further away from the relegation zone.

Clontarf (6T) 45-24 Ballynahinch (3T), Castle Avenue

Clontarf ended their losing streak as a spellbinding second period saw the Dubliners get past the stern test of Ballynahinch.

It was a cagey start to proceedings in Castle Avenue, Hinch drew first blood with a try from Shay Story converted by Conor McKee. Tarf replied through Ruadhan Byron and a conversion from Conor Kelly to level after ten minutes. 

That would be the case for the opening half, Aaron Sexton putting Hinch back ahead as McKee converted and soon after Dylan Donnellan got over and the conversion from Kelly tied the game 14-14 with 15 left of the half. The score remained unchanged going to the interval.

Kelly delivered a sublime cross-field kick to set up Noah Sheridan for the opening score of the second half, Tarf ahead for the first time, Kelly converting for a seven point game. McKee cut the deficit with a penalty, soon after Donnellan added his second try from a tap penalty and the bonus was secured, Kelly making it 28-17 from the tee.

Kelly furthered the lead from a penalty and soon after he converted Sam Owens intercept try and the lead was 21 points. Kyle Gill struck back for Hinch and McKee converted, a consolation score in the end, Matt D’Arcy with an intercept and Kelly with his seventh kick of the day converted to cap a strong performance.

Dublin University (3T) 17-19 Cork Constitution (3T), College Park

Max Abbott crossed in the burning embers to see Cork Con take a narrow win in the Capital.

Trinity started much the better of the two sides, Juan Beukes crossing for the opening try and Matthew Lynch converted. Charlie Beckett soon made it 12-0 as the hosts started to play some quality phases and Beckett dotted down in the corner. Con would get on the board as Ronan O’Sullivan was credited with their opening try coming from a powerful driving maul, James Taylor converted and the score at the interval remained 12-7.

John Vinson kept Trinity on top, as he added a third try which went unconverted for a 17-7 lead. Con battled back as the second half wore on, Matisse Lamarque d’Arrouzat dotting down under the posts and Taylor converted for a three point deficit. Discipline would cost Trinity in the end, cheese dished out and a penalty gave Con possession shy of the line. Their lineout maul strong and Abbott got the all important grounding to win the game for the Cork side.

Shannon (1T) 13-28 Lansdowne (4T), Thomond Park

Lansdowne kept up their pursuit of a semi-final place for the 1A title as they proved a test too great for Shannon at the weekend.

Mike Cooke struck an early penalty for Shannon, Lansdowne were also gifted an early penalty, they opted for the line kicking deep for the corner, the move paying off as Harry Van Eeden ran over the opening try of the contest. Stephen Madigan with the extras.

Shannon again went for the posts when Lansdowne committed an infringement for offside and Cooke made it a one point game. The visitors were sharp after conceding that score and Cathal Eddy crossed following a 5m lineout and Madigan kicked the conversion for a 14-6 lead. The Dubliners took one final score before the interval, Rory Parata powering his way over from a 5m scrum, Madigan converting for a 21-6 half time lead.

Momentum stayed with Lansdowne into the second half, after a terrific counter attack started by Swan Galvin, Barry Fitzpatrick crossed the whitewash for the bonus point try. Shannon added a consolation try in that second half, their rolling maul from the lineout powering over, Kelvin Brown touching down and Cooke converted.

Terenure College (3T) 25-10 Young Munster (1T), Lakelands

A blistering second half performance by Terenure saw the hosts again overcome Young Munster in Lakelands.

The hosts were held up for an early try but minutes later Stephen O’Neill crossed for the opening try and Aran Egan converted for a 7-0 lead. The Cookies controlled the scoreboard for the rest of the half in what was a pretty stop start contest. Cian Casey split the posts with a penalty before an intercept try from Fionn Gibbons converted by Casey gave the Limerick men a 10-7 lead at the break.

It would be a scoreless second half for the Limerick side as Nure hit their stride. Egan levelled the tie with a penalty three minutes into the second half. Egan kicked another three pointer for the lead six minutes later, that momentum soon saw the Nure hands move the phases well resulting in Conan O’Donnell going over in the corner. 

The outcome was secured with twenty minutes left, Craig Adams kicking deep into the Cookies half, he chased it and as the ball was fumbled Adams recycled the ball, from a pick and go Harrison Brewer added the third try. Egan converting for a 15 point margin.

UCD (4T) 32-22 City Of Armagh (3T), Belfield

UCD needed a late James Tarrant converted try and Michael Moloney penalty to get past a stern City of Armagh test in Belfield. 

Moloney and Shea O’Brien swapped early penalties before Michael Milne powered from the 22m line to cross the whitewash. UCD found their rhythm and kept up their try scoring exploits, Tim Corkery and Ruairi Shields going over both converted by Moloney for a 22-3 lead.

City of Armagh did strike back in the latter stages of the half, Neil Faloon and Lewis Finlay with tries converted by O’Brien as the scoreboard read 22-217 in favour of UCD at the break.

The visitors kept that momentum going and Andrew Willis dotted down in the corner for the first score of the second period. UCD needed a score and in the finish they managed to see the game out, Tarrant powering under the sticks, Moloney converting for a seven point lead, Moloney would kick a penalty minutes later to confirm the outcome as they tried their best to cross for a further try.