Terenure moved to third spot at the expense of Lansdowne at the weekend, as the AIL pauses for a week, these final four weeks make for interesting viewing across 1A.
Ballynahinch (3T) 19-15 Dublin University (3T), Ballymacarn Park
Ballymahinch had to be composed in the final minutes to hang on for a win against a battling Trinity.
In testing conditions it took 20 minutes for the opening score as Paul Kerr crossed for a try, six minutes later Trinity were over as Zach Baird levelled the tie with an unconverted try. Trinity saw yellow prior to the break and Claytan Milligan crossed for a second try for the hosts, with Conor McKee converting for a 12-7 lead at the break.
Six minutes into the second half Milligan added a second try and McKee furthered the lead with the conversion. Trinity rallied back with tries from Juan Beukes and Aaron Coleman but they fell short in the end.
City Of Armagh (2T) 12-15 Clontarf (2T), Palace Grounds
Conor Kelly kicked a decisive penalty as Clontarf overcame City of Armagh in a real slogfest in the Palace Grounds.
The hosts controlled the majority of the opening half on the scoreboard, Sam Cunningham crossed for the opener converted by Shea O’Brien, Neil Faloon soon added their second for a 12-0 lead. Ruadhan Byron cut the deficit shy of the break as he crossed for the visitors.
Tarf managed to see out the game by keeping the hosts scoreless in the second half, Byron added the second try converted by Kelly, this arrived in the dying embers and the penalty arrived even later the dying moment as Kelly was composed to score.
Cork Constitution (6T) 38-24 Shannon (3T), Temple Hill
Matthew Bowen struck a hat trick of tries as Cork Con claimed the bragging rights in the Munster derby in Temple Hill.
The game fought tooth and nail from the start, Matthew Bowen and Kelvin Brown trading early tries. With 20 minutes elapsed Bowen went over for his second try, this one unconverted for a 12-7 lead. George Coomber used his head to control the ball before dotting down for their third try and converting his second attempt of the day in the process. Luke Rigney went over for Shannon shy of the break, Mike Cooke converting, the score 17-14 at the break.
Shannon drew first blood in the second half when Brown dotted under the posts for his second of the day and Cooke did not miss the conversion. Con came right back as Matisse Lamarque d’Arrouzat added the bonus point try off the back of a strong lineout move, Coomber converting 24-21.
Con from here managed to see the game out. Bowen completed his hat trick before Harry O’Riordan crossed for a try, Coomber converting both. Shannon still in a fight for safety two behind City of Armagh.
Lansdowne (3T) 20-27 Terenure College (3T), Aviva Stadium Back Pitch
Terenure had to endure a late scare to see them move to third spot at the expense of their neighbours Lansdowne.
A titanic tussle early on with three points from Stephen Madigan separating the sides early on. Lansdowne soon saw yellow and Aran Egan fired into touch. Minutes later Conor Phillips dotted down in the corner for the opening try and Egan nailed the extras. Egan furthered the lead with a penalty but Lansdowne hit back when Donough Lawlor crossed following a powerful lineout maul. Madigan levelled the tie with the conversion.
We had time for one more score in that opening half, it arrived by the Nure men, Luke Clohessy getting over and Egan gave the advantage of seven points to the visitors at the interval as he converted the extras, 17-10.
Lansdowne coughed up three early points to Egan but replied via an unconverted try by Tom Barry to cut the gap back to five points. Craig Adams went over for Nure to further their hold of the game as Egan delivered the extras. Lawlor would add his second of the afternoon as the clock was nearing the red, the conversion by Madigan made for a nail biting finish but Nure kept their composure.
Young Munster (5T) 31-24 UCD (3T), Tom Clifford Park
Young Munster picked up a valuable four points to keep them on course for a mid table finish this year. A cracker between these two from start to finish.
UCD drew first blood when Sean O’Brien powered over for the opening try and the conversion by Michael Moloney glided between the posts. The Cookies replied with James O’Brien doting in the corner, Tony Butler levelling the tie with the conversion. Moloney kicked a penalty to put UCD back ahead, Butler meanwhile kicked a crossfield delivery for O’Brien to dot his second try in the corner, 12-10.
Munsters had the momentum, Donnchadh O’Callaghan added their third try which Butler converted soon after. UCD kept plucking away and did find their way over the whitewash soon after that score, Rueben Moloney dancing his way through the Cookies defenders to dot down, 19-17 as Moloney kicked the conversion. The Cookies did grab a bonus point try before the interval, Harrison Allan finding the all important corner, the try unconverted as the hosts were 24-17 clear at the break.
Ideal start to the second period by the home side as O’Callaghan sniped his second try of the afternoon, converted by Butler for a 31-17 lead. UCD rallied and certainly made for a pulsating finish. Rob Gilsenan finished off a beautiful flowing move and Moloney kicked to reduce the deficit to seven, despite UCD pressing the score remained the same at the whistle.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.