AIL Roundup: Division 1A Round 5

Clontarf continue to set the pace in 1A after another strong result at the weekend, Cork Con, Ballynahinch, Terenure and UCD all scored important wins elsewhere in the division. 

Clontarf (5T) 35-17 City of Armagh (3T), Castle Avenue

Clontarf remained unbeaten after a strong second half powered their way to victory over City of Armagh.

On his return from Leinster duty, Dylan Donnellan grabbed the opening try for Tarf from a tap go penalty that Conor Kelly converted. Alex Usanov doubled the lead as added the second try soon after with Kelly again supplying the extras. Armagh did grab a try late on the half through Barry Finn to take a 14-5 deficit to the interval. 

Peter Maher was quick to add a third try early in the second half with Kelly converting once again. From an Armagh lineout, Tarf recycled the ball and Matt Darcy offloaded for Hugh Cooney to cross in the corner, Kelly striking his fourth conversion of the contest for a 28-5 lead.

Darcy grabbed a second assist offloading this time to Maher to glide home for his second try, Jack Murphy assumed kicking duties to continue a perfect conversion record. Jack Treanor added a brace of tries late on with Brayden Laing converting one, just too late for the Ulster contingent in truth.  

Dublin University (2T) 15-21 Ballynahinch (3T) , College Park

Ballynahinch held on in the dying embers to secure their third win of the camping and move up to fourth spot as a result, inflicting a fifth defeat on Trinity as a result.

With ten minutes elapsed Claytan Milligan crossed from a powerful lineout rolling maul, Conor Rankin adding the extras. Hugh O’Kennedy reduced the deficit with a penalty shy of the half mark, however deep in stoppage time Aaron Sexton crossed for a second Hinch try and Rankin made the gap 14-3 at the break.

It was a case of deja vu in the second half as Sexton crossed for a second try with 13 minutes elapsed and Rankin again made no errors. On the hour mark Hinch saw yellow and three minutes later Zach Baird raced over and O’Kennedy cut the gap to 11 with the conversion. Six minutes left of normal time and Trinity had their second try, Aaron Coleman over the conversion was missed and in the final minutes that followed they failed to add a follow up score.

Shannon (4T) 24-43 Cork Constitution (6T), Thomond Park

Cork Con took the Munster Derby bragging rights over Shannon in the shadow of Thomond Park with a strong showing from start to finish.

An opening half that in the end Con controlled but at the start it was very much cagey, Jack Kelleher struck for an early converted try by James Taylor, before Shannon hit back as Dan Hurley found his way over and Mike Cooke converted. Taylor struck a penalty between the posts before converting a try from Rob Hedderman soon after. Daniel Hurley soon added the third and with that converted effort the load was 24-7. Gus Harrington managed to cross late in the opening half to reduce the deficit, however right at the death in the half Con were over again. 29-12 the lead at the break.

Five minutes into the second half Shannon were awarded a penalty try and Con were down to 14 as a result with a player headed for the bin. Despite the numerical advantage they failed to push on and with Hurley completing his hat trick in the second half it was 43-19 as we neared full time. Con’s fourth different try scorer on the day was Te Atawhai Mason as Taylor converted five from six attempts. David Maher did add a late bonus point for Shannon right at the earth that went unconverted.

Terenure College (2T) 24-23 Lansdowne (2T), Lakelands

Ice in the veins from Caolan Dooley saw Terenure snatch victory right at the death from Dublin neighbours Lansdowne. 

Adam le grue drew first blood for the hosts inside five minutes and Callum Smith converted for the full seven points. Smith made the lead 10-0 with a penalty following a high tackle, he was busy from the tee striking a second penalty to reply to Stephen Madigan getting Lansdowne on the board prior.

Madigan reduced the margin to seven with another penalty before the power of the Nure forwards heaved their way over for their second try as Levi Vaughan dotted down for an unconverted try. Madigan kicked a third penalty as Nure went down to 14 shy of the break but again Smith was on hand as penalties swapped hands on numerous occasions to score and make it 21-9 at the break.

The second period was cagey as the referee was busy dishing out the cheese to both teams, Hugo McLaughlin sniped under the pots after the hour mark to cut the gap to 21-16 and soon after Jack Cooke crossed the whitewash for the lead, Madigan converting both tries. With a long range penalty effort Dooley was a craftsman at work the ball gliding with ease between the uprights as Nure snatched it as the death.

UCD (2T) 26-24 Young Munster (3T), Belfield

UCD survived a late scare from Young Munster as the student secured their second win of the campaign with a narrow two point margin.

After an early exchange of penalties from Shane O’Leary and Michael Moloney, Moloney was 2-1 ahead as the hosts had a 6-3 lead. That was overturned when the Cookies powerful maul saw Keynan Knox power over and O’Leary had the Limerick side ahead on the half hour mark. UCD would finish the half strong, Moloney cut the gap to one with a penalty before Tim Corkery raced home from halfway to bag their opening try. Moloney made it 16-10 at the break.

Despite O’Leary missing a penalty early in the second half, Alan Kennedy raced in for their second try and the lead was back with the Cookies as O’Leary slotted the extras. Some cheese went to Young Munster and down to 14 Moloney slotted the resulting penalty. Like a stream train powering down the left wing Corkey bagged his second try of the contest soon after and Moloney extended the lead to 26-17 as a result. The Cookies did make it a nervy finish when Donnchadh O’Callgahan touched down and O’Leary left two between them. Intense defence from UCD did soon force an error and with that the result was secured. 

More Info on Division 1A here