Clontarf remain top of 1A following their round 6 stalemate, big wins for Cork Con and Lansdowne keep them in the hunt for top spot. At the bottom Young Munster picked up valuable points to leapfrog Shannon out of the drop zone.
Ballynahinch (3T) 24-24 Clontarf (3T), Ballymacarn Park
A late Dylan Donnellan try gave Clontarf a share of the spoils with Ballynahinch as the leaders narrowly remained top.
Hinch had the lead after 11 minutes with Conor Rankin crossing and then converting the try for a 7-0 lead. Donnellan crossed for the first of two tries to cut the gap to two following a missed conversion. Conor Kelly struck a penalty for the lead, Rankin at the other end also found the posts to regain the lead for Hinch. In a battle of the kickers Kelly struck his second penalty to make it 11-10 at the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Tadhg Bird soared his wings over the line for the second Tarf try and another missed conversion left six between them. Prior to the hour mark Kelly made it 19-10 with his third penalty, Hinch cancelled it out as Conor McKee crossed with Conor Rankin converting.
With ten minutes left the drama was far from over. Cormac Izuchukwu powering over for Hinch, Rankin converting for a 24-19 scoreline. Then Donnellan, the captain of Clontarf, led by example to get over and level proceedings. Kelly’s conversion would have sealed the deal but it was off the mark.
City Of Armagh (2T) 18-25 UCD (3T), Palace Grounds
UCD weathered a late City of Armagh storm to move fifth in the standings after the result in the Palace Grounds.
Michael Moloney struck two early penalties for a 6-0 lead before Harry Donnelly crossed for the game’s opening try shy of the half hour mark. City of Armagh replied with a try from Jonny Mortin converted by Brayden Laing. Laing struck a penalty minutes later to leave a point between them at the break 11-10.
UCD came out the blocks quicker in the second half, Chris Cosgrove adding to his try scoring repertoire finishing well to give UCD early momentum with Moloney adding the extras. Laing cut the deficit with a penalty but UCD were in again as Wilhelm de Klerk went over, Moloney converted the lead 25-13. Niall Carville made the students sweat late on as his try cut the deficit to seven points. Late chances came for the hosts but UCD held out for an important four points.
Cork Constitution (5T) 33-5 Dublin University (1T), Temple Hill
Cork Con are one point off the summit of 1A following a commanding performance against Trinity in Temple Hill.
Having built up a 14-0 at the break, Con never showed a let off in the contest. Tries from Jack Kelleher, Billy Scannell, Adam Maher and a brace from Billy Crowley saw the Cork outfit flex their muscle. Te Atawhai Mason assumed kicking duty with three conversions nailed by out half, while James Taylor came on to nail one between the points.
Trinity managed a try through Zach Baird towards the latter stages of that second half, a sixth straight defeat for the Dubliners. It has been a tough start for them, this campaign and they are in serious danger at the bottom of the standings.
Lansdowne (6T) 42-12 Shannon (2T), Aviva Stadium Back Pitch
Lansdowne inflicted further woe on Shannon as a strong result in Lansdowne Road at the weekend.
With 13 minutes on the clock Lansdowne were in through Andy Marks and Stephen Madigon converted for an early seven point cushion. Shannon replied through Luke Rigney, bagging an opening try for the Limerick men, Mike Cooke converted and the game was tied. We still had minutes left in the opening half, enough for Lansdowne to add a second try as James Kenny crossed the whitewash. The lead was 14-7 at the break after Madigan slotted the conversion.
Minutes into the second half Hugo McLaughlin went over in the right hand corner and following an incredible conversion from Madigan the lead was 14 points. The dominance continued as McLaughlin played Kenny in for his second try to cap the bonus point, Madigain four from four. Jack Matthews added a fifth soon after and Lansdowne were cruising, 35-7 following another bullseye from Madigan.
Shannon found a reply through Lee Nicholas the captain, the scores needed to stage a monumental comeback failed to follow and Jack Cooke added a sixth try for the hosts that Steve McMahon converted. Lansdowne needed to make up for last week’s result and certainly did that.
Young Munster (2T) 13-6 Terenure College (0T), Tom Clifford Park
Played in some tough conditions, Young Munster scored a big win at the bottom of the standings, a win moving them off bottom at Shannon’s expense.
A close first half saw plenty of action but just one score. Shane O’Leary struck a penalty in a very energetic opening 40 minutes in Tom Clifford Park.
Nure drew level through the boot of Caolan Dooley at the start of the second half, the Cookes battled into the second half as the physical nature of the tie failed to disappear. Stephen McLoughlin powered his way over and the lead was restored on the hour mark.
With five minutes left another big movement from Young Munster saw a second try scored, from a terrific pick and go Donnchadh O’Callaghan was over in the corner to put the Cookies 13-3 ahead. Dooley struck a second penalty late in the half, enough to take a bonus point back up the M7.
More Info on Division 1A here.
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.