No movers on the final round of games before the Christmas break in 1A, Terenure closed the gap to Lansdowne, while Young Munster staged a stunning comeback to defeat Cork Con on Shannonside.
UCD (6T) 44-40 Lansdowne (6T), Belfield
UCD had to weather a late surge from Lansdowne in the second half to take the points in a classic at Belfield. The hosts were ahead 32-12 at the break and almost coughed up the result at the end.
Ross Deegan and Harry Donnelly crossed for tries early in the opening half with Michael Moloney converting both for a 14-0 lead. Sean Galvin replied for the visitors with Stephen Madigan converting. Moloney struck a penalty and UCD kept up their exploits with Rory McGuire and Deegan crossing to add the bonus point. Jack Matthews sniped a try for Lansdowne at the end of the half, Moloney left the score 32-12 at the interval with a penalty.
Bobby Sheehan crossed early in the second half as the hosts kept up their scoring talents, Moloney converted, Lansdowne were quick to hit back as Jack Cooke and Galvin added tries to grab a bonus point, Stephen McMahon converting both tries to leave it 39-26 after 55 minutes.
Moloney struck a try minutes later and UCD stretched their lead, however a late brace from Tom Barry brought Lansdowne within four as McMahon struck both conversions from the tee. UCD held firm in defence however to take the points.
City of Armagh (2T) 18-29 Ballynahinch (4T), Palace Grounds
Ballynahinch remained fifth after overcoming a tough test against City of Armagh in the first top tier derby between these two.
Lewis Finlay gave the hosts the lead after five minutes with an unconverted effort, Aaron Sexton replied straight away for Hinch and Conor Rankin’s conversion gave them a two point lead 7-5. Brayden Laing restored the visitors lead with a penalty minutes later, Hinch would end the half on top, Rankin striking a penalty before Claytan Milligan went over in added time for a 15-8 lead at the interval.
City of Armagh started the second half the better, John Glasgow crossed for their second try, Laing levelled the tie and then struck a penalty minutes later for the lead. A penalty try on the hour mark had Hinch back ahead, a lead they failed to squander. George Pringle rubber stamped the win at the death as Rankin converted the bonus point try.
Clontarf (6T) 38-21 Shannon (3T), Castle Avenue
Behind at the interval, Clontarf produced a strong second half performance to remain unbeaten in 1A against Shannon.
Stephen Ryan gave Tarf the lead with a try converted by Sam Wisniewski, Shannon replied almost immediately Jack O’Donnell crossing a Mike Cooke levelled matters with the conversion. Shannon took the lead after 35 minutes with Lee Nicholas crossing for their second try, Cooke making it 14-7 with the conversion. Seni Reilly-Ashiru touched down in the corner on the stroke of half time and Shannon had a narrow 14-12 lead at the break.
Whatever was said at the break inspired Clontarf in that second half, that man again Dylan Donnellan crossed for their third try and Mark O’Sullivan converted for a five point lead. Ruadhan Byron soon added the bonus point and O’Sullivan converted for a 26-14 lead.
Sam Birrane added a third try for Shannon and following Cooke’s conversion it left five between the sides. Tarf were not phased and continued to play their brand of rugby, tries from Noah Sheridan and Sam Owens capped off the win in Castle Avenue.
Dublin University (2T) 14-31 Terenure College (4T), College Park
Terenure remained in fourth spot in the standings with a win over Dublin rivals Trinity in College Park.
It was a tight opening but after 20 minutes Callum Smith found a gap and used his pace to cross for the opening try. Smith added the conversion for a 7-0 lead. Six minutes later Nure were in again and it was former Trinity man Aran Egan that crossed for the try, Smith converting.
On the half hour mark Colm de Buitléar pumped the legs from close range to add a third try, five minutes later the bonus was added when Luke Clohessy dotted down the fourth try of the half for Terenure. Smith converted both for a 28-0 lead. Callum O’Reilly got Trinity on the board shy of the break and Harry Colbert’s conversion made it 28-7 at the interval.
Smith struck a penalty three minutes into the second half to further the Nure lead, the second half was closely fought as the minutes ticked by, Trinity with an intercept try from Diarmuid McCormack five minutes from time the only other score of the second half.
Young Munster (3T) 22-21 Cork Constitution (3T), Tom Clifford Park
Young Munster came from 21-3 down at half time to defeat Cork Constitution in their Munster derby in Tom Clifford Park.
While the boot of Shane O’Leary gave Young Munster the lead, Cork Con controlled the opening half. Harry O’Riordan, Matthew Bowen and James Taylor all crossed for tries and Taylor converted all three as Con were ahead 21-3 at the break.
A spellbinding second half from the Cookies earned them a crucial win in this one, Stephen McLoughin cut the gap with an unconverted try, Chris Moore touched down after a tremendous maul and O’Leary converted to make it 21-15. James O’Brien was the hero as his try with six left on the board converted by O’Leary gave the Cookies an early Christmas present.
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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.