AIL Roundup: Division 1A Week 12

Clontarf were big winners over Terenure to close the gap to three points as they leapfrog Cork Con on score difference, Young Munster rise to fourth while their Limerick neighbours Garryowen get a first win of the season.

Cork Constitution 14-3 Ballynahinch, Templehill

It took 14 minutes for an opening score but Con showed patience would prevail as they went over for a converted try to lead, Bill Scannell getting over from their rolling maul as George Coomber added the extras.

Greg Hutley managed to get Ballynahinch’s first points of the game 35 minutes into the tie as they looked to come back after the break and mount a comeback, The second half was a ferocious contest between the two but 65 minutes in Con managed to increase their lead through Max Abbott as Coomber converted to ensure of the win.

Garryowen 21-12 Lansdowne, Dooradoyle

The hosts were on the board first as Tony Butler steadied the nerves early on to land a penalty, soon after Lansdowne replied with a converted try from Temi Lasisi to move 7-3 ahead, but again back came the hosts and Butler was again accurate from the tee to make it a one point game.

Pete Sullivan managed to get the second Lansdowne try to give them more breathing room but the conversion just missed the target as they went in 12-6 ahead at the break. Butler added another penalty just after the restart but the big score came as Terry Buttimer got over for their opening try which Butler converted, he added a second minutes later which Butler again converted, the Limerick side held out late in the half for their first win of the season.

UCD 22-19 Shannon, Belfield

The game was a tussle at the beginning but Shannon got the opening score, after their maul drove for the line they were pulled down and awarded a penalty try, after being up against it for large parts of the half just after the half hour mark Niall Carroll crossed for a try and the conversion made it a level game.

An entertaining half got better for Shannon, after kicking for the corner they won a lineout and Jordan Prenderville crosses for their second try, with the conversion sailing over they restored their seven point cushion, with two minutes left in the half Joe Cronin crossed for the second UCD try as they drew level by the break.

Michael Cooke restored Shannon’s lead five minutes into the second half, his unconverted try was quickly cancelled out by Ross Deegan but the conversion also went wide, the sides were level and it was hard to separate them in truth but a 69th minute penalty by Mick Mooney who was string from the tee all afternoon landed the decisive score for a big win for UCD.

Young Munster 17-10 Dubin University, Tom Clifford Park,

Aaron Egan had the Trinity men on the board after ten minutes, a strong showing early on but Egan’s boot was enough for a 3-0 lead, the hosts hit back in the latter stage of the opening half after a smart scrum they moved the ball quick and went under the posts to move 7-3 clear, a lead they took to the break.

James Dillon put the Dubliners back in the lead with their opening try in the 45th minute as the conversion was on target, The Cookies fought back however as Stephen Lyons crossed and with Evan Cusack landing a monster conversion they went four ahead, Conor Hayes landed a penalty shortly after to ensure Gearoid Prendergast’s men took the win.

Terenure College 24-29 Clontarf, Lakelands

Nure took an early lead in a cagey few minutes in Lakelands, Callum Smith off the tee made it a 3-0 advantage after four minutes, Tarf replied quick to that early score, gaining ground they moved the ball well and got under the posts for an opening try, Gus Llyod was the man to power over for the converted try.

Tarf really came into their own for the remainder of the half Ivan Soroka and Cian O’Donoghue both crossing to put them 19-3 ahead, Smith replied with a penalty to close the gap slightly by the break.

Terenure started the second half much brighter than their opening half showing, an early try coupled with a Smith penalty brought them back to within three of their opponents, Clontarf stayed composed however and captain Matt Darcy got them over again for another try the conversion making it a ten point game.

Smith would fire over another penalty but Tadhg Bird cancelled it out with a penalty of his own to keep Tarf ahead, with the last at of the half Craig Adams crossed in the corner Smith converted but time was not on their side as they suffered the five point defeat.

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.

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