With St Mary’s crowned 1B champions, the chasing pack continued to tussle it out for the promotion play-offs, Old Wesley, Old Belvedere and Highfield taking crucial points in the top four race. Elsewhere Queens continued their winning run as they look to avoid the relegation play-offs.
Old Wesley (3T) 21-10 Garryowen (1T), Energia Park
A blockbuster opening half of action saw Old Wesley build the foundation to take the win against Garryowen in a huge promotion tie in the capital, all points scored in the opening 40 as the second half proved to be a tight affair between the two.
The Limerick side certainly started the better, building a 10-0 lead after ten minutes. Dylan Hicks dispatching an early penalty for the lead before Bryan Fitzgerald crossed for the opening try, converted from a difficult angle by the young out-half.
Wesley did turn the screw for the remainder of the half, getting on the board after 17 minutes, David Motyer stretching his frame over the line from close range, Ian Cassidy converting. Minutes later Wesley were in again, soft hands quick to transition the play and moving wide toward Nathan Randles, the full-back carried over the line for the try.
Wesley had their lead and made sure not to lose it. Adding a third try before the break as Motyer was on the double, Cassidy who converted their second try from a testing position made no mistake to go three from three, 21-10 at the break. A slogfest in the second half as both pressed for a score, Wesley stout in defence to take the important points in this promotion race.
Highfield (4T) 24-17 UCC (2T), Woodleigh Park
In the massive local derby on Leeside it was the homeside who took the bragging rights, a strong second half turnaround ensured by Eoin Keating crossing for the insurance score at the death.
Cian Whooley crossed for an early try which the out-half converted to give UCC first blood in this tie. Highfield replied just four minutes later as Ross Anthony O’Neill dotted down for their opening try and Shane O’Riordan converted. Shy of the break with the game deadlocked, Whooley dissected the posts with a penalty, putting the visitors back ahead 10-7 at the break.
Four minutes into the second half Highfield were back on the board, a penalty try awarded as UCC’s discipline cost them seven points. The hosts kept up the pressure in the minutes that followed and with the hour mark approaching Jamie Shanahan went over for their third try, unconverted to build a 19-10 lead.
With time running out UCC needed something to get them back into the game and Danny McCarthy answered with their second try. Whooley converted to leave just two points on the board, UCC pressed but as Highfield regained possession right at the death Eoin Keating crossed the whitewash to secure the bonus point win, UCC having to settle for a losing bonus point.
Old Belvedere (6T) 36-28 Buccaneers (4T), Ollie Campbell Park
Old Belvedere had to endure a real fight from Buccaneers to take the points in a mammoth contest to move up a spot in the promotion race.
Buccs were first on the mark as Cian McCann crossed for the opening try and Mark Earle converted. That narrative remained when Tom Shine crossed for a second try for the visitors and that score converted by Earle made it 14-0. Belvedere were soon on the board as Joe White ended that tirade of scores to put five on the board for the hosts.
No sooner had they got points on the board they conceded a third try. Charlie Ward thundering over and Earle made no mistake with the bonus. Belvo finished the half in strong fashion, Ariel Robles and Jayden Beckett with a try each, Mick O’Kennedy with one conversion, the gap 21-17 at the break.
While Josh O’Connor added a bonus try in that second half for Buccs, it was a half Belvo dominated to turn the tables and take the coveted points. Tries by O’Kennedy and Paddy Dowling along with a penalty try were enough to see them home, Dowling with the cherry on top of a strong performance with a late try to seal the deal, O’Kennedy also finding the target with the conversion.
Queens University (5T) 36-14 Blackrock College (2T), Dub Lane
Queens did their hopes of safety the world of good as they rolled back the clock to last season and overcame Blackrock in a testing game in the Dub.
The Ulster side started much the better and raced into a 21-0 lead, an early penalty try was followed up by tries from Josh Stevens and James Wright, Wright quickest to react after Rory Telfer played a lovely chip over the Rock defence and as he chased the ball the bounce failed to favour the Queens full-back, his winger on hand to finish the move. James Humphreys converted both tries. Shane Connolly got Rock on the board after the half hour mark, James Fennelly converting, 21-7 the scoreline at the interval.
Into the second half and Queens kept up their fruitful nature on the scoring front, Jack Boal over from close range as the bonus point was secured, Humphreys converting the try. Blackrock responded after the hour mark with Niall Hardiman dotting down, Peter Quirke converting to cut the gap to 14 points. It would be the hosts to see the game out and did so in style, Humphreys with a lovely drop goal before Ben McFarlane added a fifth and final try that went unconverted.
St Mary’s College (5T) 31-17 Naas (3T), Templeville Road
A game delayed by over two hours and as it looked like the venue would changem, a trojan effort saw Templeville Road fit to host this 1B meeting as the Mary’s faithful worked hard to see their side celebrate their trophy in style.
Mary’s started strong and tries from Richie Fahy and Conor Hayes along with a Mick O’Gara conversion, had the hosts 12-0 up by the 16th minute. Naas were off the mark after 22 minutes when Jack Sheridan drove over the line for an unconverted try, the Kildare side built momentum from that score and on the half hour mark Donal Conroy added a second try and Sam Cahill levelled the game with the conversion.
In first half stoppage time Jack Nelson Murray would give St Mary’s the lead at the interval, he added the third try for the Dubliners, unconverted but enough for a 17-12 margin at the break.
Naas did notch the opening try of the second half, Charlie Sheridan over in the 54th minute to level the contest. Mary’s who had the MiWadi on ice for the rest of the night, saw the game out to celebrate their 1B win at home, Liam Corcoran and Mark Fogarty with tries number four and five as O’Gara converted both.
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.