Old Wesley confirmed their spot in the promotion play-offs despite defeat to St Mary’s, Garryowen and Highfield hope to join them but Old Belvedere are also still in the race. At the bottom UCC are safe as they relegated Buccaneers while Queens and Naas will have to get results on the final day to avoid the relegation play-off.
Highfield (3T) 21-7 Blackrock College (1T), Woodleigh Park
Highfield will have to wait until the final day to confirm their spot in the play-offs, the Leesiders need just a bonus point on the final day despite beating Blackrock at the weekend.
Rock could not make the play-offs as a result of the defeat but started the better when David Heavey crossed for the opening try after 22 minutes and Oliver Coffey struck the conversion. Highfield replied through Ross Anthony O’Neill and Shane O’Riordan levelled the tie at 7-7, the same score taken to the interval.
Highfield kicked on in the second period, Colin O’Neill with a try in the early minutes, James Rochford struck their third after the hour mark and with O’Riordan converting both they furthered their hold in a game in which they claimed victory as Blackrock could not cut the gap.
Old Belvedere (0T) 3-28 Garryowen (3T), Ollie Campbell Park
Garryowen are in a similar boat to their Munster compatriots in Highfield as they also need just a bonus point to confirm their spot in the play-offs but want that home tie.
The Dooradoyle faithful with a clinical second half got the better of Belvedere but failed to grab a bonus point. Colm Quilligan crossed for a try while the resulting conversion and a penalty by Kelvin Langan had the visitors 10-0 ahead. David Wilkinson cut the deficit to seven at the break with a penalty shy of the interval.
Garryowen remained strong in the second half, tries from Jack Oliver and Jeronimo Ureta Saenz Peña along with two Langan penalties and a conversion saw the visitors see out a 25 point winning margin.
Queen’s University (5T) 33-31 Naas (5T), Newforge Sports Complex 4G pitch
Queen’s University need a win on the final day and hope Naas suffer defeat as they are at risk of the relegation play-off despite beating Naas on Saturday.
The win saw Buccs relegated but these two are now at risk of the drop via the play-offs. Queens started the better as Callum Florence went over for the opening try and James Humphreys converted for a 7-0 lead. Naas replied well as Will O’Brien grabbed their second try as Craig Ronalson converted to level the tie.
It was largely back and forth for the opening half. James McKillop crossed for a second try for the hosts, Humphreys converting while Charlie Sheridan went over for Naas shy of the break, the missed conversions keeping Queens ahead. Peter Heasley made it a 19-12 lead at the break as he crossed for their third try on the stroke of half-time.
Shy of the hour mark Queen’s had their bonus point Jonny Hunter going over and Humphreys converted. Minutes later and Naas had their third try as Jack Sheridan went over and Peter Osborne reduced arrears from the tee. It remained closely fought but inside the final ten minutes Rory Telfer crossed for a fifth try for the hosts and Humphreys made it 33-19 from the tee.
Naas really made it a grandstand finish. Craig Ronaldson and Donal Conroy with tries, the bonus secured but only one was converted as Sam Cahill converted the latter, Naas falling to a two point defeat.
St. Mary’s College (5T) 34-29 Old Wesley (4T), Templeville Road
Old Wesley booked their spot in the promotion play-offs as they grabbed vital bonus points to remain second in the standings.
Mary’s were ahead through an early penalty from Mick O’Gara. Jack Nelson Murray soon added their opening try which went unconverted. Wesley got on the board as Alex Molloy went over and Ian Cassidy struck the conversion. Mary’s made it end to end stuff as they soon grabbed a second try, Mick McCormack going over and the conversion from O’Gara had Mary’s ahead 15-7.
Jack Nelson Murray crossed for Mary’’s third try as they moved 20-5 clear with their maul working wonders. Molloy crossed for his second try and Cassidy slotted the conversion to reduce arrears. Mary’s again hit the break as Mark Fogarty chased a kick in behind and dotted their bonus point try which O’Gara converted. 27-14 at the break.
Molloy added his hat trick in the second half gliding through the Mary’s tackles as Cassidy made it a six point game. On the hour mark Ben Stpehens made it a one point game with Wesely grabbing their bonus point try. Cassidy missed the conversion but in the 72nd minute kicked a penalty for a 29-27 lead. Mary’s would take the win as Fogarty added his second try of the contest and O’Gara kicked the conversion. Vital bonus points however for Wesley.
UCC (7T) 48-7 Buccaneers (1T), The Mardyke
Two different tales from The Mardyke, UCC stayed up and Buccaneers went down as UCC produced some champagne rugby to overcome the Midlanders.
UCC started on top early as Tom Coughlan went over for the opening try and Cian Whooley slotted the conversion. Jacob Sheehan soon added their second try from the rolling maul and Whooley made it 14-0 from the tee. The Cork side were dominant and Jack O’Sullivan added a third try minutes later to further that lead. Adam Wrona secured the bonus point shy of the break, 24-0 at the interval.
Whooley kicked an early penalty to extend the margin soon after Andrew O’Mahony added try number five and Whooley kicked his third conversion for a 34-0 score line. David Kiely crossed in the corner for a sixth UCC try and Daniel Squires slotted the conversion between the posts. Minutes later O’Sullivan took aim for the line and bounced three tackles and went under the posts. Squires two from two with conversions. Buccs added a late consolation try as Orrin Burgess crossed and Mark Earle converted.
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.