In 1B Old Wesley have a home semi-final to look forward to against Garryowen, while Old Belvedere looked like they would miss out on the play-offs, finished fourth and meet Shannon down in Limerick. At the basement, defeat for Queens will see them facing Banbridge in a relegation play-off.
Blackrock College (3T) 19-26 UCC (4T), Stradbrook
UCC took the spoils in a closely fought game in Stradbrook as both teams looked to end the year with a win.
The Cork side struck first with Luke McAuliffe crossing and Cian Whooley slotted the conversion. Blackrock opened their account when Shane Connolly jumped over the ruck to dot down under the sticks, the conversion however was wide.
UCC would grab their second try and it was a thing of beauty. Peter O’Sullivan ran over 40m starting inside his own half, he offloaded to Tom Coughlan who slipped the ball to James Wixted, he continued the move before passing to Evan Clarke who slid over under the posts. The conversion went wide but UCC were ahead 12-5 at the break.
The hosts took control early in the second half, David Fortune and David Heavey going over and both tries converted by James Fennelly had the hosts ahead 19-12. Whooley soon levelled the tie, after Paddy Gaffney stole possession, WHooley dotted down in the corner and landed a sensational conversion to level the tie.
Michael Cogan kept up the good fortune and raced under the posts for their bonus point try and Whooley converted the extras.
Buccaneers (2T) 12-32 St Mary’s College (5T), Dubarry Park
St Mary’s produced another strong result at the weekend to defeat already relegated Buccaneers away from home.
Mary’s had a 15-5 lead at the break as Mick McCormack and Peter Ford crossed for tries, while Mick O’Gara added a conversion and penalty. Shane Layden crossed for the hosts as they looked for a strong end to the season.
While Stephen Mannion crossed for a try converted by Mark Earle for the hosts, they failed to grab further scores in that second half. Ronan Watters, Hugo Conway and Ethan Baxter all crossed for Mary’s with O’Gara adding another conversion in that second half.
Garryowen (5T) 31-10 Highfield (2T), Dooradoyle
Garryowen secured third spot in the play-off’s as they defeated Highfield, in doing so Highfield missed out on the play-off’s due to score difference.
Timothy Duggan crossed for an early brace of unconverted tries to give Highfield a 10-0 lead after 20 minutes. A penalty try reduced the arrears for Garryowen before Bryan Fitzgerald struck late in the opening half for their second try which went unconverted, the gap 12-10 at the interval.
It was a second half in which Garryowen controlled the scoring in some testing conditions. Fitzgerald drew first blood in the half with his second try after just six minutes, again it went unconverted. Colm Hogan and Cian Hurley went over the whitewash soon after to see out the game, bonus point achieved, Jack Oliver with two conversions and Garryowen will look to go back up next year.
Naas (4T) 29-34 Old Belvedere (5T), Forenaughts
Naas survived in 1B despite defeat on the final day, while the win for Belvedere was enough in the end to get them over the line to make the play-offs.
Naas started on top as after three minutes Tadhg Brophy crossed for a try converted by Craig Ronaldson, playing in his last outing for the club, Ronaldson added a penalty minutes later for a 10-0 lead. Calum Dowling got Belvedere on the board after 13 minutes with their opening try.
The hosts remained on top and added their second try in the 20th minute, Jack Sheridan touching down before Ronaldson added the extras on offer. Jayden Beckett and Jacob Barrett ended the half with a flurry for Belvo. Both adding tries with the latter converted by David Wilkinson and the sides were level 17-17 at the break.
Belvedere grabbed a crucial bonus point early in the second half when Dowling added his second try of the contest, Wilkinson adding the extras. Belvo needed the win knowing that Highfield were losing in Limerick.
Naas hit back just after the hour mark with their third try as Sheridan went over again, reducing the gap to two points. With points difference adding to the drama for Belvedere, Cian Cunningham aided their hopes when he crossed for a try and Wilkinson converted to put the Dubliners nine clear.
A bonus point try for Naas through Charlie Kings converted by Ronaldson cut the gap back to two points with five minutes left in the tie. Belvo needed to ensure the win and Wilkinson slotted the penalty to see Belvo win by five points, their difference to Highfield eight points in the end.
Old Wesley (8T) 52-15 Queens University (3T), Energia Park
Wesley finished in second place after a commanding result against Queens, saw the Ulster side finish in ninth place and will have to settle for a relegation play-off.
It was the ideal start for the hosts, after a cagey opening quarter of an hour, Ben Stephens touched down to the right of the posts for the opening score, Ian Cassidy converting.
Either side of the half hour mark Wesley furthered their lead in the tie. With 24 minutes gone Cathal Kelly produced a sensational offload for Alex Olloy to go under the posts. While in the 33rd minute Kelly went over in the corner as Eoin Murphy turned provider on this occasion, Cassidy converting the former for a 19-0 lead.
Their bonus point try arrived right on half time, Will Fay steamrolled his way over to the left of the posts and Cassidy slotted the extras for a 26-0 half time lead. Queens got on the board first in the second half. Rory Telfer crossed in the 52nd minute for their try.
Eoin Deegan soon added a fifth try two minutes later for Wesley with a stunning interception to see the Centre race in unobstructed to score. No sooner had Wesley scores they were in again, Molloy with his second and like Deegan’s try, Cassidy nailed the extras for a 40-5 lead.
Shy of the hour mark Bill Corrigan added their seventh try and soon after that Eoin Murphy produced a stunning interception to cross for the eight, Cassidy converting the former. Queens added late tries from Josh Stevens and Ethan Patterson to see out the tie.
Promotion/relegation play-off semi-final fixtures: Both 2.30pm kick-offs, Saturday, April 20
Shannon (9th, Div 1A) v Old Belvedere (4th, Div 1B), Thomond Park Back Pitch
Old Wesley (2nd, Div 1B) v Garryowen (3rd, Div 1B), Energia Park.
Promotion/relegation play-off semi-final fixtures: Both 2.30pm kick-offs, Saturday, April 20
Queen’s University (9th, Div 1B) v Banbridge (4th, Div 2A), Dub Lane
Cashel (2nd, Div 2A) v MU Barnhall (3rd, Div 2A), Spafield
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.