AIL Roundup: Division 2A Week 17

Queens and Blackrock will have a final day shoot out for the league title on the final day, the play-off places have been secured, while Dolphin are relegated with UL headed for the play-offs.

Blackrock College (6T) 40-26 (4T) Dolphin, Stradbrook

Blackrock kept their title hope alive as they relegated Dolphin with a strong bonus point win in Stradbrook.

Rock were made work hard in the opening half as they led 12-7 at the interval, but into the second half they round their gear three converted tries but them 33-7 ahead by the hour mark, Dolphin replied however as they took a big bonus point with a hat trick of tries late in the half, but Rock snatched another late on to prevent Dolphin getting a losing bonus point.

MU Barnhall (4T) 26-10 (1T) Nenagh Ormond, Parsonstown

Barnhall are assured of a spot in the play-offs as they toppled fellow chasers Nenagh.

The Leixlip side crossed for three converted tries in the opening half to pull away 21-5 by the integral, as Nenagh crossed once, both exchanged a try in the second but the hosts proved too strong their bonus point win enough to seal their spot in the top four shootout.

Navan (4T) 26-19 (3T) Ballymena, Balreask Old

Navan secured their safety with a bonus point win over Ballymena who also are safe from relegation.

Navan ran riot in the opening half, Connor Farrell crossed for their first of three tries as they led 21-0 by the break, Mena replied through Andrew Ferguson after the restart but Navan added their bonus point that looked to put the tie to bed.

However James McNabney and James Taggart crossed late for a nervy finish but Navan held on to seal the important insurance win.

Queens University (7T) 45-10 (2T) Old Crescent, Dub Lane

Queens remain top of 2A after another empathic result as they ran riot over Old Crescent who are safe for another year.

Crescent made it a tight tie early on as Cathal O’Reilly crossed to level the tie after Queens struck first, but the students came back as two converted tries put them ahead 19-5 at the break.

Three more tries after the restart saw the league leaders pull 38-5 clear, before Micheal O’Hanrahan added a second for the Treaty men, Queens added a seventh try in added time as they hunt that league title.

UL Bohemian (3T) 19-33 (5T) Cashel RFC, Annacotty

Cashel will miss the top four play-offs as they have doomed Bohs to a relegation play-off.

Cashel struck first but Harry Byrne put the Robins ahead after he crossed and then converted, the Tipp side edged the derby at the break as they added two more tries.

A penalty try into the second half secured the BP for Cashel, but Kieran O’Shea added a second for UL to keep them in the tie 26-14. Another UL try made it a 26-19 point game with 15 to go, the Robins were searching to come back but Cashel added their fifth try to put the tie to bed.

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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