Defeat for Queens University sees Blackrock College take top spot in 2A, Cashel are up to second, while MU Barnhall also gain ground as they move to fourth after another great display.
Ballymena 26-10 Dolphin, Eaton Park
Ballymena produced another positive result as they looked composed in their win over ninth placed Dolphin, their fourth win of the season so far.
Dolphin took an early 3-0 lead from the tee, but James Howe got over for a try as Ross McKay converted to put them 7-3 ahead by half time.
Into the second half, Ballymena kept their foothold on the tie, Callum Patterson got their second converted try, before Staurt Donald and Dean Millar added further tries for the bonus point, Dolphin managed a try of their own which served as a consolation score in the end.
Cashel 14-8 Old Crescent, Spafield
Cashel are just three points off the top of the 2A table, after a strong opening half saw them defeat their Limerick neighbours Old Crescent.
The Tipperary side struck first blood after six minutes, getting over for a converted try to lead 7-0, Ronan McKenna had Crescent on the board at the half hour mark with a penalty, but a penalty try minutes later put Cashel ahead 14-3 at the break.
Into the second and the Shannonsiders fought hard to comeback, but could only muster a late Cathal Monaghan try in injury time which gave them a losing bonus point as a result.
MU Barnhall 32-12 Navan, Parsonstown
Barnhall picked up an impressive result against Navan to move up to fourth spot at the expense of their opponents who dropped to sixth.
A result that will for sure build their confidence as they have started to click in recent weeks, with results elsewhere adding to their cause, next weekend could see them move further up the table, for Navan another loss moves them down further, not an ideal scenario from them in the past few weeks.
Nenagh Ormond 32-24 Queens University, New Ormond Park
Nenagh claimed another huge scalp at the weekend, coming from behind to defeat then league leaders Queens University.
It was the students who started better and took a 12-10 lead to the break, but Nenagh were showing their ability in that opening half
Awakening in the second, they went at it and produced a huge upset to come out eight point winners, disaster for Queens as they dropped to third as a result.
UL Bohemian 26-31 Blackrock College, Annacotty
We have new league leaders in the form of Blackrock College, as they did enough to pick up a bonus point win in Limerick, Queens suffering defeat has them now atop the summit.
It was far from a walkover in Annacotty, they got over early for a 5-0 lead, but Eoin Sweeney replied with a converted effort to put the Robins 7-5 ahead. Rock got in at the corner to go back in front, but Paul Clancy had the tie changed again by the 20 minute mark, his converted try making it 14-12. A dramatic half saw two further tries, Rock again going to the corner to put them three clear before Bohs got one of their own, however calls for a forward pass saw the score ruled out, with the score at half time 17-14.
Blackrock would again start the better after the restart, a chip and chase saw them get over for their bonus point score, making the conversion they moved ten clear of the hosts. Kieran O’Shea hit back to put three between them once more from a converted try, but Rock squashed their momentum with the fifth shortly after. A yellow card spurred on Bohs late on they would kick for the corner and their maul worked the ball over for a late unconverted try. A nervous final ten minutes ensued after the score, but the Dubliners held firm to move to the summit.
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.