Instonians and Galway Corinthians will play a huge title fixture next weekend in Galway as they are the top two after the weekend. The race at the bottom heats up, Skerries took a big win to move further into safety.
Belfast Harlequins (2T) 17-17 Dungannon (2T), Deramore Park
A cagey Ulster Derby in Deramore Park saw Ben McCaughey strike a late penalty to share the spoils, Quinns moved to ninth in the table as a result.
Charlie Beattie struck a penalty after the half hour mark for the lead but Dungannon started to take control as the half ended. James Girvan crossed for the opening try converted by McCaughey for a 7-3 lead.
Into the second half and Dungannon hit first blood again as Camerson Steenson added their second try and McCaughey converted to further the lead. Quinns kicked into gear as the half wore on, Cole Blyde crossed for the opening try and Beattie cut the margin to four points with the resulting conversion.
Momentum stayed with Quinns and soon they had a second try and Beattie converted for a three point margin as full time was around the corner. Gannon would get a penalty and with the shot at the posts McCaughey made zero error to take vital points.
Dolphin (3T) 21-23 Skerries (3T), Virgin Media Park
Skerries furthered their hopes of safety with a string performance in Cork to send Dolphin to the bottom of the table.
The hosts had the optimum start when Craig O’Connell crossed for the opening try of the contest and Daryl Foley converted for a 7-0 margin. Ronan Mulcahy cut the deficit to four with a penalty before Davy Goodman crossed for a try converted by Mulcahy for the lead. The Leesiders responded with their second try as O’Connell dotted under the posts for his second and Foley made it 14-10.
Skerries would finish the half with a flurry, Paul O’Loghlen struck a drop goal to cut the lead to a single point and on the stroke of half time, Sam Deering went over for a second try for the Dubliners the conversion dragged wide. The Goats ahead 18-14 at the interval.
Momentum stayed with Skerries into the second half and the first score was Kevin McGrath powering his way over for their third try. Dolphin would again hit back Cameron O’Shaughnessy crossing the whitewash and Foley cut the gap to two points. Skerries kept their composure late on to take the win.
Instonians (8T) 48-14 Rainey (2T), Shaws Bridge
Instonians are one step away from winning the 2B title as they claimed an emphatic win over Rainey to put the title within touching distance.
David Whitten crossed for the opening try and Ritchie McMaster converted for the 7-0 lead. Mark Keane added a second try soon after to push the hosts 12-0 clear. The tries kept coming and off a quick penalty Bradley McNamara dotted down in the corner for their third. The bonus point was secured when Whitten added his second and McMaster converted for a 24-0 lead.
Instonians had all the confidence and kept up their relentless streak to the break. Stefan Hillebrand, Ruairi O’Farrell and Bevan Prinsloo all went over McMaster converting the latter two tries for a 43-0 lead on a dismal afternoon weather wise in belfast.
With a driving maul in the second half Oli Clarke got on the board and from here Instonians would fail to add further points to the board. Mickey O’Neill and Tom Hutchinson crossed for tries for the visitors as the half wore on Scott McLean converting both.
Malahide (4T) 22-24 (4T) Galway Corinthians, Estuary Road
Results have the tie between Galway Corinthians and Instonians as a massive title fixture next weekend, Corinthians hanging on for a win in the capital.
Finn McNulty crossed for an early unconverted try for the visitors but Edward Weaver also crossed to keep the tie all square. Advantage went back to Corinthians as Fiachna Barrett crossed for their second try and Dylan Keane converted for a 12-5 lead at the break.
John Devine added a third try as Keane slotted another two points. Malahide came right back and put ten points on the board to put Corinthians under pressure, Michéal O’Reilly soon added a bonus point for the visitors to lead 24-15. Ross MacGoey soon added a bonus try for Malahide and despite the try being converted, Corinthians held on to take the win.
Wanderers (3T) 19-26 Sligo (4T), Merrion Road
Sligo dented Wanderers hopes of fighting for the title as they produced a stunning performance away from home to take the spoils.
Rob Tiernan added an early try to draw first blood for Sligo which went unconverted. A penalty try put Wanderers ahead as they looked to keep on the tails of Instoninas, Popoai Finau added a second try and the lead was 12-5. Sligo hit back through Ethan Faitaua and Euan Brown converted to level the tie. Tom Gormely put Sligo ahead going to the break, Brown converting their third try.
That 19-12 lead was soon reduced. Finau with his second try of the contest and with the conversion again the contest was tied up. One moment of magic would seal it and it went to Sligo as Phillip Carter went over, Brown converting again and Sligo already play-off bound have plenty of confidence to go up.
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.