Galway Corinthians will have a home play-off semi-final as they meet Wanderers, while Sligo travel to Limerick to meet UL Bohemian. At the bottom of the Division, Belfast Harlequins were relegated down to 2C, while Dolphin have a life line as they go to the play-offs.
Dolphin (5T) 31-17 Dungannon (3T), Virgin Media Park
Dolphin managed to secure a life line for their hopes of staying in 2B as they picked up a vital win on home soil and the result in Malahide ensured they were heading for a play-off.
The hosts started with intent crossing for two tries, Phil Dowling the first scorer as Daryl Foley converted both for a 14-0 lead. Dungannon hit back with an unconverted try minutes later it was 14-10 as they sniped over for a second score.
Prior to the break Craig O’Connell crossed for the hosts third try and the conversion from Foley pushed the hosts 21-10 clear, the score they took to the break.
Ten minutes elapsed in the second half when Dolphin secured their bonus point. Ryan Foley with the try which went unconverted. The sides exchanged late tries but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome as Dolphin will have to face the play-offs.
Instonians (12T) 76-19 Skerries (3T), Shaw’s Bridge
Instonians celebrated their trophy lift in emphatic fashion as they produced a stunning display to overcome Skerries.
Bradley McNamara went over early for the hosts and Ritchie McMaster slotted the conversion. Instonians went down to 14 men soon after and Skerries added a try of their own as James Downes dove over for an unconverted effort.
Back came the hosts to showcase their incredible scoring prowess, Bev Prinsloo, Marty Voster, Oli Clarke and Prinsloo for the second time of asking scoring tries to give the hosts a 33-5 lead as McMaster nailed three from four conversions. Skerries did grab a second try shy of the break, Darragh McEnaney going over Ronan Mulcahy added the extras to cut the gap to 33-12 at the break.
McNamara added a second try to grab the opening try of the second half which McMaster calmly slotted between the uprights. Simon McMaster added a brace of tries either side of Prinsloo completing his hat trick. Alan Whitten followed that with a try of his own, the lead 62-12.
Skerries crossed for a third try, Mulcahy crossing and converting. Instonians still had some more gas in the tank. McMaster completed his hat trick before adding a fourth try soon after, 12 tries in total for Instonians, they ended their 2B run in style.
Malahide (4T) 22-17 Belfast Harlequins (3T), Estuary Road
Belfast Harlequins suffered relegation down to 2C as they finished bottom of the Division suffering a loss to Malahide along with results elsewhere sending them down.
Quinns took the lead but back came Malahide to level, the hosts soon added a second try and that put them 12-5 up with the conversion. The Belfats men did add seven of their own to level the tie at the break.
Into the second half and Malahide struck two tries for a crucial bonus points, Quinns needed a lifeline to come back and take something, they grabbed a third try but in the end Malahide held out for the win.
Sligo (3T) 17-13 Rainey (2T), Hamilton Park
Sligo picked up more momentum ahead of the play-offs as they got the better of Rainey, surviving a late scare from the visitors in the process.
Brendan Cunningham gave the hosts the lead with the opening try which went unconverted. Rainey reduced the deficit with a penalty before Hibert Gilvarry danced his way through the Rainey cover to dot down the second try with Euan Brown adding the extras.
Again Rainey hit back this time Andrew Brown crossed for a try to reduce arrears to four. But momentum swung in the hosts favour when they grabbed a third try before the break. Ethan Faitaua powering over after great work from their pack. Brown saw his conversion blown back, the lead 17-8 at the break.
Just a singular score in the second half and it arrived for the visitors in the form of a try. Lorcan Quinn with the try which reduced arrears to four but Rainey could not change the outcome.
Wanderers (3T) 26-27 Galway Corinthians (3T), Merrion Road
In a dress rehearsal of their semi-final, Galway Corinthians ensured they will play host out West as Sean Naughton kicked a decisive penalty for the win.
Malachy Joe Gavin struck an early try for the visitors with Naughton adding the extras. Back however came Wanderers, Conor McQuaid and Val McDermott with tries, while David Fitzgibbon kicked a conversion and then two late penalties for a 18-7 lead at the interval.
Another three from the boot of Fitzgibbon extended the lead early in the second half. The tribesmen battled back as Sean Fox and Micheál O’Reilly powered over for tries converted by Naughton to level matters.
Naughton kicked the visitors back into the lead soon after, The Chaps hit another blow when Fionn Finlay crossed and they moved back into the lead. Naughton was composed to kick two penalties late on to secure the win for the visitors.
Promotion/relegation play-off semi-final fixtures: Both 2.30pm kick-offs, Saturday, April 20
UL Bohemian (9th, Div 2A) v Sligo Rugby (4th, Div 2B), Annacotty
Galway Corinthians (2nd, Div 2B) v Wanderers (3rd, Div 2B), Corinthian Park
Promotion/relegation play-off semi-final fixtures: Both 2.30pm kick-offs, Saturday, April 20
Dolphin (9th, Div 2B) v Enniscorthy (4th, Div 2C), Virgin Media Park
Galwegians (2nd, Div 2C) v Bruff (3rd, Div 2C), Crowley Park
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.