Greystones unbeaten run came to end against Belfast Harlequins but they still hold a nine point lead at the summit, elsewhere Dungannon and Wanderers strengthened their playoff hopes.
Belfast Harlequins 24-12 Greystones, Deramore Park
Belfast Harlequins aided their hopes of promotion with a statement win over Greystones as the Wicklow side saw their unbeaten run come to an end.
Paul Kerr edged the Belfast side ahead after a cagey opening 25 minutes with a penalty, Stones replied with a try in the corner to take the lead but Mark Glover got over in the corner after a strong maul, Kerry would land another penalty before the break as they were 11-5 in front.
Kerr would add a try just after the restart after another strong move by their maul allowed him to get in at the corner, he nailed a beauty of a conversion from the touchline as they moved 18-5 ahead, Kerr was on fire and the Stones defence was terrified as the kicker added two more penalties to put his side 24-5 ahead. They held on until the end despite Greystones adding a late converted try, it was too late.
Dungannon 35-26 Enniscorthy, Stevenson Park
Dungannon increased their odds of making the playoffs while also hindering Enniscorthy’s hopes of survival with a strong win.
The hosts landed two early penalties before Sean O’Hagan added a try to move their lead to 13-0, the visitors hit back through Angelo Todisco getting a try as the conversion was successful it was a six point game at the break.
Dungannon added another three pointer off the tee but Scorthy hit back well through Tom Ryan getting over for their second converted try, another penalty was followed by a penalty try for the hosts as they moved ahead 23-14.
Peter Cashel grabbed their bonus point try just after as the conversion missed the mark, Acorthy got another try late on and with the score at 28-19 looked to mount a late comeback but Adam Milligan would notch another try for the hosts as a kate consolation try for the visitors through Nick Doyle got them a crucial bonus point.
Galway Corinthians 7-20 Wanderers, Corinthian Park
Corinthians made it three losses in a row as Wanderers now move into fourth spot with a shot at the playoffs still in the balance.
Wanderers struck first blood as an early penalty gave them the lead, Harry Rodgers replied for the hosts with a converted try putting them into the lead but the visitors hitt wo converted tries to lead 17-7 at the break. In a low scoring second half the Chaps did well to defend their lead and another penalty saw them to a 13 point win.
Malahide 27-20 Rainey Old Boys, Estuary Road
Malahide secured another big win as they still have an outside shot of making the playoffs.
A strong performance over Rainey Old Boys sees them remain in seventh but two points is the gap between them and Wanderers, with a trip to Enniscorthy next on the agenda they could be in with a shot, the Ulstermen meanwhile drop to fifth.
Sligo 36-22 Galwegians, Hamilton Park (Strandhill)
In the Connacht Derby Sligo grabbed their seventh win of the season, but had to endure a nervy Wegians fightback.
Sligo had the perfect start, an early try gave them a 7-0 lead before Finn Bamber added their second minutes later for a 12-0 lead, the tries kept coming as Cathal Finnernan crossed the whitewash for the third try, Archie MacLean added the bonus point try after an incredible block.
Wegians against the run of play would get their opening try just after as Jack Beatty scored on his debut, but Callum Goddard added another try for the hosts with a great move out wide as Jack Keegan nailed the extras for a 31-5 lead.
It was a dream start to the second half for Galwegians, two tries in five minutes brought them to 31-17 on the scoreboard, minutes later a grubber kick caused havoc for Sligo and over Wegians went for their BP. Sligo were up against it but weather any further scores as Cathal Finnernan got in at the left corner for their final try in the latter stages of the second half.
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.