Roundup: Division 1A Semi Finals

Next Sunday will see Cork Con contest their first 1A Final in five years as they overcame Clontarf in Temple Hill, Terenure College will provide their opposition as the current holders advanced to the final as Aran Egan struck a late penalty to see them past Lansdowne.

Cork Constitution (4T) 40-34 Clontarf (5T), Temple Hill

Cork Con are into their first 1A decider science the 2018-19 season as the Leesiders held on in the final minutes to get past a testing Clontarf side.

James Taylor kicked an early penalty to give Con the lead after ten minutes, five minutes later Taylor converted the opening try from John Forde and the margin was ten in favour of the Temple Hill side.

Conor Kelly got Tarf on the board with a penalty shy of the 20 minute mark, but in response Con added their second try when Ronan O’Sullivan crashed under the posts and the conversion by Taylor had the scoreboard reading 17-3 in favour of Con.

Clontarf grabbed their opening try when Ben Murphy went over and Kelly converted to cut the gap to seven. Matthew Bowen soon added a third try for the hosts, silky moves to bypass a host of Tarf players to cross under the posts, Taylor made it 24-10 with the conversion. 

Tarf would add a second before the break, Noah Sheridan with the score and Kelly cut the gap to seven points. It would be a ten point game at the break, Taylor with another penalty to further the Con charges.

First blood in the second half went the way of Clontarf. Peter Maher with the score which went unconverted. Taylor made it an eight point game with another penalty but a beautiful chip over the top by Kelly was gathered by Tadhg Bird and Tarf replied with their fourth try and Kelly converted to make it a one point game.

Con responded well and Niall Kenneally went over for their fourth try of proceedings, under the posts to give Taylor an easier kick to restore that eight point cushion. Taylor added a penalty in response and despite Mark O’Sullivan adding a further try for Clontarf, Con held on for the win .

Terenure College (3T) 31-28 Lansdowne (3T), Lakelands

A last gasp Aran Egan penalty saw Lakelands erupt as Terenure booked their third consecutive 1A Final appearance hoping to defend their crown in the process. 

Egan gave Terenure the lead early on from the tee but Lansdowne replied through Stephen Madigan. Egan soon added a second penalty before Craig Adams crashed over for the opening try, which went unconverted.

Madigan cut the gap back to five points with his second penalty of the afternoon, however a try from Jordan Coghlan converted by Egan had Nure ahead 18-6 at the intermission. Nure again drew first blood in the second half when Harrison Brewer went over and Egan converted to further their lead.

Back came Lansdowne. 25-6 down tries from Cathal Eddy, James Kenny and Hugo McLaughlin with two converted by Madigan levelled the tie with ten minutes left. Egan and Madigan exchanged penalties before Egan stepped up from a long way out and dissected the posts to secure the win for Terenure.