It was UCC that claimed the coveted final playoff place in 1B on the final day. Blackrock’s win over Wesley was enough for third spot as their neighbors finished the season just outside the top four. Shannon, Highfield and Trinity all won on the final day, but only Highfield stayed outside the relegation zone.
Blackrock College 40-28 Old Wesley, Stradbrook
Blackrock College secured third spot in an entertaining, try-laden clash at Stradbrook, defeating Old Wesley 40–28 in a match that saw both teams light up the scoreboard.
The home side took control early after falling behind to an Andrew Doyle try, responding with three of their own before the break. David Fortune crossed in the 17th minute, followed by Barry Galvin and Jack Ringrose, before a penalty try pushed them into a commanding 26–7 halftime lead. Peter Quirke added the extras with the boot.
Old Wesley fought back immediately after the restart with a burst of scoring—Tom Larke, Billy Corrigan, and Reuben Pim all dotted down in a 15-minute spell, each converted by Ian Cassidy to cut the gap to just five points at 33–28.
But Blackrock weren’t finished. Ciarán Mangan crossed on 62 minutes, and Peter Quirke sealed the game with a late try and conversion to stretch the lead beyond reach, securing a well-earned victory in front of their home crowd, and ensuring their Dublin neighbours failed to make the top four.
Dublin University 20-7 Nenagh Ormond, College Park
Dublin University secured a hard-earned 20–7 win over Nenagh Ormond at College Park, thanks to a composed and disciplined second-half performance that saw them pull away after a tense first half, but it was not enough to compound their safety as they finished in 9th spot.
Matthew Lynch gave the hosts an early lead with a try in the 16th minute, which he converted himself. Nenagh responded with a well-worked try from Derek Corcoran just past the half-hour mark, and Conor McMahon added the extras to level the match at 7–7 going into the break.
The second half belonged to Dublin Uni, who controlled territory and possession, with Lynch keeping the scoreboard ticking through two well-struck penalties in the 53rd and 66th minutes. As Nenagh Ormond chased the game late on, James O’Sullivan crossed in the 74th minute, and Lynch added his second conversion to seal the win.
Naas 42-43 Highfield, Forenaughts
Highfield pulled off a dramatic comeback to edge Naas by the minimum in a sensational try-fest at Forenaughts, with Shane O’Riordan landing a last-minute penalty to snatch victory at the death, confirming their safety in the process.
Naas were electric in the first half, crossing the whitewash six times with tries from Derry Lenehan, Charlie Sheridan (twice), Cormac King, David O’Sullivan, and Adam Deay. Peter Osborne was flawless from the tee, converting all six to give the hosts a commanding 35–26 halftime lead.
Highfield, however, refused to back down. Travis Coomey was a constant threat and completed a hat-trick by the 53rd minute. Miah Cronin and Richard Cassidy also touched down, and a crucial penalty try brought them within striking distance.
With the game hanging in the balance, it all came down to a pressure kick from O’Riordan in the final moments, and he made no mistake, slotting it to complete the comeback and seal a remarkable one-point win.
Shannon 66-12 Queen’s University, Thomond Park
Shannon brought the curtain down on their time in 1B, delivering a commanding 66–12 victory over Queen’s University at Thomond Park, running in a staggering ten tries to secure a bonus-point win in style. Just not enough as results elsewhere dictated the table to see them relegated automatically. .
Kelvin Brown was the standout performer for Shannon, crossing the line an impressive five times. His early brace (5′ and 10′) set the tone for a dominant first half. Cillian Corkery and Luke Doyle also added tries, with Jamie Gavin converting four of them to give Shannon a comfortable 26–12 lead at the break.
After the interval, Shannon’s attacking onslaught continued. Brown added three more tries (53′, 67′, 70′), while Cian McCann got in on the act in the 45th minute. Luke Doyle’s second try in the dying seconds, followed by a conversion from John O’Sullivan, capped off an impressive performance.
Queen’s University battled valiantly, with tries from Henry Walker and Ryan Street providing their only highlights. However, Shannon’s clinical finishing and relentless attack were too much for them to handle, and they were well beaten on the day.
UCC 38-5 Old Belvedere, The Mardyke
UCC confirmed fourth spot against Old Belvedere with a clinical 38–5 victory at The Mardyke, running in six tries in a dominant display that saw them comfortably take the win.
The home side made a fast start, with Sean Condon crossing for a try in the 8th minute. Despite a strong effort from Old Belvedere, UCC’s defense held firm, and they extended their lead with Stephen O’Shaughnessy’s try in the 23rd minute. Daniel Squires converted both to make it 12–0 at the break.
The second half was all UCC, as they extended their advantage through tries from Michael Cogan (46′) and Gene O’Leary Kareem (64′, 75′). Old Belvedere did manage to get a try back through Jack Dunne in the 61st minute, but the visitors were unable to find any further breakthroughs.
Condon capped a stellar performance with his second try at the death, and Squires added the extras to seal a resounding victory.
