Just two Limerick wins on mixed day for Limerick's All-Ireland League clubs

THERE were just two Limerick wins on a day of mixed results for local clubs in the energia All-Ireland League on Saturday.

UL-Bohemian, in Division 2B, and Bruff, in Division 2C, were the Limerick sides to record wins in the Round 8 action.

In Division 1A, sixth-placed Young Munster picked up two bonus points in a narrow 24-26 defeat away to new table toppers St Mary's College at Templeville Road.

Also in the top flight, Garryowen remain rooted to the foot of the top flight table after suffering their seventh defeat in eight league fixtures with a 17-19 reverse at the hands of Cork Constitution at Dooradoyle.

Garryowen are four points off UCD who occupy the relegation play-off position in the table, while the Light Blues are nine points adrift of eighth-placed City of Armagh.

In Division 1B, Shannon dropped to ninth-placed in the table after suffering a 24-39 defeat to table toppers Old Belvedere at Ollie Campbell Park. 

Old Crescent remain in seventh spot in Division 2A after a frustrating 29-21 home defeat to MU Barnhall at Takumi Park.

In Division 2B, five-try UL-Bohemian are up to fourth place in the table following their 33-26 bonus point victory over Dungannon at ULs North Campus.

The Red, Red Robins' fifth win of the AIL season has seen them move within two points of second-placed Clogher Valley.

Meanwhile, Bruff, in Division 2C, were the second Limerick side to record a victory on Saturday, boosting their survival hopes when easing past Omagh Academicals 27-19 at Kilballyowen Park.

For Young Munster's trip to Templeville Road to take on St Mary's in Division 1A, Julian Leszczynski, Young Munster’s leading scorer with 58 points, switched to full-back.

Munster’s Tony Butler and Jake O’Riordan teamed up at half-back. Forwards Tom Goggin – replacing Champions Cup debutant Evan O’Connell – and Conor Nesbitt are promoted from the bench.

St. Mary’s had two key backs with close ties with the Limerick side, Conor Hayes and Dan Goggin, who have scored three tries each this season.

The last time Munsters visited Templeville Road was in February 2018 when current head coach Ger Slattery played his part in a 38-26 bonus point victory.

A slow start from the Limerick side on saturday afternoon saw them fall 0-12 in arrears after just seven minutes as the Dubliners struck with tries from Tom O’Reilly and Myles Carey.

Munsters' then got themselves back in the contest with a try from centre Manuel Covella, which full-back Julian Lesczynski converted making it 12-7.

The visitors then drew level, 12-12, when centre Shane O'Leary took a terrific line to cut through the Mary's defence before dotting down.

Munsters' then hit the front when O'Leary and winger Oisin Pepper combined superbly for the latter to score on 35 minutes.

However, the lead was short-lived as a third try from the home side, scored by Michael Silvester on the stroke of half-time, had the Dubliners 19-17 in front at the interval.

The see saw nature of the scoring continued soon after the restart when Manuel Covella nabbed his second try of the game, and the bonus point score, with Lesczynski converting for 24-19.

However, Mary's hit back for what proved to be a decisive try from former Munsters' player Dan Goggin, with another familiar face to fans of the Limerick side, Conor Hayes, adding the crucial conversion for a 26-24 lead.

Net up for Munsters' is a crucial Limerick derby meeting with struggling Garryowen at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday next, 5pm kick-off.

Also in Division 1A, basement side Garryowen suffered a dramatic, last gasp 17-19 defeat to Cork Constitution at Dooradoyle. 

The Light Blues looked on course to secure just their second win in the opening eight rounds of fixtures when leading 17-12. However, the concession of a penalty try to the Leesiders late on scuppered the home side's hopes of claiming the four points on offer. 

Instead Garryowen had to make-do with taking a losing bonus point from the fixture.

Garryowen, who were knocked out of the Bateman Cup by Instonians two weeks ago, were facing into the first of two crunch derbies over the next two weekends. The clash with Munster rivals Cork Constitution is followed by next weekend’s tussle with Young Munster.

Munster’s Brian Gleeson, Liam Coombes, George Hadden, Ronan Foxe, and Jack Daly started in Saturday's meeting with Cork Con.

Visitors' Cork Con led the game 12-7 at half-time. Garryowen, who led 7-5 at the end of the opening quarter, had an 18the minute try from Brian Gleeson, which Dylan Hicks converted.

When powerful Munster back-row Gleeson struck for his second try of the game after 45 minutes, with Hicks adding the extras, the Light Blues led 14-12. 

A 78th minute penalty from Hicks saw the Limerick side stretched their advantage to five points. However, that late penalty try scuppered relegation-threatened Garryowen's hopes of securing a precious victory.

In Division 1B Shannon were facing Old Belvedere for the first time since last April’s 46-8 promotion/relegation play-off defeat at Thomond Park.

The Parish side was left to rue a slow start against the Dubliners on Saturday falling 0-17 in arrears inside the opening 25 minutes as Belvo' managed three tries.

Shannon, who trailed 10-22 at half-time, and 10-39 into the second half, did manage four tries in all through Cian O’Halloran and Tadhg O’Brien in the opening half and Stephen Kiely and John O’Sullivan to pick up a bonus point. Sean Nolan converted two of the tries in the Parish side's 15-point loss.

Old Crescent entertained MU Barnhall in a crucial fixture at Takumi Park in Division 2A. Takumi Park had not been a happy hunting ground for MU Barnhall, losing on each on their previous three visits before Saturday. Their most recent win in Rosbrien was in 2019.  

Crescent, who recorded a 29-24 victory over Ballymena, in their previous outing, trailed their visitors 0-14 at half-time at Rosbrien on Saturday afternoon.

However, tries from Niall Hardiman on 58 minutes and Brian Molloy three minutes later, both superbly converted by Ronan McKenna tied up the game at 14-14.

However, visitors Barnhall stung their hosts with two tries, one of which was converted, as well as a penalty, to seize control of the game, before closing out a 15-point success.

In Division 2B, UL-Bohemian hosted second-placed Dungannon, the side's first meeting since their Division 2A promotion/relegation play-off in 2023. UL-Bohs won that tie by four points and the latest meeting for the two was all about getting back up to the league’s third tier.

The Red Robins’ five personnel changes included Kian Regan, Jack Foley, Padraic Galvin, Luca Cleary, and Darragh O’Gorman, who captains the team from the left wing.

The Red, Red Robins laid the foundation for this latest win in the opening half after which the Annacotty side enjoyed a 21-12 lead. 

The home side had tries from Seamus Lyne on 11 minutes, Joe Johnson just before the half hour mark and Oisin Fagan on the stroke of half-time. Oisin Fagan added three conversions.

Second half tries from David Rowsome, five minutes after the re-start and Darragh O’Gorman, shortly after the hour mark, sealed victory for the home side. Fagan also converted O'Gorman's try.

In Division 2C, having picked up their first win of the season last time out away to Tullamore, Bruff were back on home soil looking for their first home win against ninth-placed Omagh Academicals. And the South Limerick side achieved it with their 27-19 success.

Sitting just outside the drop zone, the Limerick men will be hopeful of pushing on now and putting a gap in place between themselves and the two teams beneath them in the table.

Bruff led their visitors 20-12 at half-time in South Limerick. Bruff managed two first half tries through Clem McAuliffe on five minutes and Fionn Flanagan just before the break. 

Out-half Paul Collins converted the two tries and also added penalty goals on 18 and 27 minutes.

Bruff secured their second win of the campaign when Collins added a 65th minute try which he also successfully converted. 

Boosted by their second win of the AIL season, eighth-placed Bruff are nine points clear of basement side Tullamore, while the Limerick side enjoy a four point advantage over Saturday's opponents Omagh Academicals. 

Energia All-Ireland Leagues Men's Divisions, Round 8

DIVISION 1A:

GARRYOWEN 17 CORK CONSTITUTION 19, Dooradoyle

Scorers: Garryowen: Tries: Brian Gleeson 2; Cons: Dylan Hicks 2; Pen: Dylan Hicks
Cork Constitution: Tries: Scott Buckley, Matthew Bowen, Penalty try; Cons: Aidan Moynihan, Pen try con

GARRYOWEN: Kelvin Langan; JJ O’Neill, Liam Coombes, Gordon Wood, Ronan Quinn; Dylan Hicks, Neil Cronin; George Hadden, Lars Linnenbank, Ronan Foxe, Donnacha Byrne (capt), Finn McCall, Des Fitzgerald, Jack Daly, Brian Gleeson. Replacements: Harry Gleeson, Oisin Kearney, Kevin Seymour, Visiano Vaohea, Jack Oliver, Jack Delaney.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Billy Crowley; Matthew Bowen, Sean French, Eoghan Smyth, Daniel Hurley; Aidan Moynihan, Louis Kahn; David Good, Scott Buckley, Luke Masters, Eoin Quilter, John Forde, Sean Duffy, Jack Kelleher, David Hyland (capt). Replacements: Danny Sheahan, David Bamidele, Cian Barry, Jacob Sheahan, Luke Kerr, James Taylor.

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 26 YOUNG MUNSTER 24, Templeville Road

Scorers: St. Mary’s College: Tries: Tom O’Reilly, Myles Carey, Michael Silvester, Dan Goggin; Cons: Conor Hayes 3
Young Munster: Tries: Manuel Covella 2, Shane O’Leary, Oisin Pepper; Cons: Julian Leszczynski 2

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: Conor Hayes; Mark Fogarty, Myles Carey, Dan Goggin, Michael Silvester; Conor Dean, Richie Fahy; Tom O’Reilly, Richie Bergin, Andy Keating, Lucas Culliton, Paul Deeny, Greg Jones, Aaron O’Brien, Ronan Watters (capt). Replacements:Howard Noonan, Ciaran Scott, Daniel Leane, Ethan Baxter, Adam McEvoy, Leandro Ramirez.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Julian Leszczynski; Hubert Gilvarry, Shane O’Leary, Manuel Covella, Oisin Pepper; Tony Butler, Jake O’Riordan; Christian Foley, Stephen McLoughlin (capt), Conor Bartley, Tom Goggin, Sean Rigney, Bailey Faloon, Conor Nesbitt, Fintan Coleman. Replacements:Aaron Roulston, David Begley, Paul Allen, Oran O’Reilly, Stephen Lyons, Samson Seinafo.

DIVISION 1B:

OLD BELVEDERE 39 SHANNON 24, Ollie Campbell Park

Scorers: Old Belvedere: Tries: Kale Thatcher, Calum Dowling 3, Ryan McMahon, Will McDonald, Jack Keating; Cons: Sam Wisniewski 2
Shannon: Tries: Stephen Kiely, Cian O’Halloran, Tadhg O’Brien, John O’Sullivan; Cons: Sean Nolan 2

OLD BELVEDERE: Joe White; Jack Keating, Jayden Beckett, Justin Leonard, Gavin Nugent; Sam Wisniewski, Jack Dunne; Hugh Flood, Calum Dowling (capt), Ryan McMahon, Fionn McWey, Eddie Rees, Kale Thatcher, Will McDonald, Paddy Dowling. Replacements:Luke McLaughlin, Hugh Hogan, James Ruddy, Tasipale Valavala, Harry McGoey, Hugh Reddan.

SHANNON: Sean Nolan; Stephen Kiely, Cian O’Halloran, Harry Long (capt), Matt Te Pou; Cillian O’Connor, Ian Leonard; Conor Glynn, Alex Long, Emmet Calvey, Jack Brady, Christian Storey, Cian McCann, Kelvin Brown, Lee Nicholas. Replacements:Gus Harrington, Shane Carew, Scott Gleeson, Tadhg O’Brien, Darren Gavin, John O’Sullivan.

DIVISION 2A:

OLD CRESCENT 21 MU BARNHALL 29, Takumi Park

Scorers: Old Crescent: Tries: Brian Molloy, Niall Hardiman, Kevin Doyle; Cons: Ronan McKenna 3
MU Barnhall: Tries: Keith Farrell 2, Conor Duggan, Conor Lacey; Cons: Adam Chester 3; Pen: Adam Chester

OLD CRESCENT: Timmy Duggan; Daithi Byrnes, Brian Molloy, Werner Hoffman, Brandon Nash; Ronan McKenna, Gary Fitzgerald; Evan Creaven, Jonathan Byrne, Jake Considine, Sean Monaghan, Yasin Browne, Dean O’Grady, John Lyons, Karl Madden (capt). Replacements:Niall Hardiman, Kevin Doyle, Jack O’Neill, Cathal Monaghan, Aaron Cosgrove.

MU BARNHALL: Conor Duggan; Greg Edogun, Matt Grogan, Darragh McCormack, Conor Lacey; Adam Chester, Rob Holt; Sean Hopkins, Joshua Boyce Donohoe, Keith Farrell, Luke Callinan, Ciaran Enright, Dan Murphy, Shane Stokes, Eoin Kelly. Replacements: Gearóid Quinn, Mikey Doyle, James Whelan, Dylan Kelly, Jack Hannon.

DIVISION 2B:

UL-Bohemian 33 Dungannon 26, UL 4G 

SCORERS: UL-Bohemian Tries: Seamus Lyne, Joe Johnson, Oisin Fagan, David Rowsome, Darragh O’Gorman.
Conversions: Oisin Fagan 4.
Dungannon: Tries: Sam Montgomery, James McMahon 2 tries, Cameron Steenson try.
Conversions: Ben McCaughey 3.

UL-Bohemian: Seamus Lyne, Joe Johnson, Killian Dineen, Paul Clancy, Darragh O’Gorman (capt), Oisin Fagan, Luca Cleary, Kean Sheehy, Darren Ferrar, Kian Regan, Jack Foley, Michael Dorgan, Padraic Galvin, David Rowsome, Jordan Mills. Replacements: Matt Henry, Pauric Nesbitt, Liam Neilan, Matt Sheahan, Zac O’Loughlin.

Dungannon: Ben McCaughey, Toby Gribben, James Girvan, Kyle Gormley, Charlie Conroy, Andrew McGregor, Alex Johnston, James Gamble, Sam Montgomery, Sean O’Hagan, Peter Nicholl, Cameron Steenson, David Leyburn, Billy Allen, James McMahon (capt). Replacements: Daniel Mikolajczyk, Adam Edgar, Matthew Stockdale, Matthew Maguire, Peter Cashel.

DIVISION 2C:

Bruff 27 Omagh Academicals 19 at Kilballyowen Park

SCORERS: Bruff: Tries: Clem McAuliffe try, Fionn Flanagan try, Paul Collins try.
Conversions: Paul Collins 3. Penalties: Paul Collins 2.

Omagh Academicals: Tries: Michael Gibson try, Matthew Clyde try, Scott Elliott try. Conversions: Scott Elliott 2.

Bruff: John Bateman, Shane Duggan, Andrew O’Byrne, Conor Fitzpatrick, Clem McAuliffe, Paul Collins, Sean Killbridge, Ciaran Cronin, Mike Frawley, Kieran O’Dwyer, Tom O’Dwyer, Brendan Gleeson, Mike Cooke, John Sheehan, Cillian Rea (capt). Replacements: Sean O’Riordan, Fionn Flanagan, Tom Lillis, Ben Tucker, Cathal Garvey, Iago Dasi Somoza.

Omagh Acad.: Scott Elliott, Matty Eccles, Connor Watherston-Spencer, Michael Gibson, Ryan Mitchell, Josh Kyle, Fintan Lagan, David Braden, Jamie Matthews, Simon Creane, Jamie Sproule, David Cummings, Reece Braden, Scott Wilson, Matthew Clyde (capt). Replacements: Mark Smyth, Mervin Edgar, Conor Huey, Shea Daly, Sam Beattie.