Round-Up: Frustrating day for Limerick clubs in the All-Ireland League

YOUNG Munster were the only Limerick club to record a victory in Round 13 of the energia All-Ireland League season as Garryowen FC, Shannon RFC, Old Crescent RFC, UL-Bohemian RFC and Bruff RFC all tasted defeat on a dramatic Saturday afternoon of action.

In Division 1A, Garryowen's relegation worries are growing after the bottom-placed Light Blues suffered a 26-15 defeat to fellow strugglers UCD at Belfield.

The result sees Garryowen, who have won just one of their 13 regular season games, firmly rooted to the foot of the table, now 10 points adrift of UCD who occupy the relegation play-off position. Eighth-placed City of Armagh are a further two points clear of the Dublin students.

In Division 1B, Shannon also remain bottom of the table after having to make-do with a losing bonus point from their 16-20 home defeat to Blackrock College on Thomond Park's back pitch. Shannon had led the game 11-3 at one stage in the opening half. 

The relegation-threatened Parish side, who have secured two league wins to date, trail ninth-placed Highfield by five points and Dublin University in eighth spot by nine points. With five series of games to go, Shannon still have an opportunity to jump ahead of at least one of the two sides nearest to them in the table.

READ MORE: Young Munster keep play-off hopes alive with vital bonus point win over Clontarf

Old Crescent's outside hopes of securing a promotion play-off place in Division 2A suffered a major blow as the Limerick side remain in seventh place in the table, picking up a try bonus point in a disappointing 29-40 defeat to Instonians at Takumi Park.

Crescent trail fourth-placed Barnhall by 18 points and are 17 points adrift of fifth-placed Cashel.

In Division 2B, UL-Bohemian fell to a narrow 24-25 defeat to Galwegians on the 4G rugby pitch at ULs North Campus.

The defeat sees UL-Bohs drop to sixth place in the table, four points behind Rainey RFC, who occupy fourth spot, while the Red, Red Robins are now two points behind Galwegians in fifth.

There was also disappointment for Limerick's representatives in Division 2C, Bruff, who had to make-do with taking a losing bonus point from their 11-15 defeat to Munster rivals Midleton at Kilballyowen Park.

Bruff are in eighth spot in the table, nine points clear of basement side Omagh Academicals, while the South Limerick side enjoy an eight point advantage on ninth-place Tullamore.

Before kick-off Saturday's Division 1A game in Belfield offered a big opportunity for both Garryowen and UCD to end their winless streak. UCD had lost their last six games, and bottom side Garryowen’s losing run stretches back to September.

The students had won 29-19 when the sides met at Dooradoyle in November.

UCD welcomed back centre Ben Brownlee, who is training with Munster on a short-term basis, into their starting team. 

After completing with six-month spell with Munster, Bryan Fitzgerald returned to captain Garryowen in the centre alongside Gordon Wood, whose teenage brother Tom featured at out-half. Munster Academy hooker Max Clein and Connacht’s Oisin McCormack were the Light Blues’ two changes up front.

Garryowen led Saturday's game 10-7 at half-time. The Dooradoyle side scored tries through JJ O'Neill and Colm Quilligan. Jack Oliver added a penalty goal and conversion.

In Division 1B, on Thomond Park's back pitch, bottom side Shannon were seeking to avenge November’s 24-10 loss to Blackrock College, and in the process draw back within touching distance of Highfield.

The Parish side was not far off it against Nenagh, with Matt Te Pou’s breakaway try earning them a losing bonus point.

Shannon were without their top try scorer Oisin Minogue, who made his Ireland U-20 debut against England last week and was on the bench again for this weekend's trip to Scotland.

Shannon led their visitors 16-10 at half-time on the back pitch at Thomond Park. The Parish side had tries from Cillian Corkery and Stephen Kiely, while Jamie Gavin added two penalty goals.

In Division 2A, Old Crescent trailed high-flying Instonians 8-14 at half-time at Rosbrien. The Limerick side scored four tries from Ronan McKenna, Timmy Duggan, Jamie Duggan and ⁠James McKeogh. McKenna also added three conversions and a penalty to bring his personal tally for the game to 14 points.

Meanwhile, in Division 2B, UL-Bohemian were six points in arrears at half-time, when trailing Galwegians 14-20. The Red, Red Robins scored three tries through Darragh O’Gorman, Kean Sheehy and Kian Regan. Out-half Oisin Fagan kicked three conversions and a penalty.

In Division 2C, Bruff led visitors Midleton 8-3 at half-time. The home side had a try from Shane Duggan and a Paul Collins penalty to show for their first half endeavour. 

However, while Bruff managed a further three points after the break courtesy of a Collins penalty, their East Cork opponents racked up 12 points to claim the spoils.

DIVISION 1A:

UCD 26 GARRYOWEN 15, UCD Bowl

SCORERS: UCD Tries: Ross Deegan, Bobby Sheehan 3. Conversions: James Tarrant 3.
Garryowen: Tries: JJ O’Neill (40′), Colm Quilligan (45′). Conversions: Jack Oliver (40+1′). Penalties: Jack Oliver (18′).

HT: UCD 7 Garryowen 10

UCD: Ruben Moloney, Ross Deegan, Ben Brownlee, Daragh Gilbourne, Alex O’Grady, James Tarrant (capt), Robert Gilsenan, Hugo O’Malley, Bobby Sheehan, Andrew Sparrow, Dan Barron, Conor Ó Tighearnaigh, Diarmuid Mangan, Conor Tonge, James Culhane. Replacements: Tom O’Riordan, Christopher Hennessy, Michael Colreavy, Thomas Quinn, Tom Murtagh, Ruairi Shields.

Garryowen: Colm Hogan, JJ O’Neill, Bryan Fitzgerald (capt), Gordon Wood, Ronan Quinn, Tom Wood, Jack Oliver, George Hadden, Max Clein, Mikey Veale, Finn McCall, Kevin Seymour, Oisin McCormack, Des Fitzgerald, Donnacha Byrne. Replacements: Dean Fanning, Oisin Kearney, Oisin Cooke, Visiano Vaohea, Kelvin Langan, Colm Quilligan.

YOUNG MUNSTER 27 CLONTARF 14, Tom Clifford Park

SCORERS: Young Munster: Tries: Hubert Gilvarry, Ihechi Oji, Ruadhan Quinn 2. Conversions: Julian Leszczynski 2. Penalties: Julian Leszczynski. Clontarf:  Tries: James Conroy, Aaron Coleman. Conversions: Conor Kelly 2.

HT: Young Munster 19 Clontarf 7

Young Munster: Shay McCarthy, Hubert Gilvarry, Samson Seinafo, Manuel Covella, Ihechi Oji, Julian Leszczynski, Jake O’Riordan, Christian Foley, Adam McBurney, David Begley, Sean Rigney, Evan O’Connell, Alan Kennedy, Bailey Faloon, Ruadhan Quinn. Replacements: Steven McLoughlin, Paul Allen, Tom Goggin, Conor Moloney, Donnchadh O’Callaghan, Cian Casey.

Clontarf: Mark O’Sullivan, James McKeown, James Conroy, Tadhg Bird, Stephen Ryan, Conor Kelly, Sam Owens, Charlie Ward, Barry Gray, Ben Griffin, Fionn Gilbert, Jim Peters, Callum Smith, Aaron Coleman, John Vinson.Replacements:Fionn Hickey, Conor Bateman, Ruairi Munnelly, Will Reilly, Victor Allen, Oran Walsh.

DIVISION 1B:

SHANNON 16 BLACKROCK COLLEGE 20, Thomond Park

SCORERS: Shannon RFC: Tries: Cillian Corkery, Stephen Kiely. Penalties: Jamie Gavin 2. Blackrock College:  Tries: Matthew Dwan, Liam McMahon. Conversions: Conor O’Shaughnessy 2. Penalties: Conor O’Shaughnessy 2.

HT: Shannon RFC 16 Blackrock Col. 10

Shannon RFC: Cillian Corkery, Matt Te Pou, Harry Long, Luke Doyle, Steven Kiely, Jamie Gavin, Ian Leonard, Conor Glynn, Jordan Prenderville, Kieran Ryan, Jack Brady, Christian Storey, Kelvin Brown, Tadhg O’Brien, Lee Nicholas. Replacements: Alex Long, Shane Carew, Scott Gleeson, Jade Kriel, John O’Sullivan, Cian O’Halloran.

Blackrock Col.: Brian Colclough, Chris Rolland, Matthew Dwan, David McCarthy, Barry Galvin, Conor O’Shaughnessy, Oliver Coffey, Andrew Savage, Liam McMahon, Joe Byrne, Roy Whelan (capt), Kaylam Tytherleigh, James Burke, David Fortune, Odhran Ring. Replacements: Jack Angulo, Jack Mullany, Tommy Butler, Naoise Golden, Jack Ringrose, Matthew McCarthy.

DIVISION 2A:

OLD CRESCENT 29 INSTONIANS 40, Takumi Park

SCORERS: Old Crescent: Tries: Ronan McKenna, Timmy Duggan, Jamie Duggan, ⁠James McKeogh. Conversions: Ronan McKenna 3. Penalties: Ronan McKenna. Instonians:  Tries: Bradley McNamara, Bevan Prinsloo 2, Glen Faloon, Mark Mairs, Andrew McGrath. Conversions: Josh Eagleson 5.

HT: Old Crescent 8 Instonians 14

Old Crescent: Ronan McKenna, Conor Hogan, Joe McEnery, Werner Hoffman, Timmy Duggan, Jamie Duggan, Gary Fitzgerald, Evan Creaven, Niall Hardiman, Alex Simpson, John Toland, Sean Monaghan, Oisin Toland, Karl Madden, John Lyons. Replacements: Jonathan Byrne, Joe Rickard, Dean O’Grady, ⁠James McKeogh, Aaron Cosgrove.

Instonians: Bradley McNamara, Hugo Ellerby, Bevan Prinsloo, Ian Whitten, Glen Faloon, Josh Eagleson, Ruairi O’Farrell, Matthew Nelson, Neil Saulters, Liam Kaprigiannis, Robert Whitten, Marty Vorster, Mark Mairs, Max Preston, David Whitten (capt). Replacements: Jack Parkinson, Terry Coombes, Andrew McGrath, Ali Burke, Matthew Keane, James Clarke.

DIVISION 2B:

UL-BOHEMIAN 24 GALWEGIANS 25, UL 4G

SCORERS: UL-Bohemian: Tries: Darragh O’Gorman, Kean Sheehy, Kian Regan. Conversions: Oisin Fagan 3. Penalties: Oisin Fagan. Galwegians: Tries: Darragh Kennedy, Oisin McKey, Ryan Roche, Jack Winters. Conversions: Steven Mannion. Penalties: Steven Mannion.

HT: UL Bohemian 14 Galwegians 20

UL-Bohemian: Seamus Lyne, Matt Sheahan, Killian Dineen, Paul Clancy, Darragh O’Gorman (capt), Oisin Fagan, Alan Kiely, Kean Sheehy, Darren Ferrar, Kian Regan, Jack Foley, Padraic Galvin, Lochlann Kelleher, David Rowsome, Josh Kahler. Replacements: Pauric Nesbitt, Jack Ryan, Michael Dorgan, Sean Quirke, Zac O’Loughlin, Liam O’Shanahan, Sam Lynch.

Galwegians: Darragh Kennedy, Finn Treacy, Rob Deacy, Steven Mannion, Oisin McKey, Ryan Roche, Andrew Sherlock, Jack Winters, Ryan Smith, Guerschom Mukendi, Oisin Halpin, Gonzalo Alvarez, Liam Angerman, Dylan Keane, Jarrad Butler. Replacements: Kobi Joyce, Mick McColgan, Ronan Coneelly, Paddy Dolphin, Eoghan Fahy.

DIVISION 2C:

BRUFF 11 MIDLETON 15, Kilballyowen Park

SCORERS: Bruff: Tries: Shane Duggan. Penalties: Paul Collins 2. Midleton: Tries: Younes Marboh, JB Du Toit. Conversions: Jack Colbert. Penalties: Jack Colbert.

HT: Bruff 8 Midleton 3

Bruff: John Bateman, Shane Duggan, Clem McAuliffe, Andrew O’Byrne, Mark Fitzpatrick, Paul Collins, Sean Killbridge, Ciaran Cronin, Mike Frawley, Kieran O’Dwyer, Tom O’Dwyer, Brendan Gleeson, Mark Kennedy, John Sheehan, Mike Cooke. Replacements: Sean O’Riordan, Darragh O’Brien, Tom Lillis, Darragh Browne, Adam O’Dwyer, Craig Carew.

Midleton: Aaron James, Aaron Leahy, Sam Tarleton, Jack Colbert, Younes Marboh, Conall Doyle, Kyle Read, Mark Corby, Harry Jephson, Steve Monaghan, Denis Broderick, Rob Hickey, JB Du Toit, Conor McCarthy, Idris Rqibi. Replacements: Darragh O’Keeffe, Fionn O’Connell, Ryan Lehane, Flor McCarthy, Gary Downey.