Four Limerick wins on opening weekend of All-Ireland League season

THERE were four Limerick wins, including one for newly-promoted Thomond, on a dramatic opening day of action in the new energia All-Ireland League season.

Limerick's only representatives in Division 1A of the league, Young Munster, had to make-do with taking two bonus points from their opening round 35-33 defeat away to Ballynahinch.

Munsters' had trailed 7-28 at half-time, but stormed back in the second half to come within a whisker of gaining an opening day win.

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In Division 1B, Garryowen made a winning start to their campaign following their relegation from the top flight. The Light Blues defeated UCC 22-19 at Dooradoyle. 

The two Limerick sides competing in Division 2A experienced contrasting fortunes. Shannon, who were relegated from Division 1B at the end of last season, picked up a losing bonus point following their 26-19 defeat to Cashel on the back pitch at Thomond Park.

Also in Division 2A, Old Crescent got off to a winning start when defeating Ballymena 16-11 at Takumi Park.

Meanwhile, in Division 2B, UL-Bohemian recorded an impressive 33-21 bonus point win away to Navan.

In Division 2C, Thomond, reurning to the competition after a six-year break, opened their AIL campaign with an exciting 29-22 victory over old rivals Bective Rangers at Fitzgerald Park.

Also in Division 2C, Bruff suffered a 40-25 defeat to Midleton in East Cork in their opening game.  

Meanwhile, in the Energia All-Ireland League Women's Division, UL-Bohemian defeated Blackrock College 21-12 at Stradbrook on Saturday.

More to follow: - 

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1A:

BALLYNAHINCH 35 YOUNG MUNSTER 33, Ballymacarn Park

Scorers Ballynahinch: Tries: Matthew Booth, Mark Best, Claytan Milligan, Tom McAllister, Bradley Luney. Conversions: Conor Rankin 5. Young Munster: Tries: Hubert Gilvarry 2, Shay McCarthy, Christian Foley, Paul Allen. Conversions: Kelvin Langan 4.

HT: Ballynahinch 28 Young Munster 7

BALLYNAHINCH: Conor Rankin, Ethan Graham, Matthew Booth, Mark Best, Aaron Sexton, Paul Kerr, Chris Gibson, Matthew Burke, Claytan Milligan, Tom McAllister, Declan Horrox, Bradley Luney, Marcus Rea, Zack McCall, Bryn Ward. Replacements: Joshua Hanlon, Joseph Mawhinney, Ryan Connolly, Peter Heasley, James Humphreys, Pierce Crowe.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Harry Langbridge, Hubert Gilvarry, Shay McCarthy, Luke McCready, Orin Burke, Kelvin Langan, John Poland, Christian Foley, Liam McMahon, Kieran Ryan, Alan Kennedy, Ajae Hanson, Stephen McLoughlin, Bailey Faloon, Fintan Coleman. Replacements: Arron Roulston, Paul Allen, Oran O’Reilly, James Horrigan, Leo Lamgbridge, Jake O’Riordan.

DIVISION 1B:

GARRYOWEN 22 UCC RUGBY 19 Dooradoyle

SCORERS: Garryowen: Tries: Alan Fitzgerald, Max Clein, Mark Fitzgerald. Conversions: Tom Wood 2. Penalties: Lachlan Stewart. UCC Rugby: Tries: Christopher Barrett 2, Stephen O’Shaughnessy. Conversions: Harry Murphy 2.

HT: Garryowen 8 UCC Rugby 12

GARRYOWEN: Fionn Rowsome, Colm Quilligan, Alexander Wood, Jack Delaney, Sean Sexton, Lachlan Stewart, Harry Chittick, George Hadden, Jonathan Byrne, Thymo Peters, Joe Finn, Finn McCall, Oisin Cooke, Des Fitzgerald (capt), Alan Fitzgerald.
Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Fitzgerald, Ben Leahy, Jack Costello, Luca Cleary, Tom Wood.

UCC RUGBY: Ben O’Connor, Jed O’Dwyer, Gene O’Leary Kareem, David Cogan, Mark Hetherington, Harry Murphy, Christopher Barrett, Sean Dunne, Stephen O’Shaughnessy, Daniel McCarthy, Sam O’Sullivan (capt), Kamil Novak, Jason Aherne, Dawid Nowak, Sean Edogbo. Replacements: George Rasmussen, Alex Hamilton, Jamie Browne, Michael O’Sullivan, Paddy Gaffney, Charlie Patrick O’Shea.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE WOMEN'S DIVISION:

BLACKROCK COLLEGE 12 UL BOHEMIAN 21, Stradbrook

Scorers: Blackrock College: Tries: Maggie Boylan 2; Con: Abby Moyles. UL Bohemian: Tries: Aoibhe O’Flynn, Eilís Cahill, Chloe Pearse; Cons: Caitríona Finn 3

HT: Blackrock College 7 UL Bohemian 14

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: Abby Moyles; Andi Murphy, Ella Durkan, Cara Martin, Maggie Boylan; Lauren Farrell McCabe, Amelie Birrell; Aoife Moore, Niamh Tester, Ava Fannin, Kate Jordan, Nikki Gibson, Carrie O’Keeffe, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Hannah O’Connor (capt). Replacements: Ann-Marie Rooney, Megan Brodie, Molly Fitzpatrick, Regan Casey, Sophie Balay-Chawke, Ava Ryder, Trinity Todd.

UL BOHEMIAN: Aoife Corey; Lucia Linn, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Caitríona Finn, Alana McInerney; Kate Flannery, Abbie Salter-Townshend; Ciara McLoughlin, Lily Brady, Eilís Cahill, Aoibhe O’Flynn, Claire Bennett, Anaïs Jubin, Clodagh O’Halloran, Chloe Pearse (capt). Replacements: Emma Dunican, Gráinne Burke, Louise Carter, Ava O’Malley, Rachel Allen, Maddy Kushner, Abaigeal Connon.