Four Limerick wins in dramatic second round of All-Ireland League fixtures

THERE were four Limerick wins, while Garryowen secured a draw in Division 1B, in Saturday's dramatic second round of fixtures in the men's energia All-Ireland League.

In Division 1A, Young Munster suffered a second straight defeat when going down 8-15 to St Mary's College at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday.

Munsters', who trailed 0-12 to the Dublin side at half-time, had to make-do with taking a losing bonus point from the game for the ninth-placed Limerick side.

The home side had a second half try from Hubert Gilvary, while Shane O’Leary added a penalty.

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The Munster Rugby duo of Fionn Gibbons and Evan O’Connell started for the Greenfields side, the latter partnering captain Alan Kennedy in the second row. Shane O’Leary, David Begley, and Australian Leo Langbridge also came into the starting line-up, with O’Leary’s inclusion seeing Kelvin Langan move to scrum half.

Meanwhile, in Division 1B, Garryowen remain unbeaten after two series of fixtures, following their 17-17 draw with Queen's University at Dub Lane. 

The Light Blues who trailed 5-12 at half-time, had tries from Max Clein, Des Fitzgerald and Will Hayes, while Tom Wood kicked a conversion.

The result leaves Garryowen in fourth place in the table, just four points off pace-setters Instonians.

Targeting their second straight Division 1B win under Mike Sherry following their opening weekend win over UCC, Garryowen’s back-line was led by Luca Cleary and Munster Academy youngster Tom Wood. Fellow provincial player Max Clein, a try scorer on the opening weekend against UCC, and Tom Ironside Wickham were the other changes.

In Division 2A, Shannon suffered a last gasp 17-24 defeat away to MU Barnhall, having led 17-10 with a little over 10 minutes remaining. 

The Limerick side led the game 7-5 at half-time. Shannon had a try in the opening half from Cian McCann, while Matt Te Pou dotted down in the second. Cillian O'Connor added two conversions, while jamie Gavin kicked a penalty.

Also in Division 2A, Old Crescent have started their campaign with back-to-back wins following their 18-10 victory over MU Barnhall at Parsonstown.

Stephen Kiely, Aaron Cosgrove and Dan Hurley were Crescent’s try scorers, and Jeff Williams kicked a penalty.

The result sess the Takumi Park side sit in third place in the 2A table, just one point behind the early pacesetters. 

In Division 2B, UL-Bohemian made it two wins from two following their 24-17 bonus point victory over Skerries at UL on Saturday afternoon.

Killian Dineen, Paul Clancy, Jordan Mills and Jack Considine scored tries for the winners and two were converted by Oisin Fagan.

UL-Bohs led the game 19-5 at half-time. The Red, Red Robins are in third spot in the table level on points with early pacesetters Galwegias and Sligo. 

Another Limerick side to have made a winning start to the campaign last weekend, Thomond, made it two bonus point wins from two with an exciting 29-5 bonus point success away to Ballyclare. The result sees the Limerick side, who were promoted back to senor ranks this season, are top of the 2C table, one point ahead of second-placed Belfast Harlequins. 

Thomond, who led 10-5 at half-time, scored four tries through Suliano Mainavolau, Sam Birrane, Ryain Ahern and Tom Goggin, while Declan Cusack added three conversions and a penalty.

Also in Division 2C, Bruff enjoyed a 28-19 bonus point victory over Monkstown at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday.

Paul Collins, Kieran O’Dwyer, Patricio Neheun and Andrew Byrne were Bruff’s try scorers, while Collins converted all four tries.

Bruff, who lost their opening league fixture, have moved up to seventh place in the table as a result of their exciting second round win.

Meanwhile, in the Women's Energia All-Ireland League, UL-Bohemian scored a convincing 44-17 bonus point win over Railway Union at Annacotty.

The free-scoring Red, Red Robins crossed for eight tries during the contest.

Alana McInerney scored a hat trick of tries for the Limerick side, while skipper Chloe Pearce bagged a brace, and Catriona Finn, Eilis Cahill and Kate Flannery got one each. Finn kicked two conversions.

DIVISION 1A:

YOUNG MUNSTER 8 ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 15, Tom Clifford Park

Scorers: Young Munster: Try: Hubert Gilvarry; Pen: Shane O’Leary. St. Mary’s College: Tries: Mick O’Gara, Ruairi Shields; Con: Mick O’Gara; Pen: Mick O’Gara

HT: Young Munster 0 St. Mary’s College 12

YOUNG MUNSTER: Orin Burke; Hubert Gilvarry, Fionn Gibbons, Luke McCready, Shay McCarthy; Shane O’Leary, Kelvin Langan; Christian Foley, Liam McMahon, David Begley, Alan Kennedy (capt), Evan O’Connell, Leo Langbridge, Bailey Faloon, Fintan Coleman. Replacements: Arron Roulston, Paul Allen, Stephen McLoughlin, James Horrigan, Harry Langbridge, Ihechi Oji.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE: Ruairi Shields; Mark Fogarty, Myles Carey, Mick O’Gara, Leandro Ramirez; Conor Dean (capt), Colm Reilly; Oisin Michel, Jack Nelson Murray, Mick McCormack, Daniel Leane, Conor Pierce, Josh Gimblett, Finn Burke, Dan Goggin. Replacements: Cillian Jacobs, Oisin Kearney, Liam Corcoran, David Leane, Rob Gilsenan, Aaron O’Sullivan.

DIVISION 1B:

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 17 GARRYOWEN 17, Dub Lane

Scorers: Queen’s University: Tries: Henry Walker 2, Clark Logan; Con: Jordan McAuley. Garryowen: Tries: Max Clein, Des Fitzgerald, Will Hayes; Con: Tom Wood

HT: Queen’s University 12 Garryowen 5

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY: Ben McFarlane; Ryan Street, Fraser Cunningham, Wilhelm de Klerk, Lukas Kenny; Jordan McAuley, Clark Logan; Tyrese Abolarin, Henry Walker, Bryan O’Connor, Charlie Irvine, Joe Hopes, James McKillop (capt), Josh Stevens, Billy Allen. Replacements: Aaron Caldwell, Charles Johnston, Martin Meenan, Will Cusack, Eamonn Rogers, James Kerr.

GARRYOWEN: Fionn Rowsome; Tom Ironside Wickham, Alex Wood, Lachlan Stewart, Sean Sexton; Tom Wood, Luca Cleary; George Hadden, Max Clein, Thymo Peters, Joe Finn, Finn McCall, Oisin Cooke, Des Fitzgerald (capt), Alan Fitzgerald. Replacements: Johnny Byrne, Mark Fitzgerald, Ben Leahy, Will Hayes, Harry Chittick, JJ O’Neill.

DIVISION 2A:

CASHEL 10 OLD CRESCENT 18, Spafield

Scorers: Cashel: Try: Michael Treacy; Con: John O’Sullivan; Pen: John O’Sullivan. Old Crescent: Tries: Stephen Kiely, Aaron Cosgrove, Dan Hurley; Pen: Jeff Williams

HT: Cashel 3 Old Crescent 10

CASHEL: Timothy Townsend; Rob Carney, Alan Flannery, Jamie Ryan, Marcel Strydom; John O’Sullivan, Fionn Carney; Michael Treacy, David Upton, Adam Shirley, Fearghail O’Donoughue, Diarmuid Rowe, Mikey Wilson, Richard Moran (capt), Ciaran Ryan. Replacements: Joe Callery, Cormac O’Donnell, Max Riley Fox, Alex Harold Barry, Paudie Leamy.

OLD CRESCENT: Stephen Kiely; Daithi Byrnes, Brian Molloy, Werner Hoffman, Dan Hurley; Jeff Williams, Aaron Cosgrove; Joe Rickard, Niall Hardiman (capt), Evan Creaven, John Toland, Oisin Toland, Cillian Toland, James Rael, Jack Dineen. Replacements: ⁠Nesta Nyamakazi, John Lyons, Ciaran Heagney, Gary Fitzgerald, Sean Donnarumma.

MU BARNHALL 24 SHANNON 17, Parsonstown

Scorers: MU Barnhall: Tries: Greg Edogun, Shane Mallon, Oisin O’Neill, Keith Farrell; Cons: Neil Byrne 2. Shannon: Tries: Matt Te Pou, Cian McCann; Cons: Cillian O’Connor 2; Pen: Jamie Gavin

HT: MU Barnhall 5 Shannon 7

MU BARNHALL: Neil Byrne; Greg Edogun, Shane Mallon, Conor Duggan, Adam Gray; Oisin O’Neill, Rob Holt (capt); Keith Farrell, Cathal Duff, Darragh Bellanova, Sean Walsh, Ciaran Enright, Daniel Murphy, Donny Freeman, Eoin Kelly. Replacements: Finn Brien, Jack Castles, Abdul Olaosebikan, Conor Neville, Jack Hannon.

SHANNON: Matt Te Pou; Josh Costello, Cian O’Halloran, Harry Long (capt), David Smith; Cillian O’Connor, Neil Cronin; Jamie Conway, Alex Long, Emmet Calvey, Luke Moylan, Cian McCann, Alex Lautsou, Oisin Minogue, Neal Moylett. Replacements: Alex Long, Shane Carew, Ciaran Vaughan, Ian Leonard, Jamie Gavin.

DIVISION 2B:

UL BOHEMIAN 24 SKERRIES 17, UL 4G pitch

Scorers: UL Bohemian: Tries: Killian Dineen, Paul Clancy, Jack Considine, Jordan Mills; Cons: Oisin Fagan 2. Skerries: Tries: Brian Walsh, Darragh McEneaney, Mikey Sherlock; Con: Jack Litchfield

HT: UL Bohemian 19 Skerries 5

UL BOHEMIAN: Greg Fitzgerald; Joe Johnson, Killian Dineen (capt), Paul Clancy, Zac O’Loughlin; Oisin Fagan, Donnchadh O’Callaghan; Kean Sheehy, Darren Ferrar, Jake Considine, Shane Buckley, Padraic Galvin, Jordan Mills, Sean Quirke, Liam Neilan. Replacements: Sam Lynch, Jack Ryan, Mihlali Mgolodela, Conor Nesbitt, Cian Casey.

SKERRIES: Jack Litchfield; Brian Walsh, Dara Lowndes, Mikey Sherlock, Kevin McGrath; Paul O’Loghlen, John Healy; Trevor Scuffil, Cal Marrey, Alex Hewitt, Sam Deering, Rossa Gilbride, Paddy Finn, Ben McKiernan, Peter O’Neill (capt). Replacements: Oisin McNamara, Darragh McEneaney, Robbie Gallagher, Tom Grehan, Dara Twomey.

DIVISION 2C:

BALLYCLARE 5 THOMOND 29, the Cloughan

Scorers: Ballyclare: Try: Jacob Scarlett. Thomond: Tries: Suliano Mainavolau, Sam Birrane, Ryain Ahern and Tom Goggin; Cons: Evan Cusack 3; Pen: Evan Cusack

HT: Ballyclare 5 Thomond 15

BALLYCLARE: Mark Jackson; Peter Gillespie, Isaac Sheils, Jonny Holmes, Josh Cowan; Alex Darrah, James Creighton; Dean Jones, Matthew Coulter, Adam Barron, Dave Gillespie, Josh Young, Aaron Playfair, Jack Milton, Jack Gamble (capt). Replacements: Ryan McNeill, David McCleary, Luke Mcllwrath, Jacob Scarlett, Ryan McIlwaine.

THOMOND: Luke Costello; Sam Birrane, Jake Connolly, Luke Fitzgerald, Andrew Lyons; Evan Cusack, Evan Maher (capt); Rian Burke, Colin Slater, Kian McGrath, Riann O’Dwyer, Tom Goggin, Joe Costello, Ryain O’Donovan Ahern, Suliano Mainavolau. Replacements: Peter Meyer, Sean Rice, Shane Kelly, Joshua Tunney-Ware, Cilian Moughty.

BRUFF 28 MONKSTOWN 19, Kilballyowen Park

Scorers: Bruff: Tries: Paul Collins, Andrew O’Byrne, Patricio Neheun, Kieran O’Dwyer; Cons: Paul Collins 4. Monkstown: Tries: Ruadhán McDonnell, Rob Wynne, Stephen McVeigh; Cons: Matt Stapleton 2

HT: Bruff 14 Monkstown 14

BRUFF: Paul Collins; Shane Duggan, Jesse Bowring, Andrew O’Byrne, Patricio Neheun; John Bateman, Cathal Garvey; Darragh O’Brien, Wiktor Wilczuk, Fionn Flanagan, Pa Maher, Brendan Gleeson, Mark Kennedy, John Sheehan, Cillian Rea (capt). Replacements: Mike Frawley, Kieran O’Dwyer, Tom O’Dwyer, Sean Killbridge, Clem McAuliffe.

MONKSTOWN: Tom Griffin; Sean Cullen, Saul O’Carroll, Matt Stapleton, Cian O’Donoghue; Andrew O’Leary, Tristan Brady (capt); Kieran Stokes, Paul O’Donnell, Michael Ashdown, Michael Scully, Conor Hurley, Ruadhán McDonnell, Rob Wynne, Stephen McVeigh. Replacements: Chris Stack, Martin Murphy, Dave Cave, Oisin Brady, Leo Poisson.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE WOMEN'S DIVISION

UL BOHEMIAN 44 RAILWAY UNION 17, Annacotty

Scorers: UL Bohemian: Tries: Caitríona Finn, Alana McInerney 3, Eilís Cahill, Kate Flannery, Chloe Pearse 2; Con: Caitríona Finn. Railway Union: Tries: Emily Gavin, Nikki Caughey; Cons: Nikki Caughey 2; Pen: Nikki Caughey

HT: UL Bohemian 17 Railway Union 14

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

RAILWAY UNION: Chloe Pontus; Viola Maffia, Niamh Byrne (capt), Heidi Lyons, Rhiann Heery; Nikki Caughey, Hannah Scanlan; Méabh Keegan, Emily Gavin, Megan Collis, Keelin Brady, Aoife McDermott, Evelyn Donnelly, Mira Broeks, Poppy Garvey. Replacements: Emer Meagher, Hannah Johnston, Alanna Fusciardi Wallace, Grace Jackson, Miriam Vega, Michelle Nadine, Ailsa Hughes.