Just two Limerick wins in dramatic Saturday of All-Ireland League rugby action

THERE were two Limerick wins in the energia All-Ireland League on Saturday as Garryowen, in Division 1B, and Shannon, in 2A, recorded precious victories.

In Division 1A, Young Munster suffered a heavy 34-12 defeat away to UCD at Belfield. The students, outscored their visitors who had secured their only win of the campaign in their previous outing, by five tries to two.

The defeat sees Munsters' sit in seventh place in the top flight table, now nine points off the top four play-off places and two points clear of ninth-placed Old Belvedere.

READ NEXT: Big Limerick success at SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Awards

In Division 1B, five-try Garryowen recorded a precious 29-15 bonus point away against City of Armagh at the Palace Grounds.

The Light Blues are up to fourth place in the table as a result of their third win of the AIL season.

There was mixed luck for the two Limerick sides competing in Division 2A. Shannon recorded a gritty 10-7 victory over Greystones at Dr Hickey Park.

The result has seen the Parish side jump up to fourth place in the table, four points behind second-placed Corinthians with a third of the regular season now complete.

Also in 2A, Old Crescent succumbed 7-15 to Banbridge at Rifle Park. The Rosbrien side have dropped to second-from-bottom in the table. Crescent have won just two of their opening six AIL fixtures.

Meanwhile, in Division 2B, UL-Bohemian suffered a heavy 21-43 defeat to seven-try Galwegians in their top-of-the-table clash at UL North Campus.

This was UL-Bohs first defeat of the campaign. The second-placed Red, Red Robins now trail leaders Galwegians by six points in the table

The Division 2C action saw a first defeat of the campaign for table toppers Thomond who lost out 22-24 to Clonmel at Ard Gaoithe. 

Thomond's first defeat of the regular season sees their lead over second-placed Clonmel trimmed to just three points. 

Also in 2C, Bruff had to make-do with picking up a losing bonus point in their 15-21 defeat to Malahide at Ashbourne RFC.

Bruff have dropped to sixth place in the 2C table as a result of this defeat.

In the Energia All-Ireland League Women's Division, a Chloe Pearse-inspired UL Bohemian won their top of the table clash with Galwegians 36-24 at ULs North Campus.

UL-Bohs, who have won all six of their AIL fixtures this season, lead the way on the league table, three points clear of second-placed Galwegians who were suffering their first defeat of the campaign.

Meanwhile, in the All-Ireland Junior Cup quarter-finals, Limerick's St Mary's suffered a heavy 28-60 defeat to Creggs RFC at Multiflow Park in Grove Island.

DIVISION 1A

UCD 34 YOUNG MUNSTER 12, UCD Bowl

Scorers: UCD: Tries: Evan Moynihan 2, Michael O’Reilly, Dan Barron, Daniel Hurley; Cons: Paddy Clancy, Daragh Gilbourne; Pen: Paddy Clancy. Young Munster: Tries: Shay McCarthy 2; Con: Shane O’Leary

HT: UCD 15 Young Munster 7

UCD: Andrew Osborne; Daniel Hurley, Evan Moynihan, Ben Brownlee, Luka Hassett; Paddy Clancy, Thomas Quinn; Tom O’Riordan, Lucas Maguire, Jack Spencer, Dan Barron (capt), Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Conor Tonge, Jim White, Oran Handley. Replacements: Duinn Maguire, Michael O’Reilly, Paul Gerard, Andrew O’Mahony, Daragh Gilbourne, Eoghan Walsh.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Orin Burke; Hubert Gilvarry, Shane O’Leary, Luke McCready, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Jake O’Riordan; David Begley, Liam McMahon, Kieran Ryan, Alan Kennedy (capt), Oran O’Reilly, Stephen McLoughlin, Leo Langbridge, Luke Murphy. Replacements: Arron Roulston, Ben Everard, Ajae Hanson, Bailey Faloon, John Poland, Harry Langbridge.

DIVISION 1B

CITY OF ARMAGH 15 GARRYOWEN 29, Palace Grounds

Scorers: City of Armagh: Tries: Timmy McNiece, James McCormick 2. Garryowen: Tries: Fionn Rowsome 3, JJ O’Neill, Des Fitzgerald; Cons: Lachlan Stewart 2

HT: City of Armagh 15 Garryowen 17

CITY OF ARMAGH: Shea O’Brien (capt); Josh Cunningham, Ross Taylor, Timmy McNiece (capt), Glen Faloon; Owen O’Kane, Danny Guy; Niall Carville, James McCormick, Rory McGuire, Noah Bell, Josh McKinley, John Glasgow, Curtis Pollock, Thomas Dougan. Replacements: Jonny Morton, Philip Fletcher, Andrew Willis, Lloyd Quinn, Rocky Olsen, Matthew Hooks.

GARRYOWEN: Fionn Rowsome; JJ O’Neill, Alex Wood, Gordon Wood, Sean Sexton; Lachlan Stewart, Harry Chittick; George Hadden, Max Clein, Ronan Foxe, Oisin Cooke, Finn McCall, Jack Costello, Des Fitzgerald (capt), Alan Fitzgerald. Replacements: Dara Phelan, Mark Fitzgerald, Sean Rennison, Rory Woods, Luca Cleary, Jack Delaney.

DIVISION 2A:

BANBRIDGE 15 OLD CRESCENT 7, Rifle Park

Scorers: Banbridge: Tries: Robin Sinton 2; Con: Adam Doherty; Pen: Adam Doherty. Old Crescent: Try: Stephen Kiely; Con: Jeff Williams

HT: Banbridge 0 Old Crescent 7

BANBRIDGE: Adam Doherty; Xander Lowham, Jona Mataiciwa, Robert Lyttle, Joe Dickson; Charlie Beattie, Neil Kilpatrick; Rio McDonagh, Peter Cromie, Michael Cromie, Daniel Kilpatrick, Alexander Thompson (capt), Kyle Stirling, Matthew Heasley, Robin Sinton. Replacements: Finlay King, Ryan Rodgers, Christian Trimble, Bailey Danielson, Luke Gibson.

OLD CRESCENT: Stephen Kiely; Daithi Byrnes, Brian Molloy, Darragh Long, Dan Hurley; Jeff Williams, Aaron Cosgrove; Joe Rickard, Niall Hardiman (capt), Dennis O’Dwyer, Sean Monaghan, Oisin Toland, John Toland, James Rael, Cillian Toland. Replacements: Colin Kelly, ⁠Nesta Nyamakazi, Ciaran Heagney, Joe McEnery, Glen Kelly.

GREYSTONES 7 SHANNON 10, Dr. Hickey Park

Scorers: Greystones: Try: Paddy Byrne; Con: Gavin Rochford. Shannon: Try: Luke Moylan; Con: Jamie Gavin; Pen: Jamie Gavin

HT: Greystones 0 Shannon 10

GREYSTONES: Conor Balmaine; Jack O’Brien, Andrew Lynch, Con Callan, Peter Ford; Gavin Rochford, David Baker; Jamie Mulhern, Freddie Happonen, Conor Pearse, Eoin Marmion (capt), Johan van der Flier, Adam Benson, Calum Sweeney, Stephen Bourke. Replacements: Flyn Pyper, Cole Kelly, Ken Murphy, Martin Sweeney, Paddy Byrne.

SHANNON: Matt Te Pou; Josh Costello, Robbie Deegan, Harry Long (capt), Cian O’Halloran; Jamie Gavin, Neil Cronin; Jamie Conway, Alex Long, Emmet Calvey, Luke Moylan, Lee Nicholas, Alex Lautsou, Oisin Minogue, Neal Moylett. Replacements: Jordan Prenderville, Shane Carew, Tommy O’Driscoll, Mark Moloney, Darren Gavin.

DIVISION 2B

UL BOHEMIAN 21 GALWEGIANS 43, UL 4G pitch

Scorers: UL Bohemian: Tries: Cian Casey 2, Liam Neilan; Cons: Oisin Fagan 3. Galwegians: Tries: Matthew Victory, Andrew Sherlock, David Walsh 2, Tiarnan Neville, Oisin McKey, Rob Deacy; Cons: Stephen Mannion 4

HT: UL Bohemian 7 Galwegians 19

UL BOHEMIAN: Darragh O’Gorman (capt); Joe Johnson, Paul Clancy, Zac O’Loughlin, Greg Fitzgerald; Oisin Fagan, Donnchadh O’Callaghan; Kean Sheehy, Darren Ferrar, Jake Considine, Simon Staunton, Padraic Galvin, Shane Buckley, John Coleman, Liam Neilan. Replacements: Tom Cullen, Jack Ryan, Mihlali Mgolodela, Seamus Brannagh, Cian Casey.

GALWEGIANS: Cian Brady; Darragh Kennedy, Rob Deacy, Stephen Mannion, Oisin McKey; Tiarnan Neville, Andrew Sherlock; Jack Winters, Matthew Victory, Tom Gormley, Rob Holian, David Walsh, Liam Angermann, Dylan Keane (capt), Jarrad Butler. Replacements: Ryan Smith, Eoin Ferry, Brian McHugo, Éanna McCarthy, Eoghan Fahy.

DIVISION 2C

CLONMEL 24 THOMOND 22, Ardgaoithe

Scorers: Clonmel: Tries: Jack Walsh, Brandon Delicato, Penalty try; Cons: Joey O’Connor 2, Pen try con; Pen: Joey O’Connor
Thomond: Tries: Sam Birrane, Luke Fitzgerald, Suliano Mainavolau; Cons: Evan Cusack 2; Pen: Evan Cusack

HT: Clonmel 7 Thomond 12

CLONMEL: Jack Walsh; Michael Connellan, Henry Buttimer (capt), Joey O’Connor, Freddie Davies; Drew Musa, Tom Ross; Sean Sweetman, Brandon Delicato, Tomas Stransky, Keith Melbourne, Diarmuid Brannock, Tom O’Dea, Mongeni Masuka, Andrew Daly. Replacements: Davy Coyne, Liam Ryan, Conor Bowen, Luke Slattery, Ben O’Dwyer.

THOMOND: Jamie McGarry; Sam Birrane, Jake Connolly, Luke Fitzgerald, Jason Kiely; Evan Cusack, Evan Maher (capt); Rian Burke, Colin Slater, Kian McGrath, Tom Goggin, Suliano Mainavolau, Riann O’Dwyer, Shane Kelly, Ryain O’Donovan Ahern.Replacements:Sean Rice, Lloyd Costelloe, Josh Tunney-Ware, Morgan Bateman, Aidan Ryan.

MALAHIDE 21 BRUFF 15, Ashbourne RFC

Scorers: Maahide: Tries: Lee Byrne, James Hurley; Con: David O’Halloran; Pens: David O’Halloran 3. Bruff: Tries: Wiktor Wilczuk 2; Con: Paul Collins; Pen: Paul Collins

HT: Malahide 8 Bruff 7

MALAHIDE: James McKeown; Dan Hayes, Tom Hogan, David O’Halloran, Conrad Daly; Michael Hanley, Eamon McNicholas; Evan Tyndall, Lee Byrne, James Hurley, Seán Cronin, James Doyle, Marc Kelly, Sam Lindeman, Sam Pene. Replacements: Amkela Kamogelo Nontso, Darren Morrin, Dave Morrin, Matt Reynolds, Shane Rodgers.

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

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE WOMEN'S DIVISION

UL BOHEMIAN 36 GALWEGIANS 24, UL 4G pitch

Scorers: UL Bohemian: Tries: Chloe Pearse 3, Lucia Linn, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Caitríona Finn; Cons: Caitríona Finn 3
Galwegians: Tries: Penalty try, Niamh Murphy, Jemima Adams Verling 2; Cons: Pen try con, Síofra Hession

HT: UL Bohemian 26 Galwegians 14

UL BOHEMIAN: Aoife Corey; Lucia Linn, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Caitríona Finn, Alana McInerney; Kate Flannery, Abbie Salter-Townshend; Ciara McLoughlin, Emma Dunican, Eilís Cahill, Aoibhe O’Flynn, Claire Bennett, Anaïs Jubin, Clodagh O’Halloran, Chloe Pearse (capt). Replacements: Ciara O’Dwyer, Gráinne Burke, Jane Clohessy, Caoimhe Murphy, Rachel Allen, Maddy Kushner, Aisling Stock.

GALWEGIANS: Gemma Faulkner; Kila Curran Coleman, Niamh Murphy, Sophie Cullen, Emily Foley; Síofra Hession, Gráinne Moran (co-capt); Ella Burns, Elizabeth McNicholas, Ellen Connolly (co-capt), Orla Fenton, Grace Browne Moran, Stacey Hanley, Mollie Starr, Jemima Adams Verling. Replacements: Laura Scuffil, Hannah Coen, Dearbhla Canty, Eve Tarpey, Megan Connolly, Saoirse Lawley, Sinéad O’Brien.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS

ST. MARY’S 28 CREGGS 60, Grove Island

Scorers: St. Mary’s: Tries: Paul Curtis, Keith McManus, Adam Guerin, Stephen Hayes; Cons: Adam Guerin 4. Creggs: Tries: Shane Dowd 2, Mike Dunne, Mark Purcell, Dean O’Reilly 4, Cormac Dolan, Chris Duignan; Cons: Mark Purcell 3, Ronan Dowd 2

HT: St. Mary’s 21 Creggs 31

ST. MARY’S: Paul Loughran; Paul Curtis, James O’Brien, Keith McManus, Jake Madigan; Adam Guerin, Rob Guerin; Shane Hannon, Leon O’Grady, Nathan Walsh, Ed Kelly, Stephen Hayes, Keith O’Brien, Devlen Price, Ruairi O’Donnell (capt). Replacements: Darren Radcliffe, James McCarthy, Cian Clohessy, Kian O’Brien, Tom Harrington.

CREGGS: Shane Dowd; Mike Dunne, Mark Purcell, Eoghan Coyle, Dean O’Reilly; Ronan Dowd, Cormac Dolan; Tom O’Brien, Kolo Kiripati Jr, Eoghan Cahill, Aodan Kelly, Luke Divilly, Lee Kilcoyne, James Brandon (capt), Brian Diffley. Replacements: Thomas Tiernan, Matthew Curley, Ciaran Purcell, Cathal Feely, Chris Duignan.