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.

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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 trailed 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 sess 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.

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.

More to follow: -