Five Limerick wins on dramatic Saturday of All-Ireland League rugby action

THERE were five Limerick wins, for Young Munster, Garryowen, Shannon, Old Crescent, and Bruff, on a dramatic afternoon of energia All-Ireland League action on Saturday.

In th top flight, Young Munster moved back into the top four play-off places after recording an emphatic 82-21 bonus point win over UCD at ninth-placed UCD.

Munsters' are now fourth in the 1A table, two points behind third-placed Cork Constitution and a single point ahead of fifth-placed Terenure College with five rounds of regular season fixtures to go.

Munster player Ruadhan Quinn bagged four of Munsters' 12 tries in an emphatic win over the students at Greenfields on Saturday. There was also a brace of tries for both Jake O'Riordan and Shay McCarthy. The home side led 42-14 at half-time. 

Full-back Shane O'Leary converted 11 of the tries.

YOUNG MUNSTER 82 UCD 21,Tom Clifford Park

Scorers: Young Munster: Tries: Ruadhán Quinn 4, Andrew Smith, Jake O’Riordan 2, Shane O’Leary, Luke McCready, Liam McMahon, Shay McCarthy 2; Cons: Shane O’Leary 11 UCD: Tries: Conall Hodges, Thomas Quinn, Evan Moynihan; Cons: Paddy Clancy 3

YOUNG MUNSTER: Shane O’Leary; Andrew Smith, Fionn Gibbons, Luke McCready, Shay McCarthy; Kelvin Langan, Jake O’Riordan; David Begley, Liam McMahon, Kieran Ryan, Alan Kennedy (capt), Evan O’Connell, Leo Langbridge, Bailey Faloon, Ruadhán Quinn. Replacements: Aaron Roulston, Paul Allen, Fintan Coleman, James Horrigan, Harry Langbridge, Hubert Gilvarry.

UCD: Tom Murtagh; Daniel Hurley, Evan Moynihan, Ben Brownlee, Luka Hassett; Paddy Clancy, Thomas Quinn; Tom O’Riordan, Lucas Maguire, Sean Egan, Dan Barron (capt), Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Conall Hodges, Sam Corrigan, Paul Gerard. Replacements:Ben Porter, Cian O’Brien, Conor Tonge, Andrew O’Mahony, Daragh Gilbourne, Mark Canniffe.

In Division 1B, Garryowen remain in sixth place in the table following their 48-29 bonus point victory over City of Armagh at Dooradoyle.

The Light Blues fifth win of the campaign has seen the Dooradoyle side move to within eight points of fourth-placed Highfield.

Next up for Garryowen is a trip to Energia Park in Donnybrook to face Old Wesley in three weeks on February 28.

GARRYOWEN 48 CITY OF ARMAGH 29, Dooradoyle

HT: Garryowen 33 City of Armagh 17

GARRYOWEN: Fionn Rowsome; Tom Ironside Wickham, Colm Quilligan, Jack Delaney, Sean Sexton; Lachlan Stewart, Luca Cleary; George Hadden, Max Clein, Ronan Foxe, Jack Costello, Finn McCall, Rory Woods, Des Fitzgerald (capt), Alan Fitzgerald. Replacements: Dara Phelan, Mark Fitzgerald, Jibril Koura, Sean Rennison, Chulainn Williams, Marcus Joyce.

CITY OF ARMAGH: Shea O’Brien (capt); Andrew Willis, Timmy McNiece, Cameron Cummings, Josh Cunningham; Owen O’Kane, Nick Murray; Niall Carville, Jonny Morton, Griffin Phillipson, Noah Bell, Josh McKinley, John Glasgow, Curtis Pollock, James Anderson. Replacements: Finn Fehnert, Philip Fletcher, Connor Neary, James Morton, Danny Guy, Matthew Monaghan.

Meanwhile, in Division 2A, Shannon remain strongly in the promotion hunt following their impressive 30-10 point win over Greystones on the back pitch at Thomond Park.

The Parish side remain in a lofty third place in the table, just two points behind second-placed Dungannon.

Shannon, who led 13-0 at half-time, had tries from Darren Gavin in the opening half, while Jordan Prenderville touched down towards the end of the third quarter. Callum Black added a third try for the home side, while Jamie Gavin kicked three penalties and three conversions.

SHANNON RFC 30 GREYSTONES 10, Thomond Park (Back Pitch)

Scorers Shannon RFC: Tries: Darren Gavin, Jordan Prenderville, Callum Black. Conversions: Jamie Gavin 3. Penalties: Jamie Gavin 3. Scorers: Greystones: Tries: Peter Ford. Conversions: David Baker. Penalties: David Baker.

HT: Shannon RFC 13 Greystones 0

Shannon RFC: Matt Te Pou, Darren Gavin, Cian O’Halloran, Harry Long (capt), Joshua Costello, Jamie Gavin, Rory McDermott, Ronan Ryan, Gus Harrington, Tony Cusack, Samson Alaimoana, Cian McCann, Lee Nicholas, Alex Kennedy, Neal Moylett. Replacements: Jordan Prenderville, Emmet Calvey, Callum Black, Neil Cronin, Luke Doyle.

Greystones: Ross Nicoll, Ferdia Kenny, Peter Ford, Gavin Rochford, Finn Gilmore, David Baker (capt), Jack Holland, Cole Kelly, Freddy Happonen, Conor Pearse, James Douglas, Johan Van Der Flier, Cormac O’Donoghue, Stephen Bourke, Reeve Satherley. Replacements: Rob Byrne, Iva Duffy Takatai, Ken Murphy, Adam Benson, Mark Myler.

Also in Division 2A, Old Crescent secured a precious 26-22 victory over Banbridge at Takumi Park, but remain in the relegation battle, sitting ninth in the table. Crescent led 14-8 at half-time. 

Next up for Old Crescent is a trip to fifth-placed Galway Corinthians in three weeks time.

OLD CRESCENT 26 BANBRIDGE 22, Takumi Park

Scorers: Old Crescent: Tries: Timmy Duggan, James Rael, John Moloney, John Toland. Conversions: John Hurley 3.
Scorers: Banbridge: Tries: Charlie Beattie, Nathan Hook, Joe Dickson. Conversions: Nathan Hook 2. Penalties: Nathan Hook.

HT: Old Crescent 14 Banbridge 8

Old Crescent: Timmy Duggan, Dan Hurley, Brian Molloy, Werner Hoffman, Stephen Kiely, John Hurley, Joe McEnery, Joe Rickard, James Rael, Evan Creaven, John Moloney, Oisin Toland, ⁠James McKeogh, John Lyons, John Toland. Replacements: Declan Aylward, Dennis O’Dwyer, Jason Aylward, Jeff Williams, Jack O’Mahony.

Banbridge: Charlie Beattie, Robert Lyttle, Nathan Hook, Jamie Mullan, Jona Mataiciwa, Andrew Jackson, Philip Jackson, Ryan Rodgers, Finlay King, Michael Cromie, Daniel Kilpatrick, Alexander Thompson, Alexander Weir, Dean Hayes, Matthew Heasley. Replacements: Peter Cromie, John Wilson, Rio McDonagh, Joe Dickson, Neil Kilpatrick.

In Division 2B, UL-Bohemian remain in third spot in the table after picking up a precious losing bonus point in their narrow 19-14 defeat away to table toppers Galwegians at Crowley Park.

All of the UL-Bohs points came in the second period after the Red, Red Robins fell 0-19 adrift at half-time.

The Annacotty side, who produced a rousing second half comeback, had tries from Oisin Fagan and Daragh O’Gorman, while Cian Casey added two conversions.

GALWEGIANS 19 UL-BOHEMIAN 14, Crowley Park

Scorers Galwegians: Tries: Cian Brady, Conor O’Shaughnessy, Andrew Sherlock. Conversions: Conor O’Shaughnessy 2.
Scorers: UL Bohemian: Tries: Oisin Fagan, Darragh O’Gorman. Conversions: Cian Casey (64′, 78′).

HT: Galwegians 19 UL Bohemian 0

Galwegians: Tiarnan Neville, Darragh Kennedy, Rob Deacy, Cian Brady, Oisin McKey, Conor O’Shaughnessy, Andrew Sherlock, Jack Winters, Matthew Victory, Tom Gormley, Rob Holian, David Walsh, Bobby Power, Jarrad Butler, Eanna McCarthy. Replacements: Eoin Ferry, Luke Murtagh, Dylan Keane (capt), Rory Gavin, Albert Lindner.

UL Bohemian: Oisin Fagan, Greg Fitzgerald, Killian Dineen, Paul Clancy, Darragh O’Gorman (capt), Cian Casey, Evan Lacey, Kean Sheehy, Tom Cullen, Jack Ryan, Simon Staunton, Padraic Galvin, Liam Neilan, Mihlali Mgolodela, Jordan Mills. Replacements: Sam Lynch, Pauric Nesbitt, Sean Quirke, Donnchadh O’Callaghan, Joe Johnson, Darren Ferrar.

In Division 2C, Thomond surrendered top spot in the table after suffering a 19-29 home defeat to new table toppers Clonmel at Liam Fitzgerald Park.

The South Tipp side now enjoy a four-pooint advantage over second-placed Thomond in the table.

Thomond who trailed Clonmel 14-21 at half-time, scored three tries, including five-pointers from Jamie McGarry and Luke Fitzgerald. Evan Cusack added two conversions.

BRUFF 32 MALAHIDE 31, Kilballyowen Park

Scorers Bruff: Tries: Paul Collins, Jesse Bowring, Fionn Flanagan, Mike Cooke. Conversions: Paul Collins 3. Penalties: Paul Collins 2. Scorers: Malahide: Tries: James McKeown 2, David O’Halloran, James Hurley, Seán Cronin. Conversions: David O’Halloran 3.

HT: Bruff 19 Malahide 12

Bruff: Paul Collins, Mike O’Grady, Jesse Bowring, Andrew O’Byrne, Clem McAuliffe, John Bateman, Cathal Garvey, Darragh O’Brien, Wiktor Wilczuk, Fionn Flanagan, Mike Cooke, Brendan Gleeson, Mike Frawley, John Sheehan, Cillian Rea (capt).
Replacements: Kieran O’Dwyer, Mark Kennedy, Aidan Carroll, Tom O’Dwyer, Nehuen Rossetti.

Malahide: James McKeown, Daniel Hayes, Tom Hogan, David O’Halloran, Rory McGinty, Michael Hanley, Conrad Daly, Reece O’Connell, Lee Byrne, James Hurley, Marc Kelly (capt), Seán Cronin, Oisin Power, Sam Lindeman, Sam Pene. Replacements: Joey Boland, Michael Tyrrell, Timmy O’Connor, Shane O’Casey, Shane Rodgers.

Also in Division 2C, Bruff jumped up to fifth place in the table, following their thrilling 32-31 bonus point victory over Malahide at Kilballyowen Park.

The South Limerick side are seven points behind fourth-placed Bective Rangers in the table.

Bruff led 19-12 at half-time. The home side had tries from Fionn Flanagan, Jesse Bowring, Paul Collins and Mike Cooke. Paul Collins added the remaining points with the boot.

THOMOND RFC 19 CLONMEL 29, Liam Fitzgerald Park

Scorers: Thomond RFC: Tries: Jamie McGarry, Luke Costello, Luke Fitzgerald. Conversions: Evan Cusack 2. Scorers Clonmel: Tries: Henry Buttimer 2, Tom Ross, Brandon Delicato. Conversions: Joey O’Connor 3. Penalties: Joey O’Connor.

HT: Thomond RFC 14 Clonmel 21

Thomond RFC: Jamie McGarry, Luke Costello, Jake Connolly, Luke Fitzgerald, Jason Kiely, Evan Cusack, Evan Maher, Rian Burke, Colin Slater, Kian McGrath, Tom Goggin, Joe Costello, Riann O’Dwyer, Kealan McMahon (capt), Shane Kelly.
Replacements: Peter Meyer, Sean Rice, Suliano Mainavolau, Ryain O’Donovan Ahern, Sam Birrane, Morgan Bateman, Aidan Ryan.

Clonmel: ⁠Michael Connellan, Freddie Davies, Henry Buttimer (capt), Joey O’Connor, Luke Hogan, Drew Musa, Tom Ross, Davy Coyne, Brandon Delicato, Jason Monua, Tom O’Dea, Keith Melbourne, Brian O’Dea, Ben Masuku, Andrew Daly. Replacements: Sean Sweetman, Liam Ryan, Conor Bowen, Luke Slattery, Ben O’Dwyer.