Two wins for Limerick sides in exciting AIL regular season finale

BRUFF were the big winners in this Saturday afternoon's All-Ireland League (AIL) fixtures with two Limerick sides tasting victory in the final round of regular season fixtures.

The south Limerick side earned a 34-27 win over Omagh Academicals and as a result they have booked a playoff spot in Division 2C.

Elsewhere, Old Crescent also won their final game of the season - beating MU Barnhall on a 29-21 scoreline in Rosbrien. Young Munster, Shannon, Garryowen and UL Bohemian were all defeated in their respective games.

In Division 1A, Young Munster and Cork Constitution played out a thriller at Tom Clifford Park with the Cork side winning on a 36-26 scoreline. A full report of that game is available here

Con raced into a 24-0 lead against a much changed Munsters side but Harry Fleming's try just before half time gave the Cookies hope heading into the second half.

Two Conor Phillips tries and one from Liam Neilan had the home side in front but a penalty try and a Cathal O'Flaherty score gave Con the 10-point win.

Shannon will play in the relegation playoff following their 29-17 away defeat to Terenure. It was the Terenure that got the first try but Mike Cooke responded with one of his own and a conversion to put Shannon 7-5 to the good.

A penalty and then a penalty try had Terenure 15-7 up at half time and a third effort early in the half saw the second placed side in the division 15-points clear.

Ethan Coughlan responded immediately with Shannon's second score but a fourth try for the home side ended Shannon's hopes of a comeback.

Jack O'Donnell did get a third Shannon try late on but their chances of staying in the top division rest on the promotion/relegation playoffs against a side from 1B.

Elsewhere in 1A, Garryowen finished their campaign with a disappointing 66-14 loss to Dublin University at College Park. The Light Blues scored two tries in the heavy defeat.

In Division 2A, Old Crescent earned a stunning 29-21 win over MU Barnhall in Rosbrien with the Limerick side scoring five tries in the win.

Crescent made a superb start to the game with Eoin Murphy going in for the first try that Ronan McKenna converted. However, Barnhall responded with three converted tries to go in at the break 21-7 to the good.

It was all Crescent in the second half and their comeback began with a Lee O'Grady score. Sean Monaghan then got Crescent back into the game and a fourth put them back in front with six minutes remaining.

Monaghan's second try of the afternoon confirmed the win for Crescent that sees them finish the season on a high.

Also in 2A, UL Bohs fell to a 26-21 loss to Nenagh Ormond in New Ormond Park with the Limerick team already confirmed for the relegation playoff.

Nenagh raced into a 21-0 half time but two converted tries brought Bohs back into the contest in the second half but a fourth Ormond try saw them wrestle the game back in their favour. Bohs did bag a third try late on but it was Ormond that held on for the win.

In Division 2C, Bruff jumped into the playoff places on the final day with that win up in Omagh. The home side took an early lead but a Sean Kilbridge try and a Kieran O'Dwyer penalty saw Bruff 8-5 to the good.

Two tries saw Omagh take control of the contest but a Tom Quigley score brought the Omagh lead back to four - 17-13. An Omagh penalty saw them restore the seven point lead at the break.

Quigley's second try, converted by Kilbridge, saw the game level before a Shane Duggan effort saw Bruff into the lead once more. Kilbridge's conversion put the score at 27-20 to Bruff.

Omagh once more responded to level the game with a converted try but TG Coffey's try and a third Kilbridge conversion saw Bruff earn a stunning win.

In the Round Robin Final to earn promotion to the AIL, Richmond fell to a 31-17 defeat to Clogher Valley in Ashbourne. The Limerick side are still in with a chance of promotion when they play the bottom side of Division 2C.