Three Limerick clubs record wins on dramatic day of All-Ireland League action

THERE were three Limerick wins on a dramatic day of All-Ireland League action with now just four rounds of regular season fixtures to come.

In Division 1A, Young Munster scored an exciting 31-24 bonus point victory over UCD at Tom Clifford Park.

The win leaves Munsters' in sixth spot in the 1A table, but 17 points adrift of the top four play-off places.

Also in the top flight, Shannon suffered a 38-24 defeat away to high-flying table toppers Cork Constitution at Temple Hill.

The defeat sees ninth-placed Shannon remain in the relegation play-off position in the table, two points adrift of City of Armagh and six points clear of basement side Dublin University. 

Meanwhile, in Division 1B, clinical Garryowen maintained their promotion play-off push after recording an emphatic 56-5 bonus point voctory over Naas at Dooradoyle. 

The win has seen Garryowen, who ran in eight tries in all, move up to third place in the table, just one point behind second-placed Old Wesley.

The two Limerick sides in Division 2A experienced contrasting fortunes. Old Crescent impressed in a convincing 36-14 victory over Banbridge at Rosbrien, while UL-Bohemian fell to a 13-17 defeat to Cashel at Annacotty.

The win for Crescent has seen the Limerick side move up to fourth place in the table, in the battle to secure a promotion play-off position at the end of the regular season.

UL-Bohs occupy sixth spot, now five points behind Crescent and a single point behind fifth-placed Banbridge. 

In Division 2C, Bruff found leaders Clogher Valley a difficult assignment at The Cran when going down on a 40-7 scoreline.

Bruff, who have won nine and drawn two of their AIL fixtures this season, sit in third place in the table, one point ahead of Enniscorthy.

At Clifford Park, Young Munster claimed a maximum five-point haul against UCD.

Munsters' led the contest 24-17 at half-time in Greenfields. After falling 0-7 in arrears early on, Munsters' hit back with tries from James O'Brien who bagged two, Donnchadh O'Callaghan and Harrison Allan to have the bonus point in safe-keeping by the interval. Tony Butler converted two of the tries. 

Munsters' scrum-half O'Callaghan added his second try after the restart, with Butler again adding the extras for a seven-point success.

Meanwhile, on Leeside, Shannon succumbed to high-flying Cork Constitution despite producing a resolute display.

The Parish side trailed by just three points at half-time, 14-17, with the Limerick side's scores coming courtesy of tries from Kelvin Brown and Luke Rigney, both of which were converted by Mike Cooke.

A second try from Kelvin Brown, again converted by Cooke had the visitors 21-17 in front shortly after the restart. 

Con' hit back with a converted try to claim a three point advantage, before Cooke dissected the posts with a penalty goal to tie the scores at 24-24 after 56 minutes.

That proved to be Shannon's final points of the game as two converted tries secure victory for the home side. Matthew Bowen helped himself to a hat-trick of tries for Con.

In Division 1B, third-placed Garryowen now have eight wins and a draw from their 14 regular season fixtures to date.

Garryowen laid the foundation for this latest success in the opening half after which the 'Light Blues' held a significant 21-0 lead at Dooradoyle.

Hooker Max Clein claimed a memorable hat-trick of tries for the home side, while Donnacha Byrne dotted down twice and Bryan Fitzgerald, Neil Cronin and Colm Quilligan also crossed the whitewash. Out-half Dylan Hicks added six conversions, while Kelvin Langan converted the remaining two tries. 

Next up for Garryowen is a trip to Old Wesley on Saturday, March 2.

In Division 2A, Old Crescent were in try-scoring form when easing past Banbridge thanks to an impressive second half showing. The Limerick side had trailed 5-7 at half-time with Micheal O'Hanrahan claiming a first half try for the Rosbrien side. 

After the restart, Crescent took the lead with a Ronan McKenna penalty before O'Hanrahan struck for his second try of the game. McKenna's successful conversion pushed the lead out to eight points, 7-15.

Crescent then added further tries courtesy of Joe Rickard, Sean Monaghan and Werner Hoffman. McKenna duly converted all three five-pointers. for a 22-point winning margin.

Also in 2A, UL-Bohemian trailed Cashel 3-7 at half-time in Annacotty, the Limerick side'sfirst half points coming via a Harry Byrne penalty.

A further Byrne penalty soon after the restart left a point between the sides, before Cashel hit back with a penalty and try to take an 11-point lead at 17-6.

To their credit, UL-Bohs hit back with a converted try following a quickly taken tap penalty to leave just four points between the sides, 13-17.

That proved to be the final score of the contest as Cashel held on to claim victory.

Meanwhile, in Division 2C, Bruff found high-flying Clogher Valley a difficult prospect away from home. 

The clinical Ulster side led 12-0 at half-time in difficult conditions, before adding four more tries after the restart to build a significant 40-0 lead.

Bruff did gain a consolation try through Clem McCaulife, which was also converted, before full-time.