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

THERE were three Limerick wins on a dramatic day of action in the Energia All-Ireland League.

In Division 1A, Young Munster maintained their top four semi-final push with a hard earned 17-10 victory over play-off rivals Dublin University at Tom Clifford Park.

The result has seen Munsters' move into fourth spot in the table, one point clear of fifth-placed Dublin University with now six games to go in the regular season.

Also in the top flight, Shannon's hopes of pulling away from the relegation zone were dashed with a narrow 22-19 defeat to UCD at Belfield.

The result has seen Shannon drop back into the relegation play-off position in the table, two points behind eighth-placed Lansdowne and five points behind Lansdowne in seventh.

Meanwhile, in Dooradoyle, Garryowen finally earned their first victory of their Division 1A campaign when edging past Lansdowne 21-17 at Dooradoyle.

The result sees basement side Garryowen lie 13 points behind ninth-placed Shannon and 15 points adrift of eighth-placed UCD.

There was no luck for the Limerick clubs competing in Division 2A. Old Crescent had to make-do with taking a losing bonus point from their 17-19 defeat to Cashel at Takumi Park.

Crescent, who do have a game in hand on their rivals in the 2A, sit in seventh spot in the table, 11 points behind fourth-placed Cashel.

Also in 2A, basement side UL-Bohemian fell to a heavy 43-5 defeat at the hands of Blackrock College at Stradbrook.

The result sees the Red, Red Robins trail second-from-bottom Dolphin by three points, while UL-Bohs are a significant 12 points behind eighth-placed Ballymena who also have a game in hand.

In Division 2C, Bruff were the third Limerick side to record a win after they recorded a 17-14 victory over Sunday's Well at Kilballyowen Park.

Fifth-placed Bruff are now two points behind fourth-placed Clonmel in the battle to secure a promotion play-off position.

In Division 1A, play-off chasing Young Munster, after trailing 0-3 to Dublin University early on, hit back to lead 7-3 at half-time, thanks to a try from Paulo Leleisiuao, which was converted by Evan Cusack.

The students then hit the front after the resumption, 10-3, with James Dillon crossing the whitewash and Aaron Egan converting.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued when Munsters' regained the lead at 14-10 after Stephen Lyons dotted down and Cusack added a terrific conversion.

A late penalty goal from Conor Hayes then sealed a precious win for Munsters who will resume their league programme with a February 18 visit to Castle Avenue to take on second-placed Clontarf.

Also in 1A on Saturday, Shannon and UCD were tied 14-14 at half-time at Belfield.

The Shannon side's points came courtesy of a penalty try, after a well-executed maul was illegally halted, while Jordan Prenderville also dotted down in the 37th minute with Michael Cooke converting.

Shannon hit the front five minutes after the restart when influential out-half Cooke dotted down to help the visitors into a 19-14 lead.

A 50th minute try then hauled the students level at 19-19, before a 69th minute penalty ultimately saw UCD claim a precious victory in this key relegation battle.

Meanwhile, at Dooradoyle, Garryowen trailed visitors Lansdowne 6-12 at half-time, with Tony Butler landing penalties for the Light Blues in the eighth and 18th minutes.

A third Butler penalty four minutes after the restart reduced the Dubliners advantage to just three points at 9-12. 

Garryowen then hit the front with a crucial try from winger Henry Buttimer on 58 minutes, with Butler's successful conversion making it 16-12 to the home side. 

A second Buttimer try seven minutes later pushed the home side two scores to the good at 21-12.

Lansdowne did hit back with a late try to secure a bonus point, but Garryowen held on to secure a long-awaited victory and provide a glimmer of hope in the Light Blues' bid to pull off the great escape.

In Division 2A, Old Crescent led Cashel 17-5 at half-time in Rosbrien.

Crescent had first half tries from Stephen Kiely, after just four minutes, and Jack O'Mahony a the end of the first quarter. Ronan McKenna converted both and added a penalty goal to help the home side into their 12-point half-time lead.

However the complexion of the game changed in the second period as Cashel hit back with two converted tries to claim a 19-17 victory as the home side failed to register a further score.

At Stradbook, UL-Bohemian trailed Blackrock College 0-14 at half-time.

The Dublin side pulled further clear in the second half to record a bonus point win as UL-Bohs managed to score a consolation try in the second period.

In Division 2C, Bruff got off to the best possible start when Mark Fitzgerald crossed for a try against Sundays Well.

The Cork side hit back with two converted tries, however, to move into a substantial 14-5 advantage. 

Home side Bruff then reduced the deficit when Paul Collins crossed the whitewash to leave four points between the sides, 14-10.

The crucial score of the game arrived when Bruff struck for their third try of the contest, a second five pointer from Fitzgerald, which was crucially also converted for a precious two-point victory in a 17-14 success.