Five losses for Limerick sides from Saturday's All-Ireland League action

IT WAS A tough day of results for Limerick sides in the All-Ireland League (AIL) with only one team tasting victory from Saturday's action.

It was Old Crescent that earned a last gasp win in their Division 2A game with Jed O'Dwyer's late try, that Ronan McKenna converted, seeing them to a 28-27 win at Banbridge. Elsewhere, Shannon, Young Munster, Garryowen, UL Bohemian and Bruff were all beaten.

Shannon fell to a 43-24 loss to Cork Constitution at Thomond Park in their Division 1A clash. Con dominated from the off with a converted try on seven minutes.

However, Shannon were soon back on level terms when John O'Sullivan set up Dan Hurley for their opening try. Mike Cooke added the extras to square the game.

Con recovered from that concession with a penalty and then a converted try to put them 17-7 ahead. The Cork side got another five pointer before the half hour to stretch their advantage but a Gus Harrington score for the home side saw them cut the lead to 12.

Con had one more effort before the break to bag the bonus point try and into a 29-12 advantage at the break. Shannon drew first blood at the beginning of the half with a penalty try but Con responded with two of their own to close the game out. Shannon added a consolation try from David Maher late on.

Young Munster also fell to a defeat from their away game against UCD on a 26-24 scoreline. UCD led 6-3 after the opening quarter but a Stephen McLaughlin try, converted by Shane O'Leary, saw them into a four-point lead.

UCD responded with a penalty and then a converted try to go 16-10 ahead. Alan Kennedy then went in for a Munster's try that O'Leary converted to see them go ahead once more.

Another successful kick at goal from the home side put them two clear and another converted try saw them 26-17 ahead heading into the closing stages.

Donnacha O'Callaghan got Young Munster back into the game with eight minutes to play with their third try with O'Leary adding the conversion. However, they ran out of time and fell to another loss.

In Division 1B, Garryowen were beaten 41-38 to Nass in a thrilling game. The Light Blues were 38-5 ahead in the first half but Naas produced a stunning comeback.

It had all looked so good for Garryowen with Jack Oliver, Donnacha Byrne, Liam Coombes and Bryan Fitzgerald going over for scores that sealed a bonus point with 17 minutes on the clock. Oliver nailed two conversions to put them 24-0 up.

Naas responded with their first try but Oran McNulty was soon in for Garryowen's fifth and Oliver soon added a sixth, plus a conversion, to put them 38-5 clear.

The home side got in for another score before the break but dominated the second half with five tries without a response from Garryowen to earn a sensational win.

Old Crescent came out the right side of a dramatic game with a one-point away win over Banbridge. The home side were 17-7 up at the break with Crescent on the board through an Evan Conlon try and a McKenna conversion.

Banbridge added another converted try 10 minutes into the second half to take a firm grip on the game. Cathal Monaghan got Crescent back into the game with McKenna adding the extras.

Another converted Conlon score brought Crescent to within three points but a Banbridge penalty on 75 minutes put them six to the good.

However, there was a dramatic end in store for Crescent with Jed O'Dwyer scoring a fourth try that McKenna kicking the conversion to seal a Crescent victory. It capped off a great week for O'Dwyer who was training with the Irish U19 squad in Dublin over the last seven days.

Elsewhere in 2B, UL Bohs were beaten 31-7 by Cashel. The Tipperary side were 16-0 up at the break and had stretched that to a 26-point advantage before Joe Johnson crossed for a solitary try for the Red Robins with Harry Byrne adding the extras.

However, there was still time for Cashel to score another try from an intercept that sealed a comfortable victory for the promotion hopefuls. 

In Division 2C, Bruff fell to a 36-20 defeat to top of the table Clogher Valley. The south Limerick side had tries from John O'Dea and Shane Duggan with Sean Kilbridge adding 10 points from the boot.