Victory for Old Crescent but no joy for three other Limerick sides in All-Ireland League

GARRYOWEN'S long search for a first win in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League goes on after the bottom-placed Light Blues fell to a disappointing 10-28 defeat to Ballynahinch at Dooradoyle on Saturday afternoon.

Garryowen now have a relegation battle on their hands as the Dooradoyle side sit 10 points adrift of second-from-bottom placed Shannon after eight successive league defeats this season.

The Light Blues are trail eighth-placed Lansdowne by 12 points with just one more fixture to come in the opening half of the regular season.

Elsewhere in the afternoon All-Ireland League games on Saturday, eighth-placed Old Crescent recorded an exciting 32-14 bonus point win against Ballymena at Takumi Park.

Also in 2A, UL-Bohemian remain rooted to the foot of the table after the winless Red, Red Robins fell to a 15-0 defeat to Navan at Balreask Old.

UL-Bohs' sit four points adrift of second-from-bottom placed Dolphin and trail eighth-placed Old Crescent by 12 points.

Meanwhile, in Division 2C, fifth-placed Bruff had to make-do with taking two bonus points from their 28-30 defeat to Clonmel at Kilballyowen Park.

At Dooradoyle, Garryowen had trailed Ballynahinch by just four points at half-time, 10-14, in Division 1A.

Garryowen had won both of their AIL matches against ‘Hinch last season, by five points on the road and three points at home.

The sides were tied 7-7 after the opening 10 minutes on a perfect afternoon for rugby. Garryowen had a try from prop Mike Veale with Jack Delaney adding the extras.

The Light Blues then hit the front at 10-7 when Delaney added a penalty goal early in the second quarter.

However, visitors 'Hinch hit back with a converted try from George Pringle before half-time to lead by four points at the change of ends.

The Ulster side then took a firm grip on the game when awarded a penalty try in the 51st minute to increase their advantage to 11 points, 21-10.

Pringle then got in for his second try of the game to seal victory for the Ulster side who also secured a bonus point as Garryowen failed to score in the second period.

In Division 2A, Old Crescent led their visitors Ballymena 12-7 after nine minutes at Takumi Park.

The home side hit the front when Owen Murphy crossed for an early try. Back came Ballymena with a converted try in the fifth minute to lead 7-5.

However, the home side responded quickly with their second try of the game as Munster star Ruadhan Quinn dotted down, while Ronan McKenna added the conversion to help Crescent into a 12-7 advantage.

Cathal O'Reilly added a third try for Crescent shortly before half-time, followed a well-executed maul from the pack. McKenna's successful conversion made it 19-7 to the home side at half-time.

A 45th minute penalty goal from the reliable McKenna saw Crescent increase their led to 15 points, 22-7.

Ballymena hit back with a converted try on 65 minutes to leave eight points between the sides. 

However, the home side secured the bonus point try on 75 minutes, with Jack O’Mahony dotting down, while McKenna also converted for 29-14.

McKenna also added a penalty goal before full-time to seal a convincing victory for the Limerick side.

Also in 2A, UL-Bohemian trailed their hosts Navan 0-10 at half-time at Balreask.

Navan went on to score a further try in the second period as UL-Bohs failed to reigster a score in the game.

In Division 2C, Bruff trailed visitors Clonmel 7-19 at half-time at Kilballyowen Park.

The Tipperary side got off to the best possible start, scoring two converted tries to take a significant advantage after just 10 minutes.

Bruff needed to score next and they did it when Mark O'Connell struck for the home side's opening try with the successful conversion making it 14-7.

However, a third Clonmel try deep in stoppage time increased the size of their advantage to 12 points at half-time, 19-7.

A penalty try in the third quarter awarded to Bruff brought the home side right back into the contest.

A Cillian Rea try, converted by Paul Collins, had the home side in front at 21-19, before Clonmel hit back with a penalty goal to lead 22-21.

A further Clonmel try pished the visitors further head, before Bruff hit back with a try from Pa Maher, converted by Collins to seal both a try bonus point and a losing bonus point.