Munster sides Cork Con, Bruff and Nenagh advance into the finals of their divisonal leagues.
Cork Constitution 31,Dolphin 18.
For the second successive week Cork Constitution recorded a victory over Dolphin at Temple Hill in this Division One semi final.
In an exciting opening half the home side found themselves trailing 18-13 at the break after
Robbie Allen scored a try for the visitors on the stroke of half time which
Barry Keeshan converted.
Richard Lane had scored a try, conversion and two penalties for Constitution in the opening forty minute and Dolphin replied with a try from
Eric Moloney and two
Keeshan penalties.
Constitution moved up a gear in the second half and following
Lane’s third penalty,
Ed Leamy and
Duncan Williams scored tries for the home side. Prop
Martin Gately made sure of his side’s place in the final against St. Mary’s College with a fourth try.
Scorers Cork Constitution:R Lane try,con, 3 pens, E Leamy, D Williams, M Gately tries.
Dolphin:E Moloney,R Allen tries, B Keeshan 2 pens, con
Cork Constitution:R Lane;A Horgan (C Jouve 73),A Ryan (T Kenneally71),E Ryan,C Healy;D Lyons,D Williams;M Gately,R Quinn (G Murray 57),S Archer,M O’Connell,B Hayes;I Nagle,E Leamy,F Cogan.
Dolphin:N O’Driscoll;R Kenneally,E Moloney,K Lynch(C O’Flynn 73),P Hurley;B Keeshan,M Purcell(D McCarthy 73);R O’Neill,A O’Driscoll (A Foley 53),C Condon;C Rowe,K O’Dwyer;F Stone,R Geoghan,R Allen.
Bruff 35, Terenure College 13.
Bruff booked their place in the Second Division final and another tilt at Lansdowne after their 35-13 home win over Terenure College.
Two penalties by
Brian Cahill had Bruff 6-3 ahead at half time. Tries from
Pat Thompson, Alan Burke, Peter Malone and
Dave Gardiner, three of which
Cahill converted who also kicked a third penalty saw Bruff through to the decider.
Scorers Bruff: Pat Thompson, Alan Burke, Peter Malone and Dave Gardiner tries, Brian Cahill 3 pens, 3 cons.
Terenure College:R O’Mahony try, D McAllister con, 2 pens.
Midleton 11,Nenagh Ormond 12.
Nenagh Ormond won this Munster derby tie to book a final place against Queens University in the Third Division Final after an exciting semi final tie at Towns Park.
Most of the drama in this game came in the final twenty minutes with the lead changing hands on five occasions and the home side missing a drop goal effort with the final play of the game.
Midleton opened the scoring with a try after nine minutes from
Jim Gogarty and a penalty by
David Delaney left it 5-3 in favour of the home side at the break.
Than came all the excitement after constant Nenagh pressure,
Delaney put his side in front with a second penalty.
Jeff Hitchmough restored Midleton’s advantage with a penalty after the pack were held up on the Nenagh line.
From the restart Nenagh’s winger
Colm McMahon was bungled into touch at the corner flag after a great break involving
Stephen Harvey and
Ger Hermes. Nenagh retook the lead when
Delaney kicked a drop goal.
Midleton bounced back and a move involving
Paul Whelan and
Hitchmough saw
Whelan being hand tripped just short of the line with the line at his mercy. Midleton’s pressure was rewarded with a second Hitchmough penalty.
Two minutes from time
Delaney restored Nenagh’s single point advantage with his third penalty.
With the game in injury time Midleton launched one final attack but substitute Jason Holland saw his drop goal effort go wide of the posts
With this the final whistle sounded to the joy of the large Nenagh following and it also ended the playing career of
Holland who proved a great servant to the East Cork club.
Scorers Midleton:J Gogarty try, J Hitchmough 2 pens,
Nenagh Ormond:D Delaney 3 pens,drp gl.
Midleton:T Smith;J Hitchmough,P Whelan,D Smyth,J Gogarty;P Brougham,R Smyth;K Brierley,D Lee,R McArdle;D O’Connor,A McCarthy;D Smyth,,M Cronin, M O’Connell.
Nenagh Ormond:S Harvey;C McMahon,S Carey,J Kingston,T Connolly,G Hermes;D Delaney,D Corcoran;D Dunne, D Horan,F Brislane;D Gallagher,D Walsh; S O’Callaghan, B Williams, K Quigley.
RESULTS:
AIL Division 1 Semi Finals:Cork Constitution 31,Dolphin 18.
St. Mary’s College 24,Old Belvedere 23;
Division 2 Semi Finals:Bruff 35,Terenure College 13.
Lansdowne 40,D.L.S.P. 8;
Division 3 Semi Finals:Midleton 11, Nenagh Ormond 12.
Queens University 41, Banbridge 22.
Fixtures:
Division 1 Final:Cork Constitution v St. Mary’s College, Dubarry Park, Sat May 8.
Division 2 Final:Bruff v Lansdowne, Anglesea Road @ 8.00 Fri May 7.
Division 3 Final:Nenagh Ormond v Queens University Anglesea Road @ 6.00, Fri May 7.