All Ireland League Update
18th January 2025 By Leonard Allen

Photo Credit David Ribeiro
A late rally by leaders St. Mary’s College saw them come from behind to beat Young Munster and Cork Constitution moved up to third place with a comfortable home win over bottom side Garryowen in Division 1A while Midleton the last unbeaten side in the league lost away to Clonmel in Division 2C.
At Tom Clifford Park, Young Munster looked like they might cause an upset against leaders St. Mary’s College as they led 20-15 approaching the final quarter but two converted tries and two penalties saw the Dublin side come out on top 35-20. Oisin Pepper scored two tries for the Limerick side and Stephen Lyons one. Julian Lesczynski added a conversion and a penalty.
Defending Champions Cork Constitution easily overcame the challenge of Garryowen at Temple Hill with a 43-10 victory, a result that leave the Dooradoyle side rooted to the foot of the table. Joe O’Leary, Adam Maher, Matthew Bowen, Billy Scannell, Danny Sheehan, Charlie Connolly and Cian Barry were the Con’ try scorers. James Taylor kicked four conversions. Garryowen replied with a try from Oisin McCormack and Jack Oliver converted and also added a penalty.
In Division 1B, Nenagh Ormond’s automatic promotion hopes were dealt a big blow, when they lost away to Naas 27-21. Dylan Murphy and Charlie O’Doherty were the Nenagh try scorers, with O’Doherty kicking three penalties and a conversion.
U.C.C. are just a point behind fourth place Blackrock College, after their 26-17 home win over the Dublin side. Sean Condon and Peter Hyland each scored two tries and Harry Murphy added three conversions.
Bottom side Shannon came close to causing a major upset at home to leaders Old Belvedere as they suffered a 24-22 defeat. Oisin Minogue scored three tries for Shannon and Jamie Gavin kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Highfield suffered a heavy 52-26 away defeat to Queens University, but did score four tries to secure a try bonus point. Liam McCarthy, Travis Coomey, Mark Dorgan and Miah Cronin were the Highfield try scorers and Shane O’Riordan added three conversions.
In Division 2A Cashel suffered a narrow 36-34 away defeat against high flying Instonians. Ryan O’Sullivan, Alan Flannery, Jamie Ryan, Alex Harold Barry and Joe Callery scored tries for the Tipperary side and Tim Townsend kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Old Crescent suffered another defeat losing 22-10 away to M.U. Barnhall. Daithi Byrnes scored Crescent’s try and Ronan McKenna converted and also added a penalty.
U.L. Bohemian lost away to Dungannon 23-13 in Division 2B, with Kian Regan scoring their try and Oisin Fagan converting and adding two penalties.
The upset of the day was at Clonmel, where the home side put an end to Leaders Midleton’s unbeaten run with a 29-11 victory in Division 2C. Tom O’Dea and Freddie Davies scored tries for Clonmel and Josef O’Conor converted both and also added five penalties. Joannes du Toit replied with a try for Midleton and Jack Colbert kicked two penalties.
Dolphin returned to winning ways with a 54-28 home win over Enniscorthy scoring eight tries. Sam Boyle scored two tries and Jordan Soli, Scott Sexton, Craig O’Connell, Darragh Buckley, Daryl Foley and Tom Sheehan got one each. Soli added seven conversions.
A last minute try from Cillian Rea eased Bruff’s relegation worries as they defeated bottom side Omagh Academicals 23-20. Paul Collins also scored a try as well as converting both and kicking three penalties.
In the Women’s All Ireland League U.L. Bohemian kept up their challenge with a 57-17 away win against Suttonians. Aoife Corey was the star of the show scoring five tries and Jane Clohessy, Laoise McGonagle and Abbie Salter-Townsend got one each. They were also awarded a penalty try. Kate Flannery kicked three conversions and Caitriona Finn two.
Ballincollig suffered another home defeat losing to Wicklow 44-26. Shirley Bailey, Eve Prendergast and Aileen Flynn (2) were the Ballincollig try scorers and Emma Connolly kicked three conversions.
RESULTS
Energia All Ireland League Division 1A:Clontarf 45,Ballynahinch 16;
Cork Constitution 43,Garryowen 10;
Terenure College 25,U.C.D. 11;
Young Munster 20,St. Mary’s College 35;
Division 1B:Dublin University 12,Old Wesley 27;
Naas 27,Nenagh Ormond 21;
Queen’s University 52,Highfield 26;
Shannon 22,Old Belvedere 24;
U.C.C. 26,Blackrock College 17;
Division 2A:Galway Corinthians 19,Banbridge 16;
Greystones 46,Ballymena 12;
Instonians 36,Cashel 34;
M.U. Barnhall 22,Old Crescent 10;
Navan 29,Buccaneers 5;
Division 2B:Dungannon 23,U.L. Bohemian 13;
Malahide 18,Galwegians 24;
Rainey 50,Malone 13;
Skerries 15,Clogher Valley 40;
Sligo 12,Wanderers 31;
Division 2C:Belfast Harlequins 28,Tullamore 21;
Clonmel 29,Midleton 11;
Dolphin 54,Enniscorthy 28;
Monkstown 46,Ballyclare 33;
Omagh Academicals 20,Bruff 23;
Energia Women’s All Ireland League:Ballincollig 26,Wicklow 44;
Blackrock College 70,Tullow 0;
Galwegians 17,Old Belvedere 10;
Railway Union 71,Cooke 5;
Suttonians 7,U.L. Bohemian 57;