Floodlit Rugby Attracts Big Crowds

The three Ulster Bank League Division 1A games played under lights attracted large crowds with victory Clontarf, Cork Constitution and Garryowen.

Cork Constitution 29, Dolphin 28.
A dramatic victory for Cork Constitution over local rivals Dolphin at Temple Hill as they came from eighteen points down with seventeen minutes remaining to snatch a bonus point victory.
The game produced eight tries with six of them coming in the second half in a game that was a great advert for club rugby.
It was Con’ who opened the scoring after nine minutes when a delightful cross field kick by out half Johnny Holland was gathered by full back Sean Scanlon who touched down in the corner.
Barry Keeshan opened Dolphin’s account eight minutes before the break and on the stroke of half time a delightful back line move saw winger Cian Bohane send wing forward John Quill in for a try and Keeshan converted for a 10-3 interval lead.
Dolphin hit a purple patch at the start of the second half with tries from substitute Chris Nolan and Quill and a Keeshan conversion to extend their advantage to nineteen points after forty six minutes.
Con’ upped the ante and center Niall O’Driscoll knocked on over the line but he made amend minutes later with a try in the corner.
Keeshan steadied Dolphin’s nerves with a delightful drop goal and penalty to leave it 28-10.
The final quarter of the game belonged to Con’ as they ran in three tries, Pressure by the home side was rewarded with a try by Cathal Quinn and Gerry Hurley converted with seventeen minutes remaining.
Constant Con’ pressure was rewarded with a fourth try by Hurley which he also converted to secure a bonus point.
It looked like Con’ would take two points from this encounter but another Con’ attack saw Ivan Dineen make a break to send Scanlon in at the corner for a one point victory.
Scorers Cork Constitution: Sean Scanlon 2 tries, Gerry Hurley try, 2 cons, Niall O’Driscoll, Cathal Quinn tries.
Dolphin: John Quill 2 tries, Chris Nolan try, Barry Keeshan 2 pens, drp gl, and 2 cons.
Cork Constitution: S Scanlon; C Quinn, N O'Driscoll, I Dineen, R Clune; J Holland, G Hurley; B Cagney, A Cudmore, John Ryan, B Hayes, P Donnellan; C O'Flaherty, B O'Hara, James Ryan.
Replacements: K Stokes, C Corkery, I Nagle, J McSwiney, D Lyons.
Dolphin: E Mills; C Bohane, E Moloney, K Lynch, H Fleming; B Keeshan, C Bannon; J Cronin, A O’Driscoll, C Condon; C Rowe, D O’Mahony; R O’Herlihy, J Quill, R Murphy.
Replacements: J Cleary, G Duffy, K O’Dwyer, C Nolan, W Devane.
Referee: L Colgan (IRFU).

Shannon 17, Garryowen 29. (Cormac Liddy)
Garryowen ran out comfortable winners in the first of their back to back fixtures against local rivals Shannon at Thomond Park and picked up a bonus point for scoring four tries.
Declan Cusack was man of the match for the winners and he scored a try, kicked three conversions and a penalty as Shannon were punished for slack second half defending.
Cusack landed his penalty after three minutes and Shannon suffered another blow after fourteen minutes when Stephen Keogh was sin-binned after a touch judge spoke to New Zealand referee Chris Pollock who will be in charge of the Ireland-Scotland game next week.
Garryowen capitalised and a great break by Ronan O'Mahony sent Corey Hircock in for a try which Cusack converted.
Just on halftime Dave Quinlan set up Rob Guerin for a Shannon try which Tadgh Bennett converted and he dropped a goal two minutes into the second half to tie it up at 10-10.
By this stage Shannon had the benefit of the very strong wind and it looked as if they might go on to win.
But it was Garryowen who struck for the next score. Shannon blocked down an attempted drop goal and Conor Hartigan was played on side and he got in for a try which Cusack converted.
That came after 66 minutes and Cusack then waltzed in for his try which he also converted after 71 minutes.
Three minutes later replacement James McEnery wrapped it up for Garryowen and it was three minutes from the end when Kevin Griffin touched down for Shannon's second try which Bennett again converted.
Scorers Shannon: Rob Guerin, Kevin Griffin tries, Tadhg Bennett 2 cons, Tadhg Bennett drp gl.
Garryowen: Declan Cusack try, 3 cons, pen, Corey Hircock, Conor Hartigan, James McInerney tries.
Shannon: Mossie Lawler; Shane McNamara, Richie Mullane, John Clogan, Mike Darcy; Tadhg Bennett, Rob Guerin; Les Hogan, John Deegan (Aaron O’Brien 55), Kevin Griffin; Dan Heffernan (Ken Hanley 55), Fergal Walsh; Stephen Keogh, James Murphy, David Quinlan.
Replacements: A O’Brien for Deegan, K Hanley for Heffernan both 55.
Garryowen: Lorcan Bourke; Ronan O’Mahony, Corey Hircock, Declan Cusack, Ian Hanley; Fergal Lawlor, Neil Cronin; JP Cooney, Dave Rowley, Peter O’Shea (Declan Lavery 47); Frank McKenna, Dave Sherry; Shane Buckley (Lemeki Viapula 29), Conor Hartigan, Paul Neville.
Replacements: Lemeki Viapula for Buckley 29, Alan Gaughan for Hanley 31, Declan Lavery for O’Shea 47.
Referee: C Pollock (New Zealand)

Clontarf 42, Blackrock College 3.
Clontarf went clear at the top of Division 1A with a bonus point victory struggling Blackrock College at Castle Avenue.
The home side led 15-0 at half time and scored seven tries.
Simon Crawford scored two and Frank Cogan, Dermot O'Meara, Timmy McCoy, Killian Lett and Martin Dufficy got one each. Dufficy converted two and also landed a penalty.
Andrew Letham replied with a penalty for Blackrock.