Good Day for Munster Clubs in AIB All Ireland Cups.

Three Munster clubs are through to the semi finals of the Senior AIB All Ireland Cup while Cashel also booked their place in the last four of the AIB All Ireland Junior Cup.

Dolphin 16, Cork Constitution 18.
A late second half revival by Dolphin just failed to prevent Cork Constitution from reaching the semi finals of the AIB All Ireland Senior Cup at Musgrave Park.

With just twenty minutes remaining, the Temple Hill side seemed to be strolling into the last four as they led 18-3 in what was a very dull game up to than, but full credit to Dolphin for not throwing in the towel as they kept plugging away and with a bit of luck could have snatched victory.

The games three tries all came while each side were down to fourteen as three yellow cards were shown two to Dolphin and one to Con’.

Barry Keeshan gave the home side the lead with a penalty after nine minutes but Con’ were level five minutes later curtsey of a Richard Lane penalty.

Dolphin’s hooker Andrew O’Driscoll was first to be sent to the sin bin and Con’s outhalf Darragh Lyons took full advantage midway through the half when he intercepted a Dolphin move and raced away to score and Lane converted.

Out half Barry Keeshan was next to be shown yellow just before half time and a minute later Lyons dropped a goal to give Con’ a 13-3 half time lead.

Con’ continued to press home their advantage at the restart and a sweeping back line movement saw young winger Simon Zebo score in the corner to extend Con’s lead.

Dolphin responded instantly with a great break by man of the match Barry O’Mahony and this brought play deep into the Con’ Twenty Two. After sustained pressure Richard Lane was sent to the sin bin.

Dolphin laid siege to the Con’ line and eventually from a five meter scrum Nick Williams barged over and Keeshan converted.

A drop goal and penalty by Keeshan left two points between the sides with eight minutes remaining.

Keeshan saw a lovely drop goal effort come back off the upright and his penalty attempt from the half way line fell short as Con’ soaked up the pressure to hang to their lead.

This will now set the scene for what should be another thrilling encounter next week when the sides meet for valuable league points at the same venue.

Scorers: Dolphin – N Williams try, D Keeshan 2 pens, con, drp gl
Cork Constitution – D Lyons try, drp gl, R Lane pen, con.

Dolphin: Jeff Power: Rory Kenneally, Warren DeBruin, Kevin Lynch, Paul Hurley; Barry Keeshan, Gary O’Keeffe; Fergus Gately, Andrew O’Driscoll, Christy Condon; Chris Rowe, David Harty; George Finn, Barry O’Mahony, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Timmy O’Callaghan for Finn 16-25, Timmy O’Callaghan for O’Driscoll 58, Robbie Allen for Williams 66, Mark Purcell for Lynch 79.

Cork Constitution: Peter Broughan; Richard Lane, Tom Gleeson, Andrew O’Brien, Simon Zebo; Darragh Lyons, John Stringer; Darragh Hurley, Lloyd Gabriel, Tim Ryan; Merle O’Connell, John Moloney; Ed Leamy, Brendan Cutriss (capt), Frank Cogan.
Replacements: Dave Kelly for Cogan 57, Des Murray for Gabriel 80.

Referee: A Roland (A.R.L.B.).

Young Munster 12, U.C.C. 10.
U.C.C. were denied a place in the semi finals at Clifford Park, when Matthew Costelloe slotted over his fourth penalty in the final minute to give The Cookies their place in the last four.

A try by Peter Shallow converted by Gavin Dunne had the Cork students 7-0 in front at the break. Young Munster came more into the game after the interval and three penalties by Costelloe gave the home side a 9-7 lead by the mid way point.

Dunne restored College’s lead with a penalty on sixty two minutes and they looked like they would hold out for victory until Costelloe’s late strike.

Scorers: Young Munster: M Costelloe 4 pens.
U.C.C.: P Shallow try, G Dunne con, pen.

Garryowen 28, Buccaneers 17.
Garryowen are through to another Cup semi final after another clinical performance against Buccaneers at Dooradoyle.

The home side never looked like loosing this tie but were not sure of victory until the seventy ninth minute, when skipper Paul Neville went in for his side’s third try and Conor Kilroy converted to put the game beyond the Connacht side.

Tries by Lorcan Bourke and Diarmuid McCarthy and a conversion and penalty by Kilroy had the Light Blues 15-5 in front at the half time whistle. Marcus Madden replied with a try for the visitors.

Tries by Alex Hayman and John O’Brien and a conversion by Alan Gaughan kept Bucc’s in contention, while Kilroy kicked two penalties until Neville’s late try.

Scorers: Garryowen: L Bourke, D McCarthy, P Neville tries, C Kilroy 3 pens, 2 cons.
Buccaneers: M Madden, A Hayman, J O’Brien tries, A Gaughan con.

Galwegians 22 Ballynahinch 26
Having taken the scalp of Shannon in the previous round, Second Division side Ballynahinch knocked out Galwegians with a late try from Adam Craig

AIB All Ireland Junior Cup
A last minute try from Colin Morrissey converted by Pat O’Connor earned Cashel a deserved 15-8 victory over City of Armagh at the Palace Grounds.
The Tipperary side led 8-3 at half time with a try from Daren O’Brien and a penalty by O’Connor.

It was a good day for the Leinster Clubs. Cill Dara got the better of Richmond 24-14, Navan were much too strong for Ballymoney winning 36-12 and Tullamore made their trip to Westport a winning one emerging winners on a 29-9 score line.

AIB All Ireland League – Division 2
It was a good day for the three Munster clubs involved in league action.

Bruff drew level with U.C.C. four points behind leaders Lansdowne after their 12-5 away win over Wanderers. Brian Cahill kicked three penalties for the winners and Peter O’Brien one.

Old Crescent collected maximum points from their home encounter with Bective Rangers at Rosbrien to move into fifth spot with a 35-23 win.

Clonakilty moved out of the relegation zone with a surprising 15-14 away win over Belfast Harlequins. Eddie Knowles and Michael O’Hea scored tries for the West Cork side Alfie Harte kicked a conversion and penalty.