Ulster Bank League Roundup.

It was a mixed day for the Munster clubs in the Ulster Bank League with two sides qualifying for the semi finals and two facing relegation play offs.

Young Munster came from 12-0 down at half time to beat Garryowen 23-18 to book their semi final place and also see Garryowen finish bottom of Division 1A. Declan Cusack kicked four penalties to put Garryowen in front at the break and added a fifth penalty and drop goal. The Cookies ran in two tries from Craig O’Hanlon and Matthew Costelloe and Alan Kingsley converted both and kicked two penalties with Willie Staunton adding a drop goal.

Cork Constitution finished top of the Division after their 33-16 home win over Blackrock College. There was a flurry of scores in the opening minutes of this game with Simon Zebo waltzing through the Blackrock defence to put the home side ahead after two minutes with a try which Gerry Hurley converted.
Within six minutes Blackrock with the advantage of the wind took the lead. Darragh Fitzpatrick kicked a penalty and Alex Dunlop scored a try. Hurley kicked a penalty for the home side and Fitzpatrick had the visitors a point ahead at half time with his second penalty five minutes before the break.
Hurley kicked three penalties in the opening minutesof the second half to put Con’ in control. Sean Scanlon and Duncan Williams added tries with Hurley converting both. Blackrock’s only response was a try from Michael Carroll.

Shannon moved off the foot of the table with a 28-18 home win over Dolphin at Coonagh. The home side led 21-6 at half time. Barry Keeshan opened the scoring with a penalty for Dolphin but tries by Gareth Quinn-McDonogh, Dave Quinlan and Luke O’Dea all converted by Mossie Lawlor had Shannon 21-6 ahead at the interval. Keeshan added a second penalty for the visitors.
Dolphin came into the game after the change over and had tries from Danny Barnes and Eric Moloney and Keeshan converted one. Marcus O’Driscoll secured a bonus point for Shannon with a fourth try which Lawlor converted.

Bruff defeated Division 1B champions Clontarf 17-11 at Kilballyowen Park but it was not enough to prevent them from finishing bottom and must now face a relegation play off game against the fifth side in Division 2. Alan Bourke and John Carroll scored tries for the winners and Tony Cahill converted both and also added a penalty. Clontarf’s cause was not helped by the sending off of their try scorer Martin Garvey after fifty minutes and Martin Dufficy kicked two penalties.

U.L. Bohemian lost 37-18 away to Galwegians and the bonus point victory saw the Connacht side move of the foot of the table. Cian Aherne scored two tries for the Limerick side and JJ Hanrahan kicked two penalties and a conversion.

U.C.C. finished their campaign with a 32-11 away win over Dungannon. James Ryan scored two tries for the students and Gavin Duffy, Colin Crowley and Johnny Holland scored a try each. Holland kicked a penalty and two conversions.

In the semi finals Cork Constitution will play Young Munster at Temple Hill on Sunday 17th April and Old Belvedere will face Clontarf in the other on the previous day. Both games are expected to be televised.

Garryowen will be at home to Buccaneers in the relegation play off for Division 1A and Bruff will have to wait for another two weeks to know who their opponents will be.

In Division Two Midleton defeated DLSP 14-13 at the Towns Park. Damian Smyth and Aidan McCarthy scored tries for Midleton and Jeff Hitchmough converted both.

Thomond moved off the foot of the table with an 11-6 away win over Old Crescent at Rosbrien. This result sees Crescent now in bottom place. David Grant scored the all important try for Thomond and Brandon Grant kicked two penalties. Dave Fitzgerald replied with two penalties for the home side.

Clonakilty lost away to Terenure College 19-15 but secured a bonus point. Dave Lombard was one of Clonakilty’s try scorers and Denis McCarthy kicked a penalty and conversion.

Nenagh Ormond kept their promotion hopes alive with a 21-15 home win over NUMI Barnhall. Michael Slattery, James Kingston and Shane Quinlan scored tries for the Tipperary side and David Delaney converted all three.

Two tries from Willie Devane helped Sunday’s Well to a 20-17 away win over Ards. Danny O’Shea converted both and also kicked two penalties.

Tries by James Cronin, Jason carton and Robert Bogue all converted by Brian O’Hea was not enough for Highfield who lost at home to City of Derry 40-21.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Cork Constitution 33, Blackrock College 16;
Old Belvedere 25, St. Mary's College 19;
Shannon 28, Dolphin 18;
Young Munster 23, Garryowen 18;

Division 1B: Bruff 17, Clontarf 11;
Dungannon 11, U.C.C. 32;
Galwegians 37, U.L. Bohemian 18;
Lansdowne 15, Buccaneers 0;

Division 2: Bective Rangers 17, Ballynahinch 23;
Belfast Harlequins 31, Queens University 22;
Corinthians 29, Ballymena 27;
Midleton 14, D.L.S.P.13;
Old Crescent 6, Thomond 11;
Old Wesley 10, Dublin University 22;
Terenure College 19, Clonakilty 15;
U.C.D.61, Malone 17;

Division 3: Ards 17, Sunday's Well 20;
Highfield 21, City of Derry 30;
Instonians 68, Connemara 0;
Naas 28, Banbridge 31;
Navan 27, Suttonians 17;
Nenagh Ormond 21, NUIM Barnhall 16;
Rainey Old Boys 33, Wanderers 15;
Seapoint 15, Greystones