Ulster Bank League Roundup & Fixtures.

Ulster Bank League enters final stages as leaders Cork Constitution lose top spot in Division 1A on point’s difference to Old Belvedere

Dolphin 16, Cork Constitution 23.
There was a thrilling game at Musgrave Park when a second half revival saw the Temple Hill come from 13-3 down at the interval to snatch the points.
Cork Constitution fielded several of their Munster fringe players in this eagerly awaited local derby tie and this victory will have avenged their home defeat earlier in the season.
Dolphin got off to a great start and raced into an early 13-0 lead with Barry Keeshan kicking a long range penalty and a drop goal as well as converting a try from John Quill.
Cork Constitution opened their account with a penalty from Gerry Hurley eight minutes before the break.
Tries from Frank Cogan and Sean Scanlon and a conversion from Hurley had the visitors two points ahead inside the first five minutes of the second half. A second try from skipper Cogan and a Hurley penalty extended Con’s advantage and Keeshan closed the gap to seven points with a penalty on sixty minutes.
It was end to end stuff from there to the finish but the Temple Hill side’s experience proved vital as they held out for a deserved victory.
Scorers Dolphin:J Quill try, B Keeshan 2 pens, drp gl, con.
Cork Constitution:F Cogan 2 tries, S Scanlon try, G Hurley 2 pens con.
Dolphin:N Walley;C Bohane,E Moloney,B Dennehy,P Hurley; B Keeshan, G O'Keeffe;D Ryan,N Scannell,C Condon,P Murphy,C Roe;R Herlihy,J Quill,R Geoghegan.
Cork Constitution: S Scanlon;R Lane,T Kenneally,I Dineen,S Zebo;G Hurley,D Williams;d Hurley,D Murray,S Archer;I Nagle,B Hayes;C O’Flaherty;B Cutriss,F Cogan

Shannon 23, Old Belvedere 30.
Shannon picked up a losing bonus point at Coonagh but could not stop Old Belvedere from taking maximum points from this tie and going back to the top of the table on point’s difference.
The visitors did most of the damage in the opening half as they held a 22-8 lead at the break. Ben Woods, John Kennedy and David Mongan scored tries for the Dublin side and Conal Keane kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Paul Rowley scored a try for Shannon and Mossie Lawlor added a penalty.
The home side came more into the game in the second half and tries by Kevin Griffin and David
Quinlan and a conversion and penalty by Lawlor earned Shannon a losing bonus point.
Daniel Riordan scored Belvo’s fourth try to secure the bonus point and Keane added a penalty.
Scorers Shannon: Paul Rowley, Kevin Griffin and David Quinlan tries, Mossie Lawlor 2 pens 1 con.
Old Belvedere: Ben Woods, John Kennedy, David Mongan and Daniel Riordan tries, Conal Keane 2 pens, 2 cons.

Blackrock College 11, Young Munster 13
Young Munster kept their play off place alive with a hard earned win over Blackrock College at Stradbrook.
The visitors led 10-6 at the break with a try from Matthew Costelloe and a conversion and penalty by Alan Kingsley to two Darragh Fitzpatrick penalties.
Rob Keogh put the home side ahead with a try but Kingsley sealed victory with a penalty on fifty four minutes.
Scorers Blackrock College: Rob Keogh try, Darragh Fitzpatrick 2 pens.
Young Munster: Matthew Costelloe try, Alan Kingsley con, 2 pens.

Garryowen 15, St. Mary’s College 39
A disappointing performance from Garryowen at Dooradoyle as they remain at the foot of the table and are now facing a relegation play off with three games remaining.
The visitors collected maximum points to keep their challenge on track for a semi final spot and led 13-0 at half time with a try from Richie Sweeney and a conversion and two penalties by Gavin Dunne. Further tries by Damian Hall, Darren Hudson, Stephen Grissing and Ronan Doherty secured the points for the Templeville Road outfit and Dunne added three further conversions. Garryowen hit back with tries from Shane Buckley and Anthony Kavanagh and Alan Gaughan kicked a conversion and penalty.
Scorers Garryowen: Shane Buckley, Anthony Kavanagh tries, Alan Gaughan con, pen.
St. Mary’s College: Richie Sweeney, Damian Hall, Darren Hudson, Stephen Grissing and Ronan Doherty tries, Gavin Dunne 4 cons, 2 pens.

Division 1B:
U.C.C. 15,Clontarf 17.
A narrow win for leaders Clontarf at the Mardyke as they had to rely on a last minute conversion to snatch victory.
The visitors dominated the opening half and it was former U.C.C. star Sam Cronin who put Clontarf ahead with a try and Noel Reid converted and the visitors out half added a penalty for a 10-0 interval lead.
Johnny Holland brought the students back into the contest with a try and a conversion from Andrew Burke. A penalty by Burke shortly after had the sides level. College went ahead with a try from Andy O’Leary but a try by winger Michael McGrath in the final minute which substitute Martin Dufficy converted maintained the Dublin side’s lead at the top.
Scorers U.C.C.:Johnny Holland, A O’Leary tries, A Burke con,pen.
Clontarf: S Cronin, M McGrath tries, N Reid con, pen, M Dufficy con.
U.C.C.:W Walsh;C Crowley,A Burke,B Derham,A O’Leary;Johnny Holland,B Slater;G Duffy,A Cudmore,John Ryan;M Kenefick,P Donnellan;B Quill,B O’Callaghan,James Ryan.
Clontarf😀 O’Shea;M McGrath,,K Lett,E Ryan,C O’Shea;N Reid,S Cronin;C Kavanagh,A Dundon,N Treston;B Gissing,S Crawford,E Cremen,B O’Mahony,M Garvey.15

Buccaneers 11, U.L. Bohemian 18
U.L. Bohemian kept their promotion challenge alive with a victory over second placed Buccaneers at Dubarry Park, a result that sees the Connacht side lose for a second successive week to a Munster side.
Sean Rennison put the visitors ahead with a try which Ed Torrie converted. A try by Calum Boland and an Adam Kennedy penalty edged the home side in front but a try by Darren Moroney left it 12-8 to U.L. at the break.
Torrie extended the visitors advantage with two penalties but a late penalty by David Connellan secured a losing bonus point for the home side.
Scorers Buccaneers: Calum Boland try, Adam Kennedy and David Connellan pen.
U.L. Bohemian: Sean Rennison, Darren Moroney tries, Ed Torrie 2 pens, con.

Bruff 15, Galwegians 25.
Two late tries by Galwegians has ended Bruff’s promotion hopes for a second successive season as the Connacht side rallied to secure the points in their bid to avoid a relegation play off.
A try by Brendan Deady and a Tony Cahill penalty gave the home side an 8-6 half time lead with Tadhg Lander replying with two penalties for the Connacht side.
A penalty try converted by Landers put ‘Wegians in front but Bruff rallied and a try by John Shine converted by Cahill had the home side in front with five minutes remaining.
The visitors hit back with late tries by Tiernan O’Halloran and Brian Murphy and a conversion by Leader to secure the points for Galwegians.
Scorers Bruff: Brendan Deady, John Shine tries, Tony Cahill con, pen.
Galwegians: Tiernan O’Halloran, Brian Murphy tries, Penalty try, Tadhg Leader 2 cons, 2 pens.

Division 2:
Midleton lost valuable ground in their promotion challenge in the Second Division when Bective Rangers moved ahead of them into a play off place with a 20-3 win at Donnybrook. Jeff Hitchmough kicked a penalty for the East Cork side.

At the other end of the table Thomond moved off the foot of the table with a second half come back to defeat Malone 30-17. The Ulster side were 14-8 behind at half time but tries by Anthony Hartery, David Foley John Sheehan and Brandon Grant secured a bonus point and Kevin O’Mahony kicked two penalties and two conversions.

Old Crescent are back in the relegation fight after their 58-12 defeat by Terenure College at Lakelands Park.

U.C.D. went top of the Second Division after their 24-17 away win over Clonakilty at The Vale. The students raced into a 17-0 interval lead but the home side rallied and tries from David Lombard, David Prini and Alfie Harter and a Denis McCarthy conversion were not enough for the home side who now return to the bottom of the table.

Division 3:
Both Sunday’s Well and Nenagh Ormond saw their promotion dreams end with away defeats.
A poor first half performance saw Sunday’s Well lose away to Suttonians 30-17. They trailed 20-0 at half time but rallied with tries by Aidan Dwyer and Willie Devane and a penalty and two conversions by Danny O’Shea but it was not enough to get anything from this tie.
Scorers Suttonians: P Dwane, A Hoary, A Kearney tries, A Griggs 3 pens, 3 cons.
Sunday’s Well: Aidan Dwyer, Willie Devane tries, Danny O’Shea 2 cons, pen.
Suttonians: D Walsh; A Dodd, R Murphy, D Higgins, E Keenan; D Farrell, A Griggs; A Hoary, D Lambert, G Connolly; A Kearney, Cathal Murphy; K Bracken, R Delaney, P Dwane.
Replacements:D Traynor for R Murphy 46, A Hegarty for C Murphy 75.
Sunday’s Well: E French; P Brehony, W Devane, A Dwyer, R Walters; D O’Shea, K Rothwell; M Moynihan (c), J Moynihan, J Bransfield; M Sullivan, J Kidney; S Walsh, H Green, J Mulcahy.
Replacements: B Hanrahan for Walters HT, R Geary for Rothwell 67.

A try by Stephen Carey and three penalties by David Delaney was not enough for Nenagh Ormond who lost 16-14 away to Banbridge at Rifle Park.

Highfield had one of their biggest wins of the season with a 26-10 away win over Navan. Jason Carton, David Kelly, David Walker and Paul Stack scored tries to secure a bonus point and Colin Mahoney kicked three conversions.

RESULTS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A:Blackrock College 11,Young Munster 13;
Dolphin 16,Cork Constitution 23;
Garryowen 15,St. Mary's College 39;
Shannon 23,Old Belvedere 30;

Division 1B:Bruff 15,Galwegians 25;
Buccaneers 11,U.L. Bohemian 18;
Lansdowne 39,Dungannon 10;
U.C.C. 15,Clontarf 17;

Division 2:Ballymena 26,Dublin University 19;
Ballynahinch 18,Belfast Harlequins 15;
Bective Rangers 20,Midleton 3;
Clonakilty 17,U.C.D. 24;
Corinthians 29,Old Wesley 29;
D.L.S.P. 15,Queens University 14;
Terenure College 58,Old Crescent 12;
Thomond 30,Malone 17;

Division 3:Banbridge 16,Nenagh Ormond 14;
NUIM Barnhall 18,Wanderers 28;
City of Derry 32,Ards 38;
Connemara 18,Rainey Old Boys 37;
Greystones 48,Instonians 6;
Navan 10,Highfield 26;
Seapoint 30,Naas 15;
Suttonians 30,Sunday's Well 17;

Next Weeks FIXTURES:
SATURDAY 26th FEBRUARY
Ulster Bank League Division 1A:Cork Constitution v Garryowen,Temple Hill,2.30;
Old Belvedere v Dolphin,Anglesea Road,2.30;
St. Mary's College v Blackrock College,Templeville Road,2.30;
Young Munster v Shannon,Clifford Park,2.30;

Division 1B:Dungannon v Bruff,Stevenson Park,2.30;
Galwegians v Buccaneers,Crowley Park,2.30;
Lansdowne v Clontarf,Aviva Stadium,2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v U.C.C.,Thomond Park,2.30;

Division 2:Belfast Harlequins v Clonakilty,Deramore Park,2.30;
Corinthians v Terenure College,Corinthian Park,2.30;
Dublin University v Thomond,College Park,2.30;
Malone v D.L.S.P.,Gibson Park,2.30;
Midleton v Ballynahinch,Towns Park,2.30;
Old Crescent v Bective Rangers,Rosbrien,2.30;
Old Wesley v Queens University,Donnybrook,2.30;
U.C.D. v Ballymena,Belfield,2.30;

Division 3:Ards v Connemara,Hamilton Park,2.30;
Highfield v Greystones,Woodleigh Park,2.30;
Instonians v Banbridge,Shaws Bridge,2.30;
Naas v Navan,Fournaughts,2.30;
Nenagh Ormond v City of Derry,Nenagh,2.30;
Rainey Old Boys v NUIM Barnhall,Hatrick Park,2.30;
Seapoint v Suttonians,Kilbogget Park,2.30;
Wanderers v Sunday's Well,Merrion Road,2.30;