Weekend Rugby Roundup

The stormy weather of the past few days meant that most of the weekend’s rugby program was wiped out.

Garryowen qualified for the semi finals of the AIB All Ireland Cup for the fourth time in the last five seasons with a 16-6 win over Blackrock College at Stradbrook.
This result will have eased the pain of the Limerick side’s last visit to this ground a few weeks ago when they lost 48-14 in a leaguer tie.
Despite missing three first half penalties Conor Murray gave Garryowen a 3-0 half time lead. Robert Meyer extended the visitors lead with a try on fifty three minutes when he intercepted a pass to score under the posts. Murray converted and added a further two penalties. The home side’s response was two penalties by out half James Power.

Garryowen will now face either Dolphin or Galwegians in the semi finals on the 19th December. The Dolphin Galwegians tie has been refixed for next Sunday at Musgrave Park with a 2.00 kick off.

On the other side of the draw Ballymena qualified for the last four with a 20-19 home win over Old Belvedere. The Ulster side will be at home to either Cork Constitution or Queens University.

The Cork Constitution Queens tie looks like it will go ahead next weekend at Temple Hill. The exact date and time of kick off is to be confirmed.

Cashel’s postponed tie with Monivea in the AIB All Ireland Junior Cup has been refixed for next Sunday in Cashel at 2.00. This means that Cashel’s league game with St. Senan’s will have to be postponed. The winner of this tie will face City of Derry in the semi final on the 19th December.

Only three of the fourteen games scheduled in the Munster Junior League went ahead.

Clanwilliam have extended their lead at the top of the Second Division after their 8-3 home win over bottom side St. Mary’s. Barry Gibbons gave St. Mary’s an early lead with a penalty but a try by Richard Giles mid way through the half had Clanwilliam 5-3 ahead at the interval. The only score of the second half was a penalty by Willie Dwyer for the home side.

Galbally defeated Kanturk 18-13 in what was a dress rehearsal for their upcoming Munster Junior Club Shield Final. This victory sees Galbally maintain their unbeaten run in the Second Division and also puts them into second place three points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

The County Limerick side took advantage of the elements in the opening half and were 18-0 ahead at half time with tries from Des Lane and Stephen Bourke. Karl Bourke kicked two penalties and a conversion. Kanturk replied with two penalties from Darragh Meade and a conversion of a penalty try.

There was a big shock in Section B of the Third Division when Douglas defeated leaders Waterford City 17-13. Playing with the advantage of the wind Douglas raced into a 17-0 half time lead with tries from Denis Kelleher and Bradley Giles and two conversions and a penalty by Andy Larkin.
The home side hit back in the second half with tries from Dave O’Connor and Alec Fitzmaurice and a penalty by Danny Fell.

U.C.C. won the top of the table clash in the Munster Seconds League South and extended their lead at the top after they defeated Cork Constitution 23-22 in an exciting tie at Temple Hill.
The home side raced into an early 10-0 lead with a try by Billy Newman and a conversion and penalty by Simon Zebo. Kevin Kidney opened the students account with a penalty but a try by Cyprian Jouve and a second penalty by Kidney had Constitution 15-6 ahead at half time.
The students ran in two tries early in the second half from Niall Barry and John Gleeson to gave them a one point advantage. A second try by Newman which Zebo converted restored the home side’s lead but in an exciting finish Willie Walsh got in for a College try which Kidney converted. Zebo had a chance to win the tie for the Temple Hill side but his penalty effort in the final minute was off target.

In the Northern section Shannon had a surprising 36-3 win over Garryowen at Dooradoyle. Dave O’Donovan and Luke O’Dea each scored two tries for the winners and Darragh Frawley also crossed for a try. O’Donovan kicked four conversions and a penalty.

RESULTS:
AIB Cup Quarter Finals:Ballymena 20,Old Belvedere 19;
Blackrock College 6,Garryowen 16;
Cork Constitution v Queens University Off;
Dolphin v Galwegians Off;

AIB Junior Cup Quarter Finals:Armagh 24,Cill Dara 3;
Cashel v Monivea Off;
City of Derry 45,Boyne 5;
Tullamore 22,Sligo 15;,

Munster Junior League Division 2:Clanwilliam 8,St. Mary’s 3;
Galbally 18,Kanturk 13;

Division 3 Section B:Waterford City 13,Douglas 17;

Munster Seconds League North:Garryowen 3,Shannon 36;

Munster Seconds League South:Cork Constitution 22,U.C.C. 23;

Womens AIL Division 1:Clonmel 7,Blackrock College 25;

FIXTURES:
Saturday 28th November:
AIB All Ireland Cup:Cork Constitution v Queens University, Temple Hill,12.30 (subject to confirmation):

Sunday 29th November
AIB All Ireland Cup:Dolphin v Galwegians, Musgrave Park,2.00;

AIB All Ireland Junior Cup:Cashel v Monivea,Cashel,2.00;

Saturday 19th December
AIB All Ireland Cup Semi Finals:Balymena v Cork Constitution/Queens University;
Dolphin/Galwegians v Garryowen;

AIB All Ireland Junior Cup Semi Finals:Cashel/Monivea v City of Derry;
Tullamore v Armagh;