Division 1A
Cork Constitution 31-15 Terenure College
Temple Hill
CORK CONSTITUTION SWEPT clear of Division 1A’s bottom side Terenure College in the second half to register a 31-15 win at Temple Hill on Saturday.
Constitution won for the third time in as many games, claiming their first try-scoring bonus point of the campaign thanks to a late breakaway score from captain Niall Kenneally.
CBC Cork starlet and Ireland Under-19 international Alex McHenry came in on the left wing for Con, with flanker Graeme Lawler, their lone try scorer from last week’s victory at Old Belvedere, promoted from the bench.
Smarting from their derby loss to neighbours St. Mary’s, Terenure had four personnel changes in centre Willie Devane and forwards Gary Hamilton, Silvio Borza and Stephen Caffrey, while the absence of Mark O’Neill at out-half saw James O’Donoghue don the number 10 shirt.
Jake Swaine’s fourth-minute penalty was the game’s only score until Terenure flanker James O’Neill was the victim of what the visitors felt was a harsh yellow card.
Constitution quickly took advantage, mauling hooker Max Abbott over for a 27th minute try which Tomas Quinlan converted. It gave the Leesiders a considerable boost, playing into a strong wind.
That score seemed to open the floodgates somewhat, near the end of a forwards-dominated first half. Brian Hayes and Kevin O’Neill swapped tries for a 14-10 half-time scoreline.
The second period was just as physical, a 20-metre penalty from out-half Quinlan breaking the deadlock in the 54th minute while ‘Nure’s Devane was in the sin-bin for a high and early tackle.
Leading by seven points, Brian Hickey’s men needed to make the result safe and they did so with two converted tries in a seven-minute spell. Backs and forwards combined to set up full-back Shane Daly’s fourth try of the league run, expertly converted from the touchline by Quinlan.
The home crowd roared their delight in the 75th minute when strong-running centre Kenneally used turnover ball to sprint clear from halfway, with Quinlan again converting. Blindside Caffrey had a late consolation try for the Dubliners.
Cork Constitution scorers:
Tries: Max Abbott, Brian Hayes, Shane Daly, Niall Kenneally
Cons: Tomas Quinlan 4
Pen: Tomas QuinlanTerenure College scorers:
Tries: Kevin O’Neill, Stephen Caffrey
Con: Jake Swaine
Pen: Jake Swaine
CORK CONSTITUTION: Shane Daly; Liam O’Connell, Ned Hodson, Niall Kenneally (capt), Alex McHenry; Tomas Quinlan, Jason Higgins; Liam O’Connor, Max Abbott, Rory Burke, Conor Kindregan, Brian Hayes, Graeme Lawler, James Murphy, Evan Mintern.
Replacements: Gavin Duffy, Ger Sweeney, Sonny Dwyer, John Poland, Michael Clune.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Jake Swaine; Stephen O’Neill, Conor Finn, Willie Devane, Robbie Murphy; James O’Donoghue, Kevin O’Neill; Gary Hamilton, Robbie Smyth, Silvio Borza, Cathal Deans, John Dever, Stephen Caffrey, James O’Neill, Kyle McCoy (capt).
Replacements: Barry Elliott, Cian Madden, Patrick Thornton, Thomas Burke, Marc Hiney.
UCD 23-16 Garryowen
Belfield Bowl
Ireland U20 captain James Ryan had a starring role in UCD’s hard-earned 23-16 success at home to a durable Garryowen side.
Ryan’s second half try helped the students end their three-match losing streak in the Ulster Bank League, with captain Jamie Glynn and teenage centre Tommy O’Brien also touching down.
Goal-kicking winger Cillian Burke was UCD’s only change in the back-line, with their starting pack bolstered by the reunited second row pairing of Emmet MacMahon and Ryan.
Garryowen gave returning Munster centre Sam Arnold a start after his second half cameo off the bench against Trinity, but Alex Wootton and Conor Oliver were pulled from the team after appearing as second half replacements against the Ospreys the previous night.
Scrum half Glynn grabbed his second try in as many games after just seven minutes at Belfield, scoring after a period of pressure close to the Garryowen posts saw Ryan, Greg Jones and out-half Matthew Gilsenan all go close. Burke’s conversion attempt came back off the post.
Andy Skehan’s charges dominated possession in the first quarter. As the half wore on and with Garryowen still on the back foot, Burke made no mistake with a close range penalty for 8-0. But the visitors suddenly came to life nearing half-time, out-half David Johnston, who is currently on a Munster development deal, sliced through a gap on the right for an excellent five-pointer.
Johnston’s half-back partner Neil Cronin fired over a superb conversion, before UCD issued the perfect response. Fresh from a try-scoring league debut last week, O’Brien brilliantly added to his tally by racing through from deep to score by the posts. Cronin lessened the blow with a late penalty for a 15-10 deficit.
Crucially, UCD gave themselves some breathing space in the third quarter, Burke splitting the posts with a penalty from distance and then the physically imposing Ryan dotted down on the left after a powerful 56th minute dash to the line.
Cronin’s second successful penalty gave the Light Blues a glimmer of hope and they moved into losing bonus point territory with another accurate Cronin kick in the 73rd minute. UCD might have had their own bonus point by then, but Ryan’s attempted pass failed to set up O’Brien for his double.
However, the margin remained at seven points right to the final whistle, UCD standing firm for a deserved and much-needed triumph as Garryowen ended the game with loosehead prop Niall Horan in the sin-bin.
UCD scorers:
Tries: Jamie Glynn, Tommy O’Brien, James Ryan
Con: Cillian Burke
Pens: Cillian Burke 2Garryowen scorers:
Try: David Johnston
Con: Neil Cronin
Pens: Neil Cronin 3
UCD: Andy Marks; Tom Fletcher, Colm Mulcahy, Tommy O’Brien, Cillian Burke; Matthew Gilsenan, Jamie Glynn (capt); Mikey Moynihan, Sean McNulty, Liam Hyland, Emmet MacMahon, James Ryan, Josh Murphy, Alex Penny, Greg Jones.
Replacements: Gordon Frayne, Rory Mulvihill, Brian Cawley, Niall O’Neill, Stephen Murphy.
GARRYOWEN: Steve McMahon; Hugh O’Brien-Cunningham, Sam Arnold, Andrew O’Byrne, Liam Coombes; David Johnston, Neil Cronin (capt); Niall Horan, Eamon Costello, Jack Mullany, Barra O’Byrne, Sean O’Connor, Alwyn van Vuuren, Elliot Fitzgerald, Bailey Faloon.
Replacements: Ger Horan, Brian Moriarty, Paul McCarroll, Peadar Collins, Hugh Lane.
Dublin University 14-25 Lansdowne
College Park
Dublin University’s spell at the top of Division 1A lasted just a week after Lansdowne consigned the high-flying students to a rare 25-14 defeat at College Park.
Trinity, who led 11-3 during the first half, have fallen from the summit to fifth place in the top flight standings, with 2015 champions Lansdowne climbing to second on the back of Scott Deasy’s decisive 15-point kicking haul.
Paddy Finlay returned at hooker for the hosts in their only change from last week’s three-try victory at Garryowen, while Lansdowne – 33-31 winners over Clontarf in the last round – were missing their top try-scoring flanker Joe McSwiney following the sudden death of his father Joe senior on Wednesday. Tyrone Moran, Philip Donnellan and Paul Boyle came into their pack.
Following a minute’s silence to mark McSwiney’s passing, Trinity started strongly with winger Colm Hogan pressing for a try in the corner. Out-half Jack McDermott slotted over a subsequent penalty, which was quickly cancelled out by his opposite number Deasy.
McDermott restored the students’ lead before they conjured up the opening try, prop Andy ‘Panda’ Keating’s initial carry giving them momentum and some neat interplay between Tom Ryan, Jack Kelly and Bryan Mollen seeing full-back Kelly eventually cross.
Deasy’s cultured right boot clawed back six points in swift fashion to reduce the arrears to 11-9, and with Trinity meekly coughing up possession after a fine defensive stand, Lansdowne worked full-back Eamonn Mills over for a try in the corner.
However, the home side levelled matters at 14-all for half-time, McDermott landing his third successful penalty and repeated infringements leading to Lansdowne tighthead and captain Ian Prendiville picking up a yellow card.
Despite a positive start on the resumption, the league leaders continued to give away cheap ball at times and Lansdowne needed no second invitation, centre and Ireland Sevens international John O’Donnell darting through for his third try of the campaign.
After missing the conversion, the increasingly influential Deasy was back on target with a subsequent penalty. Mike Ruddock’s men seem to be hitting form at a crucial stage of the season, and a final penalty in the dying minutes from Deasy took the losing bonus point away from misfiring Trinity.
Dublin University scorers:
Try: Jack Kelly
Pens: Jack McDermott 3Lansdowne scorers:
Tries: Eamonn Mills, John O’Donnell
Pens: Scott Deasy 5
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Jack Kelly; Bryan Mollen, Michael Courtney, Kyle Dixon, Colm Hogan; Jack McDermott, Daniel Joyce; Eric O’Sullivan, Paddy Finlay, Andy Keating, Jack Burke (capt), Pierce Dargan, Sam Pim, Dermot O’Flynn, Tom Ryan.
Replacements: James Bollard, Liam Cronin, Tom Collis, Evan Dixon, James O’Donovan.
LANSDOWNE: Eamonn Mills; Daniel McEvoy, John O’Donnell, Mark Roche, Foster Horan; Scott Deasy, Matthew D’Arcy; Jacob Walshe, Tyrone Moran, Ian Prendiville (capt), Philip Donnellan, Stephen Gardiner, Willie Earle, Charlie Butterworth, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Ntinga Mpiko, Barry Fitzpatrick, Alan Bennie, Charlie McMickan.
St Mary’s College 32-34 Young Munster
Templeville Road
St. Mary’s College strung together five second half tries but still fell just short of Young Munster in a stunning 66-point, nine-try contest at Tempeville Road.
A first half brace from Munster centre Dan Goggin laid the foundations for the Cookies’ breathless 34-32 victory, a result which has sent Gearoid Prendergast’s charges right to the top of the table.
Sniping scrum half Rob Guerin’s 76th-minute try was just enough to get the visitors over the finish line, with Mary’s two-try centre Darren Moroney closing out the scoring in the dying seconds.
Conor Hogan and Moroney were brought into the Mary’s back-line, with young out-half Conor Dean – the son of former international and incoming Ireland team manager Paul Dean – continuing to deputise for injured top scorer Sean Kearns.
Former captain Kevin Sheahan added steel to the hosts’ back row, while the Limerick men welcomed back Abrie Griesel, a PRO12 debutant for Munster on Friday night, and Tom Goggin into their starting line-up.
Eager to build on last week’s bonus point success against UCD, free-scoring Munsters were over the whitewash inside five minutes as the talismanic Goggin powered over from close range.
Full-back David O’Mahony converted and added a 10th minute penalty. Dean answered back with a well-struck kick, three minutes later, but the Cookies were clinical with ball in hand, Goggin breaking through again in the 24th minute and young number 8 Gavin Coombes, a recent Munster Academy recruit, adding try number three before the interval.
Mary’s head coach Jamie Cornett’s half-time words had the desired effect, though, as they began to eat into the 24-3 deficit. Quick-fire tries from pacy backs Ryan O’Loughlin (48 minutes) and Terry Kennedy (51) had them back within nine points.
Munsters replied with a penalty through impressive place-kicker O’Mahony, but it really was anyone’s contest after Dean converted Moroney’s first touchdown of the afternoon and the equally elusive David Fanagan, who switched from full-back to wing this week, flew in for the levelling 70th minute try. Mary’s now had the bonus point and enough momentum to kick on from 27-all.
It was Munsters, however, who struck for a vital try from replacement Guerin six minutes later and although resilient Mary’s opened up the visitors’ brittle defence again through Moroney, Dean’s missed conversion allowed the Cookies to cling on.
St. Mary’s College scorers:
Tries: David Fanagan, Ryan O’Loughlin, Darren Moroney 2, Terry Kennedy
Cons: Conor Dean 2
Pen: Conor DeanYoung Munster scorers:
Tries: Dan Goggin 2, Gavin Coombes, Rob Guerin
Cons: David O’Mahony 4
Pens: David O’Mahony 2
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: Conor Hogan; Terry Kennedy, Darren Moroney, Ryan O’Loughlin, David Fanagan; Conor Dean, Paddy O’Driscoll; Tom O’Reilly, Richard Halpin, Brian McGovern (capt), David O’Connor, Cathal O’Flaherty, Nick McCarthy, David Aspil, Kevin Sheahan.
Replacements: Stephen O’Brien, Neil Murphy, Ciaran Ruddock, Hugh Kelelher, Ian O’Neill.
YOUNG MUNSTER: David O’Mahony; Jack Harrington, Dan Goggin, Mark Doyle, David Gleeson; Alan Tynan, Abrie Griesel; Gavin Ryan, Ger Slattery (capt), Colm Skehan, Tom Goggin, Alan Kennedy, Darren Ryan, Daniel Walsh, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: David Begley, Evan Ryan, Alan Ross, Sean Rennison, Rob Guerin.
Clontarf 13-20 Old Belvedere
Castle Avenue
Clontarf’s Ulster Bank League title defence took another dent when Old Belvedere came from behind to beat their Dublin rivals 20-13 at Castle Avenue on Friday night.
Belvedere moved back up to third place in Division 1A as 15 points from the boot of out-half Steve Crosbie steered Paul Cunningham’s men to a hard-earned victory. Winger Simon Killeen’s second half try was also crucial.
Crosbie, who is currently in the midst of a short-term deal with Munster, kicked ‘Belvo in front with a third minute penalty. But Clontarf produced the perfect response, the visitors failing to deal with an awkward kick by Matt D’Arcy and after gathering the loose ball, pacy full-back Conor Jennings raced through on the left for the opening try.
Jennings’ missed conversion was followed by Crosbie’s second penalty success, before ‘Tarf created their second unconverted score, moving the ball wide for winger Rob McGrath to cross.
Crosbie closed the gap to 10-9 by the end of the first quarter and it was down to one by half-time as Jennings and Crosbie swapped penalties.
Although ‘Tarf had been more clinical in possession, it was anyone’s game in a fiercely-contested third quarter. Ireland Under-20 prop Vakh Abdaladze led by example as the title holders closed down the space on ‘Belvo at every available opportunity.
Crosbie watched a 62nd minute kick drift wide after ‘Tarf centre Michael Brown had been sin-binned for offside. However, just moments later, Belvedere attacked out wide in the hosts’ 22 and Daniel Riordan’s short offload saw Killeen dot down to move his side back in front.
Clontarf were restored to their full complement in the closing stages, but a superb touchline penalty by the outstanding Crosbie on the stroke of 80 minutes sealed ‘Belvo’s fourth win in six league outings. Seventh-placed ‘Tarf’s record is the exact opposite – two victories and four defeats.
Clontarf scorers:
Tries: Conor Jennings, Rob McGrath
Pen: Conor JenningsOld Belvedere scorers:
Try: Simon Killeen
Pens: Steve Crosbie 5
CLONTARF: Conor Jennings; Jimmy Hawkshaw, Michael Brown, Matt D’Arcy, Rob McGrath; Evan Ryan, Sam Cronin; Vakh Abdaladze, Bryan Byrne, Royce Burke Flynn, Ben Reilly (capt), Eoghan Browne, Michael Noone, Adrian D’Arcy, Tony Ryan.
Replacements: Thomas Byrne, Rory Litchfield, Niall Carson, Peter du Toit, Mark Sutton.
OLD BELVEDERE: Daniel Riordan; Aaron Sheehan, John Kennedy (capt), Sean Coughlan, Simon Killeen; Steve Crosbie, Charlie Rock; Adam Howard, Ed Rossiter, Declan Lavery, Jack Kelly, Karl Miller, Michael Oyuga, Paul Pritchard, Jonathan Slattery.
Replacements: Cathal O’Flynn, Daryl Ryan, Matt Ritani, William Staunton, David Brandon.
Division 1B
Ballymena 25-27 Old Wesley
Eaton Park
Two tries in each half helped Old Wesley outlast hosts Ballymena in an exciting 52-point encounter at Eaton Park.
Wesley squeezed home on a 27-25 scoreline, holding on as the Braidmen blundered by missing a very kickable late penalty.
It is another setback to Ballymena’s promotion hopes as they are now sixth overall, ten points behind the leading sides, with Wesley second and just one point off the summit.
The Dubliners burst out of the blocks, goal-kicking winger Barry McLaughlin launching a penalty through the uprights and then converting a well-taken try from number 8 Mark Rowley who found a gap to run in from 30 metres out.
Centre Callum Patterson opened Ballymena’s account from the kicking tee, but a second Wesley try, scored by second row Iain McGann on the stroke of half-time, made it 15-3 to Morgan Lennon’s men.
Ballymena were a lot more purposeful in their play on the resumption and scrum half Dave Shanahan, the eventual man-of-the-match, cut through for a fine individual try to close the gap to seven points.
However, Wesley went up another gear with two tries from hooker Conor Maguire and winger Alan Jeffares, the first of them converted by McLaughlin, to pocket the bonus point and put themselves in a seemingly unassailable position.
Back came the Braidmen, stringing together some of their best attacks of the afternoon as five-pointers from Patterson, who also converted a penalty try, and hard-carrying full-back Rodger McBurney suddenly made it a two-point game.
Andy Graham’s side were on the cusp of a stirring comeback victory when presented with a shot at the posts two minutes from time, but the Wesley players were hugely relieved to see the ball sail wide of the posts.
Ballymena scorers:
Tries: Dave Shanahan, Callum Patterson, Rodger McBurney, Penalty try
Con: Callum Patterson
Pen: Callum PattersonOld Wesley scorers:
Tries: Mark Rowley, Iain McGann, Conor Maguire, Alan Jeffares
Cons: Barry McLaughlin 2
Pen: Barry McLaughlin
BALLYMENA: Rodger McBurney; Callum Patterson, Mark Best, Martin Irwin (capt), Jonny Rosborough; John Creighton, Dave Shanahan; Andrew Warwick, Adam McBurney, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Connor Smyth, Willie McKay, Tony McGuinness, Stephen Mulholland.
Replacements: Chris Cundell, James Taggart, Joe Thompson, James Beattie, Jordan Foster.
OLD WESLEY: Rory Stynes; Barry McLaughlin, Isaac Leota, Ger Finucane, Alan Jeffares; Tim Clifford, Adam Griggs; David Henshaw, Conor Maguire, James Burton, Michael Dunleavy, Iain McGann, Darren Horan (capt), Stephen Boyle, Mark Rowley.
Replacements: Craig Telford, Martin Gately, Donnachadh Phelan, Matthew Bursey, Adam Kennedy.
Buccaneers 49-17 UL Bohemians
Dubarry Park
Buccaneers swapped positions with UL Bohemians at the top of Division 1B after running in six tries to emphatically end the Red Robins’ winning start to the season.
Bohs lost for the first time in six league games as the Buccs back-line cut loose at Dubarry Park, winger Jordan Conroy’s first half brace helping them coast to a fantastic 49-17 win.
UL had the breeze at their backs early on, but the big home crowd was delighted to see Conroy, back from illness last week, racing clear up the left wing for the opening try, 18 minutes in.
Connacht winger Danie Poolman threw a skip pass to play in Conroy for his second of the afternoon and seventh of the campaign, the Pirates’ back-line benefiting from the presence of another current Connacht player in centre Eoin Griffin.
Try number three followed when Buccs out-half Alan Gaughan stretched over in the final move of the opening half, with the same player landing two conversions and two penalties to leave Bohs 25-0 behind at the break.
UL had the ideal response on the restart, centre Harry Fleming slipping through for a try by the posts with barely a minute gone. Five minutes later, Andy Rowsome had another try which Robbie Bourke converted.
Eoghan O’Reilly snapped back for Buccs with the bonus point score, following some composed play by Brett Wilkinson’s side. Gaughan added a conversion and penalty, either side of Bohs hooker Rowsome’s second touchdown.
The midlanders’ pack stormed through with a terrific maul in the 64th minute, setting up a fifth try for flanker Stephen McVeigh, and they knocked Bohs out of bonus point range in the last minute, Daniel Qualter intercepting on halfway and setting Poolman free to add some final gloss.
Buccaneers scorers:
Tries: Alan Gaughan, Jordan Conroy 2, Stephen McVeigh, Danie Poolman, Eoghan O’Reilly
Cons: Alan Gaughan 5
Pens: Alan Gaughan 3UL Bohemians scorers:
Tries: Andy Rowsome 2, Harry Fleming
Con: Robbie Bourke
BUCCANEERS: Shane Layden; Danie Poolman, Eoin Griffin, Mata Fifita, Jordan Conroy; Alan Gaughan, Graham Lynch; Martin Staunton, John Sutton, Dylan Quinn, Ruairi Byrne, Daniel Qualter, Stephen McVeigh, Evan Galvin, Kolo Kiripati (capt).
Replacements: Eoghan Maher, Rory Grenham, Simon Meagher, Rory O’Connor, Eoghan O’Reilly.
UL BOHEMIANS: Joe Murray; Cian Aherne, Rory White, Harry Fleming, Finbar Aherne; Robbie Bourke, Rick McKenna; Joe Conway, Andy Rowsome, Peter King, Ed Kelly, Noel Kinane, James Ryan, Ian Condell (capt), Brian Walsh.
Replacements: Philip Poillot, Daragh Frawley, Pat Staff, Warren Kelly, Ger O’Connor.
Galwegians 24-30 Ballynahinch
Crowley Park
Galwegians blew a 14-point first half lead as Ballynahinch came from behind to take the spoils in a 30-24 bonus point victory at Crowley Park.
There was a point per minute in the opening quarter, ‘Wegians really warming to their task with Mitch Lam pulling the strings from out-half. Full-back Cormac Brennan was put over by Lam in the ninth minute, and another pinpoint pass from the latter teed up hooker John Moloney’s converted try on the quarter hour.
Brennan completed his brace in the 20th minute, finishing out wide again after good pressure from the home forwards. Ballynahinch’s only response was a Johnny McPhillips penalty.
However, the tables were turned by Ulster scrum half recruit Angus Lloyd who took a quick tap and set off on a 70-metre dash to the line for an inspiring 25th minute try.
‘Hinch were just two points behind after replacement Stewart Evans finished off a period of pressure with a seven-pointer just a minute before half-time.
Both attacks failed to put chances away until ‘Hinch tighthead Craig Trenier barged his way over in the 57th minute, Derek Suffern’s charges hitting the front of the first time (22-17).
Hooker Jonny Murphy joined his front row colleague on the scoresheet four minutes later, following some neat interplay between backs and forwards. ‘Wegians failed to profit from number 8 Jack Dinneen’s 30-metre break off the back of a scrum, and McPhillips edged ‘Hinch closer to the finish line with a 75th minute penalty.
The hosts’ back-line finished the game as they had started it, with a well-worked try. This time Connacht centre Rory Parata supplied the finishing touches and Lowndes’ conversion gave ‘Wegians a single point for their efforts.
Galwegians scorers:
Tries: Cormac Brennan 2, John Moloney, Rory Parata
Cons: Conor Lowndes 2Ballynahinch scorers:
Tries: Angus Lloyd, Stewart Evans, Jonny Murphy, Craig Trenier
Cons: Johnny McPhillips 2
Pens: Johnny McPhillips 2
GALWEGIANS: Cormac Brennan; Ed O’Keeffe, Rory Parata, Dave Clarke, Conor Lowndes; Mitch Lam, Barry Lee; Patrick Curran, John Moloney, Jason East, Matthew Towey, Marc Kelly, Ronan Moore, Josh Pim, Jack Dinneen.
Replacements: Doron McHugh, Tadhg Campbell, Paul Hackett, Matt Quinn, Aidan Moynihan.
BALLYNAHINCH: David Busby; Callum McLaughlin, Stuart Morrow, Jordan Grattan, Davy Nicholson; Johnny McPhillips, Angus Lloyd; Jonny Simpson, Jonny Murphy, Craig Trenier, John Donnan, Kenny Morton, Lorcan Dow, Calum Irvine, Gareth Gill.
Replacements: Jonny Blair, Joe Roe, Stewart Evans, Chris Quinn, James McBriar.
Naas 10-6 UCC
Forenaughts
Replacement Michael Skelton scored the only try of a defence-dominated match as Naas held onto fourth place with a 10-6 home success against UCC.
In front of their Forenaughts faithful, Skelton secured the decisive score in the 70th minute after Naas player-coach Johne Murphy and Henry Bryce had spearheaded a brilliant back-line move.
Bustling centre Bryce had gone closest to touching down before that, however he knocked on over the try-line under pressure from the UCC cover with 30 minutes gone.
A 25th minute penalty from UCC’s goal-kicking winger Kevin O’Keeffe, who had missed an earlier attempt, proved to be the only score of a very tightly-contested first half.
Naas full-back Peter Osborne and O’Keeffe exchanged penalties after 49 and 54 minutes, but the breakthrough finally came when the Naas backs found some space in an otherwise impressive UCC rearguard.
The result keeps Murphy’s men within touching distance of the top three, while seventh-placed UCC will have to regroup quickly for two key upcoming fixtures – away to Ballynahinch (November 12) and home to Cork rivals Dolphin (November 25).
Naas scorers:
Try: Michael Skelton
Con: Peter Osborne
Pen: Peter OsborneUCC scorers:
Pens: Kevin O’Keeffe 2
NAAS: Peter Osborne; Fionn Carr, Johne Murphy, Henry Bryce, Rob O’Connor; Ben Swindlehurst, Max Whittingham; Dan O’Byrne, Graham Reynolds, Jason Harney, Stephen Kinneavy, David Benn, Eoin Walsh, Will O’Brien (capt), Paulie Tolofua.
Replacements: Warren Larkin, Adam Coyle, Paul Monahan, Andrew Kearney, Michael Skelton.
UCC: Chris McAuliffe; Kevin O’Keeffe, Kevin Slater (capt), Murray Linn, James Kiernan; Charlie O’Regan, Richard Walsh; Peter McCabe, Ben Burns, Rob O’Donovan, Darragh Moloney, Ben Mitchell, Conor Barry, Cathal Gallagher, Richie Moran.
Replacements: Charlie Slowey, Shane O’Hanlon, Daire Feeney, Graham Smith, Tom Kiersey.
Shannon 17-10 Dolphin
Thomond Park back pitch
Shannon opened their win account for the league season in rousing fashion with a late surge to see off close rivals Dolphin 17-10 on Thomond Park’s back pitch.
This was a real hard-nosed, old style Munster derby in the first half, a straightforward penalty from experienced out-half Barry Keeshan splitting the sides after 22 minutes.
3-0 is how it stayed up to half-time despite some further Dolphin pressure both in open play and at scrum time. Shannon centre Robbie Deegan had to depart early after injurying himself when making a try-saving tackle.
Dolphin captain Ryan Murphy would have scored from a scrum but for an excellent cover tackle by Shannon’s Niall Mulcahy, while a Keeshan 40-metre penalty and a drop goal attempt by Conor Fitzgerald, the hosts’ young number 10, both missed the target.
Shannon endured a difficult start to the second period, three penalties failing to go over and prop Conor Glynn seeing yellow in the 49th minute. But they did get a break when Keeshan went to the bin in the 64th minute for an apparent stamp at a ruck.
Marcus Horan’s side capitalised just two minutes later, right winger Richie Mullane reaching over in the corner after some good handling and angles of running. Full-back Ronan McKenna converted for 7-3.
Munster prop John Andress, who was sprung from the bench, snaffled turnover ball to set the Shannon attack off again, McKenna breaking the defensive line with aplomb and although he was stopped short, the ball was shipped on for Glynn to touch down in the 76th minute, with McKenna also converting.
McKenna made certain of the win with a well-struck penalty right on the 80-minute mark, before Dolphin dug deep to salvage a bonus point courtesy of replacement John Leahy’s injury-time try.
Shannon scorers:
Tries: Conor Glynn, Richie Mullane
Cons: Ronan McKenna 2
Pen: Ronan McKenna
Dolphin scorers:
Try: John Leahy
Con: Barry Keeshan
Pen: Barry Keeshan
SHANNON: Ronan McKenna; Richie Mullane, Rob Deegan, Jack O’Donnell, Shane Mullally; Conor Fitzgerald, Jack Stafford; Conor Glynn, Ty Chan, Tony Cusack, Lee Nicholas (capt), Riley Winter, Niall Mulcahy, James Vaughan, John Foley.
Replacements: Jordan Prenderville, John Andress, Paddy Kearns, Keith Kavanagh, Will Leonard.
DOLPHIN: Cillian Monahan; Timmy Phelan, Cian McGovern, Denis Hurley, Will Hanly; Barry Keeshan, Daryl Foley; Liam Walsh, David Byrne, James Rochford, Dave O’Mahony, John Madigan, Anthony Mason, Kevin Allen, Ryan Murphy (capt).
Replacements: Caolan O’Flynn, John Leahy, Lar Coughlan, Killian O’Keeffe, Cameron O’Shaughnessy.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!