Division 1A

St Mary’s College 21-45 Lansdowne 

Templeville Road

Tempers flared between the two sides. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

LANSDOWNE TOOK ADVANTAGE of Young Munster’s slip-up at home to Garryowen to climb back to the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1A on Friday night.

Mike Ruddock’s men ran in five tries against injury-hit hosts St. Mary’s at Templeville Road, but arguably the most important contribution in the 45-21 bonus point win was from goal-kicker Scott Deasy.

The former Munster player booted four conversions and four penalties for a 20-point haul, his accuracy off the tee proving crucial as Caelan Doris’ 50th-minute try had Mary’s back within striking distance at 29-21 down.

However, three successive penalties from out-half Deasy, allied to replacement Barry Fitzpatrick’s 76th-minute touchdown, made certain of the five points for the in-form visitors.

Mary’s were stung by a first-minute breakaway try from young Lansdowne winger Marc O’Keefe, but two Conor Dean penalties had the margin down to the minimum by the 10th minute.

Good angles of running, combined with some soft Mary’s tackling, allowed Lansdowne to strengthen their grip on proceedings, as centre John O’Donnell bagged his fourth try of the campaign and winger Daniel McEvoy followed him over the whitewash just three minutes later.

A third Dean penalty and second row David O’Connor’s 36th-minute try meant Mary’s were only 19-14 behind for half-time. Lansdowne had all the answers, though, a Deasy penalty early on the resumption being swiftly followed by the bonus point score – full-back Eamonn Mills put his name to it in the 46th minute.

Mary’s battled on gamely, industrious number 8 Doris getting over for a deserved try, but their third defeat on the trot sees them drop into the bottom two with one round remaining before the Christmas break.

St. Mary’s College scorers: 

Tries: David O’Connor, Caelan Doris

Conversion: Conor Dean

Penalties: Conor Dean x3

Lansdowne scorers:

Tries: Marc O’Keefe, John O’Donnell, Daniel McEvoy, Eamonn Mills, Barry Fitzgerald

Conversions: Scott Deasy x4

Penalties: Scott Deasy x4

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: David Fanagan; Ian O’Neill, Darren Moroney, Paddy Lavelle, Conor Hogan; Conor Dean, Paddy O’Driscoll; Tom O’Reilly, Richard Halpin, Brian McGovern (capt), David O’Connor, Cathal O’Flaherty, Kevin Sheahan, David Aspil, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Stephen O’Brien, Emmet Ferron, Ciaran Ruddock, Nick McCarthy, Zach O’Hagan, Peter Starrett.

LANSDOWNE: Eamonn Mills; Daniel McEvoy, John O’Donnell, Mark Roche, Marc O’Keefe; Scott Deasy, Alan Bennie; Jacob Walshe, Tyrone Moran, Ian Prendiville (capt), Philip Donnellan, Stephen Gardiner, Willie Earle, Charlie Butterworth, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Ntinga Mpiko, Jack O’Sullivan, Gareth Molloy, Charlie McMickan, Barry Fitzgerald.

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UCD 23-11 Old Belvedere

Belfield Bowl

Impressive teenage centre Tommy O’Brien crossed for the third try of his fledgling league career as UCD gained a much-needed 23-11 victory over neighbours Old Belvedere.

Young number 10 Ciaran Frawley also caught the eye, converting first half tries from flanker Jonny Guy and O’Brien and then kicking ‘Belvo into submission with a hat-trick of second half penalties.

In very cold conditions, UCD warmed up the eager home crowd with the opening try from Guy, spreading the ball wide from a Belvedere knock-on and Guy reacted the quickest to a chip through.

Frawley converted and Belvedere scrum half Charlie Rock watched his first penalty attempt of the night fall short of the target, with both sides’ progress stilted by poor individual errors.

The visitors looked to have scored from a concerted spell of pressure but full-back Daniel Riordan was held up over the line. The students could not hold out a second time, though, and very good ball retention led to flanker Paul Pritchard scoring an unconverted effort in the corner.

Frustratingly for head coach Paul Cunningham, ‘Belvo coughed up a seven-pointer to O’Brien as UCD flooded forward almost straight from the restart. A late penalty from Rock, following a sin-binning for ‘College, left it at 14-8 for half-time.

Belvedere’s discipline let them down in the third quarter, a series of penalties allowing Frawley to push the margin out to 15 points. His second successive strike – probably his best kick of the night – came after a Greg Jones lineout steal and a strong run by hooker Sean McNulty.

‘Belvo recovered from Jonathan Slattery’s yellow card to heap the pressure back on the UCD defence in the final quarter. However, a lone penalty from replacement Willie Staunton was all they could muster as they fell to their third straight defeat.

UCD scorers:

Tries: Jonny Guy, Tommy O’Brien

Conversions: Ciaran Frawley x2

Penalties: Ciaran Frawley x3

Old Belvedere scorers:

Try: Paul Pritchard

Penalties: Charlie Rock, Willie Staunton

UCD: Andy Marks; Hugo Keenan, Stephen Murphy, Tommy O’Brien, Tom Fletcher; Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Glynn (capt); Mikey Moynihan, Sean McNulty, Liam Hyland, Emmet MacMahon, Brian Cawley, Jonny Guy, Alex Penny, Greg Jones.

Replacements: Gordon Frayne, Stephen McGivern, Jack Dwan, Nick Peters, Matthew Gilsenan.

OLD BELVEDERE: Daniel Riordan; Shane McDonald, Rob Cruess Callaghan, Sean Coughlan, David Brandon; Aaron Sheehan, Charlie Rock; Adam Howard, Cathal O’Flynn, Declan Lavery (capt), Jack Kelly, Karl Miller, Tom de Jongh, Paul Pritchard, Jonathan Slattery.

Replacements: James McWilliams-Grey, Ed Rossiter, Matt Ritani, Willie Staunton, Simon Killeen.

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Dublin University 10-30 Cork Constitution 

College Park

Quinlan put in another final performance from the boot [file pic]. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

It proved to be another memorable visit to the capital for Cork Constitution as they ran out comprehensive 30-10 winners over a disappointing Dublin University side at College Park on Saturday.

There was little to separate the teams during the first half, but a scoring blitz over the closing 40 minutes, which was capped off by an excellent individual try from captain Niall Kenneally, has moved Constitution up to third in the Division 1A table.

Con’s ever-dependable out-half Tomas Quinlan split the posts with a routine 30-metre penalty in the fourth minute, while the visitors held firm after Trinity twice opted for touch rather than kick at goal.

Strong carries from Rob Jermyn and Conor Kindregan forced the students onto the back foot, and just past the 20-minute mark, Quinlan doubled the lead from a tricky right hand angle.

The students’ decision to kick for touch from a third offensive penalty finally paid off in the 26th minute when pacy winger Colm Hogan squeezed through for a try in the left corner under severe pressure.

Fennelly’s superb touchline conversion edged Trinity in front, but even though it looked like they might hold out until half-time, a late Quinlan three-pointer gave the Leesiders a 9-7 interval cushion.

With four consecutive wins under their belts heading into this contest, Constitution were confident of pushing on when play resumed. Quinlan kicked to the corner from a 46th minute penalty, and a strong maul on the right flank was finished off by prop Liam O’Connor for a converted score.

With influential Cork Con lock Kindregan serving time in the sin-bin for a high-tackle, Trinity reduced their deficit with a Fennelly penalty. However, they could not make their numerical advantage count to any significant degree, and Kindregan capped his return by powering over the line from another enterprising attack with 14 minutes remaining.

Quinlan added to his tally from his second conversion attempt of the day, and when Kenneally broke free for a spectacular touchdown on the stroke of 70 minutes, he once again split the posts with relative ease.

This brought his personal tally up to 15 points, and although Brian Hickey’s men had to contend with a number of injuries throughout the course of a physical encounter, they found themselves in a commanding position as the final whistle approached.

With Sam Pim and skipper Jack Burke leading by example, Trinity almost claimed a consolation try in the dying moments, but the watertight Cork Con rearguard secured turnover possession before closing out the game.

Dublin University scorers:

Try: Colm Hogan

Conversion: James Fennelly

Penalty: James Fennelly

Cork Constitution scorers:

Tries: Liam O’Connor, Conor Kindregan, Niall Kenneally

Conversions: Tomas Quinlan x3

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Jack Kelly; Bryan Mollen, Michael Courtney, Kyle Dixon, Colm Hogan; James Fennelly, Daniel Joyce; Eric O’Sullivan, Paddy Finlay, Andrew Keating, Jack Burke (capt), Pierce Dargan, Sam Pim, Dermot O’Flynn, Tom Ryan.

Replacements: Liam Cronin, Fintan Murphy, Cian O’Dwyer, Tommy Whittle, Evan Dixon.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Liam O’Connell; JJ O’Neill, Niall Kenneally (capt), Ned Hodson, Rob Jermyn; Tomas Quinlan, John Poland; Liam O’Connor, Max Abbott, Rory Burke, Brian Hayes, Conor Kindregan, Graeme Lawler, James Murphy, Evan Mintern.

Replacements: Ger Sweeney, Gavin Duffy, Cian Barry, Ross O’Neill, Jason Higgins, Shane Daly, Michael Clune.

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Terenure College 13-21 Clontarf

Lakelands Park

Defending champions Clontarf ended their three-match losing run with a determined 21-13 dismissal of bottom side Terenure at Lakelands Park.

Tries in each half from Ireland Club international captain Matt D’Arcy – taking his haul for the season to six – got ‘Tarf over the line, with ‘Nure’s late touchdown from scrum half Kevin O’Neill not even enough for a losing bonus point.

Former Ireland Under-20 international Harrison Brewer, who is back from a spell in New Zealand, featured in the back row for the hosts, while the Clontarf pack was backboned by powerful young prop Vakh Abdaladze and Leinster lock Mick Kearney.

Full-backs Rob Keogh and Jake Swaine swapped penalties before D’Arcy burst through for his opening try early in the second quarter, following some neat interplay with his centre partner Michael Brown.

Keogh, who surprisingly missed the conversion, made amends with a 35-metre penalty on the half hour mark. However, Clontarf lost both Kearney and hooker Jonathan Larbey to the sin-bin in the closing stages of the first half and Terenure duly struck back.

A late lineout maul was finished off by lock John Dever out wide, reducing the deficit to 11-8 for half-time. James Blaney’s men failed to fully stretch ‘Tarf, though, and they then lost their number 8 Eoin Joyce to a yellow card.

The scoreboard was untroubled apart from a Mick McGrath chance, before a powerful ‘Tarf scrum set up a 63rd minute penalty which Keogh brilliantly landed from long range.

He dropped another place-kick short of the posts, but D’Arcy came up trumps with his second try, diving over on the right for a well-worked 73rd minute score.

Terenure, who currently have Dublin Gaelic football star Kevin McManamon as part of their backroom team, had the final say when clever work by scrum half O’Neill from a maul on the right wing saw him touch down. However, summing up ‘Nure’s current struggles, Swaine was short with his conversion attempt and the hosts missed out on a losing bonus point.

Terenure College scorers:

Tries: John Dever, Kevin O’Neill

Penalties: Jake Swaine

Clontarf scorers:

Tries: Matt D’Arcy x2

Conversion: Rob Keogh

Penalties: Rob Keogh x3

TERENURE COLLEGE: Jake Swaine; Niall Thornton, Conor Finn, Marc Hiney, Robbie Murphy; James O’Donoghue, Kevin O’Neill; Kieran Moloney, Robbie Smyth, Conor McCormack, John Dever, Kyle McCoy, Harrison Brewer, James O’Neill, Eoin Joyce.

Replacements: Risteard Byrne, Cian Madden, Stephen Caffrey, Thomas Burke.

CLONTARF: Rob Keogh; Rob McGrath, Michael Brown, Matt D’Arcy, Mick McGrath; Mark Sutton, Peter du Toit; Vakh Abdaladze, Jonathan Larbey, Royce Burke-Flynn, Ben Reilly (capt), Mick Kearney, Michael Nooney, Adrian D’Arcy, Tony Ryan.

Replacements: Niall Carson, Karl Moran, Dylan Doyle, Sam Cronin, Jack Power.

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Young Munster 11-13 Garryowen

Tom Clifford Park

Young Munster Head Coach Gearoid Pendergast [file pic]. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Garryowen surprised round 7 leaders Young Munster by overcoming the Cookies 13-11 in a typically tense and thrilling Limerick derby at Tom Clifford Park.

Captain Neil Cronin, who had Munster prospect Bill Johnston alongside him at half-back, kicked a levelling 73rd-minute penalty and then converted winger Liam Coombes’ second try in as many games.

Munsters, who had led 6-3 at half-time, did hit back in the very last passage of play, second row Tom Goggin getting over following a series of close-in scrums. However, the conversion was narrowly missed, leaving the Light Blues to celebrate only their second win in five outings.

The hosts were chasing their fourth successive victory and an initial penalty from full-back David O’Mahony gave them a deserved lead, four minutes in.

Scoring chances were few and far between during a rather dour first half, scrum half Cronin missing his opening shot at the posts with 18 minutes on the clock.

Munsters could not turn pressure into points, although a Jack Harrington penalty cancelled out a successful Cronin kick to maintain their three-point advantage up to the interval.

Either side of half-time, Garryowen suffered a couple of setbacks when lock Paul McCarroll was sin-binned for collapsing a maul and there was a 10-minute delay, early in the second period, while injured flanker Johnny Keane was tended to.

An update from the Garryowen camp confirmed that Keane was cleared of a suspected broken jaw. Following concussion, he stayed in hospital overnight and would no doubt have been cheered by the result of the game.

When the game resumed, Munsters turned down a kick at the posts in favour of a five-metre scrum and the decision backfired as stubborn Garryowen just about held out. A subsequent penalty shot was also missed.

The growing frustration was obvious as Munsters flanker Alan Kennedy saw yellow and Cronin mopped up with the levelling three points, setting up a nail-biting finish at six-all.

Then, very much against the run of play, Coombes showed his pace off the mark to gobble up a kick through and score a vital try which Cronin coolly converted, opening up a seven-point gap.

The injury-enforced departure of Garryowen prop Niall Horan led to uncontested scrums in the final minutes and although Goggin eventually broke the visitors’ resistance, the conversion attempt went inches wide of the left hand post.

Young Munster scorers:

Try: Tom Goggin

Penalties: David O’Mahony, Jack Harrington

Garryowen scorers:

Try: Liam Coombes

Conversion: Neil Cronin

Penalties: Neil Cronin x2

YOUNG MUNSTER: David O’Mahony; Craig O’Hanlon, Jack Harrington, Dan Goggin, Calvin Nash; Alan Tynan, Rob Guerin; Gavin Ryan, Ger Slattery (capt), Colm Skehan, Fineen Wycherly, Tom Goggin, Alan Kennedy, Dan Walsh, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Shane Airey, Conor Bartley, David Begley, Darren Ryan, Abrie Griesel.

GARRYOWEN: Andrew O’Byrne; Steve McMahon, David Johnston, Dave McCarthy, Liam Coombes; Bill Johnston, Neil Cronin (capt); Niall Horan, John Mark Griffin, Barry McNamara, Paul McCarroll, Barra O’Byrne, Johnny Keane, Elliott Fitzgerald, Bailey Faloon.

Replacements: Michael O’Donnell, Ger Horan, Caolan Moloney, Dara Shanahan, Hugh O’Brien-Cunningham.

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Division 1B

Naas 13-10 UL Bohemians 10

Forenaughts

Former Division 1B leaders UL Bohemians suffered their second defeat in three games as Naas player-coach Johne Murphy emerged as his side’s hero at Forenaughts.

Murphy, playing at outside centre, planted the decisive drop goal through the posts in the 78th minute, keeping the fifth-placed Kildare men within reach of the leading clubs.

UL did make a flying start, Finbar Aherne crossing in the second minute for his fifth try of the campaign, converted by his centre partner Rick McKenna who also landed a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Naas were 10-5 behind at the break, their first half highlight being an unconverted 35th minute effort from winger Fionn Carr who will miss Naas’ trip to Old Wesley next weekend as he is away with the Ireland Men’s Sevens squad in Dubai.

Notably, Bohemians were held scoreless over the closing 40 minutes, quite a feat considering they are the third top scorers in the division. Left winger Rob O’Connor crept through for a 43rd minute try for Naas, the conversion going off target at 10-all.

Defences were on top for much of the remainder, both sides showing a lack of composure in attacking situations. A draw looked increasingly likely until Murphy took on the mantle of match winner for the hosts.

Naas scorers:

Tries: Fionn Carr, Rob O’Connor

Drop: Johne Murphy

UL Bohemians scorers:

Try: Finbar Aherne

Conversion: Rick McKenna

Penalty: Rick McKenna

NAAS: Peter Osborne; Fionn Carr, Johne Murphy, Henry Bryce, Rob O’Connor; Ben Swindlehurst, David Barron; Jordan Duggan, Graham Reynolds, Adam Coyle, Paul Monahan, David Benn, Andrew Kearney, Will O’Brien (capt), Paulie Tolofua.

Replacements: Conor Johnson, Jason Harney, Eoin Walsh, Michael Skelton, Andrew Shanahan.

UL BOHEMIANS: Joe Murray; Jamie McNamara, Finbar Aherne, Rick McKenna, Cian Aherne; Robbie Bourke, James Lennon; Joe Conway, David Rowsome, Mike Lynch, Ed Kelly, Daragh Frawley, Noel Kinane, Ian Condell (capt), Brian Walsh.

Replacements: Philip Poillot, Peter King, Pat Staff, Harry Fleming, Colin Ryan.

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Ballynahinch 18-28 Ballymena 

Ballymacarn Park

Ballymena came out on top in the Ulster derby. Presseye / Declan Roughan/INPHO Presseye / Declan Roughan/INPHO / Declan Roughan/INPHO

Ballynahinch are now five points behind Naas in the league table after losing this end-to-end Ulster derby to Ballymena at Ballymacarn Park.

Injuries and player unavailability hampered ‘Hinch as they went down 28-18 to the Braidmen just a week on from reaching another Ulster Senior Cup final.

In what was a very entertaining tussle, Ballymena seemed to have the stronger line-up and they established early control of the scoreboard with a converted try from industrious number 8 Stephen Mulholland.

Chris Quinn and the fit-again Ritchie McMaster swapped penalties and they did likewise in the second quarter, after Ballymena winger James Beattie had broken through for a try.

‘Hinch, who were also beaten at home by UCC in the last round, responded as half-time approached, scrum half Chris Gibson breaking from the back of the set piece and setting up winger Davy Nicholson for a try out wide.

20-11 at the interval turned into 25-11 when Jordan Foster joined his wing colleague Beattie on the scoresheet. But Andy Graham’s men had to ride out a tricky period, yellow cards for McMaster and hooker John Andrew putting them under serious pressure with ‘Hinch forcing a penalty try, converted by Quinn.

The margin now down to 25-18, McMaster returned from his spell off for a high tackle and slotted over what proved to be the match-winning penalty in the 66th minute. There was no quarter asked or given in a bruising climax, but Ballymena held on to take home four valuable points and give themselves a boost ahead of next week’s visit of table toppers Buccaneers.

Ballynahinch scorers:

Tries: Davy Nicholson, Penalty try

Conversions: Chris Quinn

Penalties: Chris Quinn x2

Ballymena scorers:

Tries: Stephen Mulholland, James Beattie, Jordan Foster

Conversions: Ritchie McMaster x2

Penalties: Ritchie McMaster x3

BALLYNAHINCH: Chris Quinn; Davy Nicholson, Sam Windsor, Stuart Morrow, Chris Orr; Johnny McPhillips, Chris Gibson; Jonny Simpson, Jonny Murphy, Craig Trenier, Michael Graham (capt), James Simpson, Conor Joyce, Callum Irvine, Gareth Gill.

Replacements: Jonny Blair, Andrew Harper, Conor Phillips, James McBriar, Jordan Grattan.

BALLYMENA: Rodger McBurney; Jordan Foster, Callum Patterson, Mark Best, James Beattie; Ritchie McMaster, Dave Shanahan; Adrian Kirkpatrick, John Andrew, Chris Cundell, Kieran Treadwell, David Whann (capt), Connor Smyth, Tony McGuinness, Stephen Mulholland.

Replacements: Bryan Young, Adam McBurney, Mark Foster, Glenn Baillie, John Creighton.

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UCC 15-25 Dolphin

Mardyke

Doughty Dolphin picked up their second Division 1B victory on the bounce by seeing off the challenge of Cork rivals UCC on a 25-15 scoreline on Friday night.

The Mardyke floodlights failed for a 20-minute spell before the break, but David Corkery’s men were fully switched on for this derby tussle as first half tries from Munster prop Brian Scott and skipper John Fitzgerald (2) saw them recover strongly from a 10-0 deficit.

UCC showed the form which saw they defeat Ballynahinch away in the last round, an excellent penalty from Kevin O’Keeffe giving them a 16th minute lead.

The student side pushed on with a very well-worked try from centre Murray Linn whose powerful midfield charge, which left two Dolphin defenders flailing, came from clean lineout ball won by Darragh Moloney and a good set-up from half-backs Charlie O’Regan and Tom Kiersey.

That converted score seemed to wake Dolphin up, their pack really taking the game by the scruff of the neck. Four minutes after Linn’s try, tighthead Scott crossed at the other end for Cillian Monahan to convert.

Confident that their forwards could deliver again, the visitors turned down a kickable penalty and pressed from a close-in maul, the backs also getting involved as flanker Fitzgerald powered over.

Monahan’s successful conversion and another maul try from Fitzgerald came either side of the blackout, the half coming to a close with Dolphin 19-10 to the good.

Out-half Monahan needed to be accurate with two more penalties in the second half to seal the result. UCC sandwiched in a nicely taken try from Ben Mitchell in the 57th minute, O’Regan’s inviting short pass seeing the big lock burst in between two would-be tacklers to go over under the posts. However, the conversion was charged down and Monahan duly completed his 10-point haul to give the derby spoils to the visitors.

UCC scorers:

Tries: Murray Linn, Ben Mitchell

Conversion: Kevin O’Keeffe

Penalty: Kevin O’Keeffe

Dolphin scorers:

Tries: Brian Scott, John Fitzgerald x2;

Conversions: Cillian Monahan x2

Penalties: Cillian Monahan x2

UCC: Chris McAuliffe; Kevin O’Keeffe, Kevin Slater (capt), Murray Linn, Rory Slater; Tom Kiersey, Charlie O’Regan; Peter McCabe, Ben Burns, Rob O’Donovan, Darragh Moloney, Ben Mitchell, Conor Barry, Cathal Gallagher, Richie Moran.

Replacements: Charlie Slowey, Shane O’Hanlon, Graham Smith, Richard Walsh, Darragh Dennehy.

DOLPHIN: Timmy Phelan; Gerry Ryan, Cian McGovern, Sam Kennedy, Will Hanly; Cillian Monahan, Killian O’Keeffe; James Rochford, Liam Walsh, Brian Scott, Rob O’Herlihy, Dave O’Mahoney, John Fitzgerald (capt), Kevin Allen, Ryan Murphy.

Replacements: John Leahy, David Byrne, Lar Coughlan, Karl Keogh, Anthony Mason, Daryl Foley, Ian O’Donoghue.

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Shannon 24-24 Old Wesley

Coonagh

Old Wesley Head Coach Morgan Lennon [file pic]. Presseye / John McIlwaine/INPHO Presseye / John McIlwaine/INPHO / John McIlwaine/INPHO

There were mixed emotions for both Shannon and Old Wesley at the end of an enthralling 24-all draw played in bitterly cold conditions at Coonagh.

A three-try second half had Shannon on the verge of a superb comeback victory, but Wesley winger Barry McLaughlin – now with 103 points to his name already this season – landed the levelling penalty in the 59th minute.

A seventh defeat of the campaign was on the cards for Marcus Horan’s charges when they trailed 14-5 at half-time, the visitors quickly hitting their stride with a third-minute maul try from hooker Conor Maguire, converted by McLaughlin.

Shannon delighted the home support with a try of their own five minutes later, the forwards pressed from a lineout on the right before possession was swept across to the opposite wing where full-back Ronan McKenna finished off some crisp passing.

McKenna could not convert and Wesley caught Shannon out with Tim Clifford’s cross-field kick for McLaughlin to touch down in the 18th minute. With a penalty won, the out-half’s quick thinking paved the way for a second seven-pointer.

Although nine points down, there were promising signs for Shannon with a couple of scrum penalties won, scrum half Keith Kavanagh breaking downfield from a lineout and number 8 John Foley also carrying strongly.

A yellow card for prop David Henshaw before the interval left Wesley with 14 men, and further indiscipline was punished in the second half as both Clifford and McLaughlin were sin-binned.

Shannon had a second unconverted effort just two minutes in, a well-constructed maul seeing hooker Ty Chan get over. Replacement winger Paul Harte hit back for Wesley, winning the race to his own kick through for a third converted score – 21-10.

Clifford’s 51st-minute yellow card for a high tackle preceded another strong spell from the Shannon pack which again contained veteran lock Tom Hayes. Their maul teed up a converted try for flanker and captain Lee Nicholas.

Barely three minutes later, a stunning break from Shane Mullally saw Shannon hit the front at 24-21 and secure their bonus point. With the action swinging quickly to opposite ends of the pitch, Wesley were level by the hour mark thanks to a McLaughlin kick from in front of the posts.

Shannon scorers:

Tries: Ronan McKenna, Ty Chan, Lee Nicholas, Shane Mullally

Conversions: Ronan McKenna x2Old Wesley scorers:

Tries: Conor Maguire, Barry McLaughlin, Paul Harte

Conversions: Barry McLaughlin x3

Penalty: Barry McLaughlin

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Division 2A

Sunday’s Well 23-17 Nenagh Ormond

Musgrave Park 

Banbridge 33-10 Galway Corinthians

Rifle Park 

Belfast Harlequins 15-32 Queens University

Deramore Park 

Blackrock College 18-24 Malone

Stradbrook 

Cashel 6-13 Highfield

Spafield 

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Division 2B

Bective Rangers 18-22 MU Barnhall

Donnybrook 

Greystones 18-28 Armagh

Dr Hickey Park 

Wanderers 33-11 Skerries

Merrion Road 

City Of Derry P-P Dungannon

Judge’s Road 

Old Crescent 29-20 Thomond

Rosbrien —

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Division 2C

Boyne 22-28 Tullamore

Shamrock Lodge 

Seapoint 16-29 Sligo

Kilbogget Park 

Bangor 6-13 Bruff

Upritchard Park 

Midleton 9-7 Navan

Towns Park 

Rainey 26-5 Kanturk

Hatrick Park 

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