Division 1A
CLONTARF 20
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 23
ST MARY’S COLLEGE claimed the scalp of defending Ulster Bank League Division 1A champions Clontarf with a fine 23-20 win at Castle Avenue.
Young out-half Sean Kearns played a leading role once again for Mary’s, completing his 13-point kicking haul with the decisive penalty in the 77th minute.
Sean Kearns in schools action with Blackrock in 2014. Source: Colm O’Neill/INPHO
The visitors gave starts to flanker Caelan Doris, who captained the Ireland Under-18 Schools team last season, and ex-Trinity centre and skipper Paddy Lavelle, while Ireland Sevens international Terry Kennedy made the move to full-back.
Kearns converted tries from tighthead and captain Brian McGovern and scrum-half Paddy O’Driscoll to give Jamie Cornett’s eager side a hard-earned 17-12 interval lead.
In what was a forwards-dominated encounter, O’Driscoll was the only back to cross the whitewash with Tarf’s three touchdowns coming from props Vakh Abdaladze and Royce Burke Flynn and hard-carrying number eight Tony Ryan.
Abdaladze in action for Ireland U20s this summer. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO
Ryan’s score, coupled with a Rob Keogh penalty in the 74th minute, saw the title holders square things up at 20 apiece, but Kearns’ right boot guided Mary’s to their first victory of the league campaign.
Scorers
Clontarf: Try: Vakh Abdaladze, Tony Ryan, Royce Burke Flynn; Con: Rob Keogh; Pen: Rob Keogh.
St. Mary’s College: Tries: Brian McGovern, Paddy O’Driscoll; Cons: Sean Kearns 2; Pens: Sean Kearns 3.
CLONTARF: Rob Keogh; Rob McGrath, Conor O’Brien, Matt D’Arcy, Michael Brown; Evan Ryan, Dermot O’Meara; Vakh Abdaladze, Jonathan Larbery, Royce Burke Flynn, Ben Reilly (capt), Eoghan Browne, Michael Noone, Karl Moran, Anthony Ryan.
Replacements: Rory Litchfield, Neil Reilly, David Moore, Peter du Toit, Jack Power.
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: Terry Kennedy; Ian O’Neill, Paddy Lavelle, Ivan Dineen, Ryan O’Loughlin; Sean Kearns, Paddy O’Driscoll; Tom O’Reilly, Hugo Kean, Brian McGovern (capt), Ciaran Ruddock, Cathal O’Flaherty, Caelan Doris, David Aspil, Nick McCarthy.
Replacements: Richard Halpin, Emmet Ferron, Ian Cullinane, Mark Fogarty, Zach O’Hagan.
CORK CONSTITUTION 15
YOUNG MUNSTER 37
Munster back rower Robin Copeland touched down twice as Young Munster roared their way to a 37-15 bonus point success at Cork Constitution.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Gaining some revenge for last April’s semi-final defeat at Temple Hill, blindside Copeland’s try on the stroke of half-time had the Cookies leading 13-10.
In a slow-burning first half, a Tomas Quinlan penalty had put Cork Con on course for a 10-0 lead. Ireland Under 20 winger Shane Daly, playing at full-back, crossed in the 20th minute following a smashing break from Cian Barry.
However, Munsters, who brought two busloads of vocal supporters to the game, snapped back with successive penalties from winger David O’Mahony after 23 and 27 minutes.
Copeland’s first score, coupled with a penalty try, saw the visitors seize control up front and they were 25-10 to the good before the elusive Daly hit back for Con with his second try in the 63rd minute.
Having been beaten at home by Old Belvedere in a 71-point thriller last week, the Limerick men were determined to make amends on Leeside, and further tries from replacement Alan Kennedy and Copeland sealed their five-point return.
Scorers
Cork Constitution: Tries: Shane Daly 2; Con: Tomas Quinlan; Pen: Tomas Quinlan.
Young Munster: Tries: Robin Copeland 2, Penalty try, Alan Kennedy; Cons: David O’Mahony 3, Robin Copeland; Pens: David O’Mahony 2, Scott Allen.
CORK CONSTITUTION: Shane Daly; Liam O’Connell, Ned Hodson, Niall Kenneally (capt), Rob Jermyn; Tomas Quinlan, John Poland; Gavin Duffy, Max Abbott, Ger Sweeney, Brian Hayes, Conor Kindregan, Graeme Lawler, James Murphy, Evan Mintern.
Replacements: Liam O’Connor, Rory Burke, Sonny Dwyer, Jason Higgins, Cian Barry.
YOUNG MUNSTER: Alan Tynan; David O’Mahony, Calvin Nash, Mark Doyle, Jack Harrington; Abrie Griesel, Rob Guerin; Gavin Ryan, Ger Slattery, Colm Skehan, Alan Ross, Michael Madden, Robin Copeland, Dan Walsh, Sean Rennison.
Replacements: Peter Meyer, Evan Ryan, Alan Kennedy, Elie Mundu, Scott Allen.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 13
UCD 23
UCD opened their win account in Division 1A for this season by overcoming fierce rivals Trinity on a 23-13 scoreline.
In front of a large crowd at College Park, out-half Tom Foley (13 points) and try-scoring number eight Peadar Timmins were two key men for Andy Skehan’s victors.
Timmins in pre-season action with Leinster Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
Wingers Adam Byrne and Barry Daly bolstered UCD’s Leinster contingent, and it was Daly’s brilliant surge through the heart of the hosts’ defence that led to Timmins’ ninth-minute score.
Foley, a key figure for Cistercian College Roscrea in their Leinster Schools Senior Cup triumph in 2015, converted and added a penalty soon after for 10-0.
A Jack McDermott penalty, 25 minutes in, got Dublin University up and running, and although an extended spell of pressure saw McDermott split the posts again, two more penalties from the assured Foley had UCD 16-6 ahead at the interval.
Trinity’s Ireland Under-19 full-back Colm Hogan notched a terrific individual try in the 53rd minute to set up a nail-biting finish. Hogan cleverly chipped over the top and won the race to the bouncing ball, with McDermott’s kick making it 16-13.
McDermott missed a 71st minute penalty from a tricky angle and Foley was also wide at the other end, as the tension increased both on the pitch and off it.
It was UCD who had the final say thanks to their captain Jamie Glynn, who came on as a replacement for Leinster scrum half Nick McCarthy. Glynn finished off a prolonged attack with a try under the posts, converted by Foley for a 10-point winning margin.
Scorers
Dublin University: Try: Colm Hogan; Con: Jack McDermott; Pens: Jack McDermott 2.
UCD: Tries: Peadar Timmins, Jamie Glynn; Cons: Tom Foley 2; Pens: Tom Foley 3
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Colm Hogan; Bryan Mollen, Michael Courtney, Kyle Dixon, Evan Dixon, Jack McDermott, Rowan Osborne; Eric O’Sullivan, Paddy Finlay, Andrew Keating, Cian O’Dwyer, Jack Burke (capt), Sam Pim, Ross Todd, Pierce Dargan.
Replacements: James O’Donovan, Daniel Joyce, Liam Cronin, Fintan Murphy, Dermot O’Flynn.
UCD: Hugo Keenan; Adam Byrne, Stephen Murphy (capt), Jimmy O’Brien, Barry Daly; Tom Foley, Nick McCarthy; Andrew Porter, Sean McNulty, Jeremy Loughman, Emmet MacMahon, James Ryan, Greg Jones, Will Connors, Peadar Timmins.
Replacements: Gordon Frayne, Liam Hyland, Jack Regan, Jamie Glynn, Tom Fletcher.
LANSDOWNE 29
TERENURE COLLEGE 5
Lansdowne have pushed three points clear at the top of Division 1A following a 29-5 bonus point win over Terenure College.
Lansdowne’s Scott Deasy with Ian Hanly of Terenure at the Aviva today.. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
Mike Ruddock’s men now stand as the only team yet to taste defeat after the opening two rounds. Terenure, meanwhile, lie bottom of the table after their second defeat.
Running out on the main pitch at the Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne quickly established control of the scrum through their powerful front row of Peter Dooley, Tyrone Moran and captain Ian Prendiville.
Ian Prendiville gets a pass away under pressure. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
The Terenure scrum coughed up three penalties inside the opening 24 minutes and with their loosehead Kieran Moloney in the sin-bin on the half hour mark, Lansdowne duly forced a penalty try. Scott Deasy converted to add to his earlier penalty, giving the hosts a 10-0 interval advantage.
Defences were on top for much of the second period, however the 2015 champions strung together three tries in the final quarter to claim their second bonus point of the campaign.
Centre and Ireland Sevens captain Tom Daly, who was partnered by Mark Roche in midfield, crossed the whitewash as did front rowers Ntinga Mpiko and Dooley. ‘Nure salvaged some pride with an injury-time effort from centre Conor Finn.
Scorers
Lansdowne: Tries: Penalty try, Tom Daly, Ntinga Mpiko, Peter Dooley; Cons: Scott Deasy 3; Pen: Scott Deasy.
Terenure College: Try: Conor Finn
Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
LANSDOWNE: Eamonn Mills; Charlie McMickan, Mark Roche, Tom Daly, Daniel McEvoy; Scott Deasy, Alan Bennie; Peter Dooley, Tyrone Moran, Ian Prendiville (capt), Josh O’Rourke, Stephen Gardiner, Joe McSwiney, Willie Earle, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Ntinga Mpiko, Jack O’Sullivan, Matthew D’Arcy, Jake Howlett.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Ian Hanly; Jake Swaine, Conor Finn, James O’Donoghue, Sam Coghlan Murray; Marc Hiney, Mark O’Neill; Kieran Moloney, Adam Clerkin, Oisin Heffernan, Cathal Deans, John Dever, Robert Duke, James O’Neill, Kyle McCoy (capt).
Replacements: Robbie Smyth, Gary Hamilton, Eoin Joyce, Thomas Burke, Robbie Murphy.
OLD BELVEDERE 11
GARRYOWEN 13
Much-fancied Old Belvedere fell to a 13-11 defeat at the hands of Garryowen in a closely-fought contest at Anglesea Road.
Centre Andrew O’Byrne’s 25th-minute try, converted by captain Neil Cronin, gave the Light Blues a 7-5 lead for half-time.
Shane McDonald, who deputised for the absent Daniel Riordan at fullback, had responded for ‘Belvo just before the break, running in his third try in the space of a week.
Neil Cronin in action last season. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
A well-struck penalty from number 10 Willie Staunton, five minutes into the second half, should have seen the Dubliners push on, but Garryowen, back-boned by a superb defensive performance, had the measure of them in the end.
Cronin and Staunton swapped penalties before the former drilled over the match-winning three-pointer with little over 10 minutes remaining.
The result saw Garryowen get one over on their former head coach Paul Cunningham who fielded three ex-Light Blues in the ‘Belvo pack – front rowers Ed Rossiter and Declan Lavery and newly-signed number eight Dave Sherry.
Scorers
Old Belvedere: Try: Shane McDonald; Pens: Willie Staunton 2
Garryowen: Try: Andrew O’Byrne; Con: Neil Cronin; Pens: Neil Cronin 2
OLD BELVEDERE: Shane McDonald; Sean Coughlan, Ben Woods, John Kennedy (capt), David Brandon; Willie Staunton, Aaron Sheehan; Adam Howard, Ed Rossiter, Declan Lavery, Jack Kelly, Karl Miller, Michael Oyuga, Paul Pritchard, Dave Sherry.
Replacements: Cathal O’Flynn, Jonathan Inglis, Tom de Jongh, Robert Cruess Callaghan, Charlie Rock.
GARRYOWEN: Liam Coombes; Steve McMahon, Andrew O’Byrne, Joey Purcell, Peadar Collins; Jamie Gavin, Neil Cronin (capt); Niall Horan, Eamon Costello, Mike O’Donnell, Bailey Faloon, Sean O’Connor, Johnny Keane, Elliot Fitzgerald, Dara Shanahan.
Replacements: Caolan Moloney, Jack Mullany, Dave McCarthy, Hugh O’Brien-Cunningham, Ronan O’Halloran.
Division 1B
Ballymena 15
Naas 8
Recent Ulster debutant Matthew Rea produced a man-of-the-match performance as Ballymena ran out worthy winners over Naas at Eaton Park.
Rea in Ravens action in 2013. Source: Matt Mackey/Presseye.com
Number eight Rea was part of a strong pack that including fellow provincial players John Andrew, Kieran Treadwell and Stephen Mulholland, while Mark Best and Dave Shanahan both started behind the scrum.
Naas, who edged out Galwegians at home last week, played second fiddle to Ballymena in the first half, with tries from flanker Mulholland and classy centre Best giving Andy Graham’s men a 15-3 interval lead in wet conditions.
Out-half Peter Osborne’s 29th-minute penalty from Naas’ first incursion into Ballymena territory was the visitors’ only score until the hour mark. A tremendous break from player-coach Johne Murphy created the opening for full-back Fionn Higgins to touch down out wide with 61 minutes gone.
However, a subsequent leg injury suffered by Higgins held the game up for over half an hour. The teams resumed to play out the final nine minutes, with the Braidmen relatively untroubled in seeing out their second league win of the new season.
Scorers
Ballymena: Tries: Stephen Mulholland, Mark Best; Con: Mark Best; Pen: Mark Best.
Naas: Try: Fionn Higgins; Pen: Peter Osborne.
BALLYMENA: Rodger McBurney; Jordan Foster, Mark Best, Martin Irwin, Jonny Rosborough; Glenn Baillie, Dave Shanahan; Michael Lagan, John Andrew, Chris Cundell, David Whann, Kieran Treadwell, Connor Smyth, Stephen Mulholland, Matthew Rea.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Adrian Kirkpatrick, Tony McGuinness, Paddy James, John Creighton.
NAAS: Fionn Higgins; Rob O’Connor, Johne Murphy, Henry Bryce, Fionn Carr; Peter Osborne, Max Whittingham; Adam Coyle, Charlie Kings, Jason Harney, Paul Monahan, David Benn, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien, Paulie Tolofua.
Replacements: Graham Reynolds, Dan O’Byrne, Eoin Walsh, Warren Larkin, Andrew Shanahan.
Old Wesley 21
Dolphin 10
Old Wesley marked the opening of their new pavilion and clubhouse at Donnybrook with a two-try 21-10 dismissal of Dolphin.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and IRFU President Stephen Hilditch were both present for the official ceremony before Morgan Lennon’s Wesley side took to the 4G pitch to make it two wins from two.