Limerick Rugby

The results and details of today’s All-Ireland League

ROUND 12 unfolded as a weekend where pressure shaped performances and small moments carried heavy consequences, as the business end of the Energia All-Ireland League season comes sharply into focus.
Across the Men’s Divisions, there was a sense of urgency in the air, from title contenders laying down markers to relegation battlers scraping for inches, as teams wrestled not just with their opponents, but with the growing reality that every point now feels twice as valuable, with two thirds of the season played.
In Division 1A, Ballynahinch overpowered Lansdowne 34-13 with a five-try display. Aaron Sexton’s brace before the break gave the Ulstermen a 12-3 half-time lead but the second half belonged to Hinch, with Claytan Milligan, Pierce Crowe and Matthew Booth stretching the margin decisively.
At Temple Hill, Cork Constitution prevailed 19-18 in a Munster derby classic against Young Munster, a match that behaved like a seismograph. Young Munster led for long spells, but Con’s resilience paid off late, Johnny Murphy’s try on 79 minutes flipping the result before Dylan Hicks’ conversion nudged the door shut.
St Mary’s College produced one of the attacking statements of the round, running in seven tries in a 49-27 win away to Nenagh Ormond. Myles Carey’s first-half hat-trick set the tone, and despite Nenagh’s spirited response, Mary’s accuracy from the tee and depth off the bench kept the scoreboard ticking.
Terenure College shook off a dogged Clontarf challenge to win 31-15 at Lakelands Park, only the second time this season holders Clontarf tasted defeat. A brace of tries from Aran Egan and Arthur Ashmore, along with a Darragh Brooks try helped them move to third in the table.
Elsewhere, Old Belvedere ground out a 19-14 away win over UCD, overturning a 14-12 half-time deficit through a second-half try from Fionn McWey.
Division 1B delivered chaos with a capital C. Instonians overturned a 15 point half-time deficit to stun Queen’s University 29-22, making it 33 home wins in a row in Shaw’s Bridge. Dublin University pulled off something even stranger, recovering from a scoreless first half to beat Garryowen 31-29, David Colbert, Hugh Goddard, Zach Quirke, Artur Smykovskiy and Alex Finlay all crossing in a breathtaking second half display.
Naas caused an upset with a 24-17 win over top four chasing City of Armagh, while Old Wesley needed a late try from Jamie Clark to defeat Highfield 19-17 in a game decided by fine margins and finer nerve in Energia Park. At the Mardyke, UCC made first-half dominance count to see off Blackrock College 19-13, Neville O’Leary, Mark Hetherington, and Dawid Novak all crossing for tries.
In Division 2A, MU Barnhall made it 12 wins in a row with a 19-12 win away to Ballymena, Greg Edogun, Finn Brien and Abdul Olaosebikan crossing for their tries. Dungannon needed to weather a second half storm in their 24-21 Ulster derby victory over Banbridge.
Second half tries from Timothy Townsend, Rob Carney and a penalty try saw Cashel pull clear late to defeat Greystones 26-7, Wanderers held off a late Old Crescent surge to win 22-17, and Corinthians completed a stirring second-half turnaround to beat Shannon 27-22 after trailing 19-3 at the break to reignite their top four hopes.
Division 2B was rich in attacking rugby. Buccaneers held Malone at bay in a lively 27-22 encounter, Galwegians proved too strong for Enniscorthy in a 28-14 win to make it 12 bonus point wins in a row, and Clogher Valley left Navan with a deserved 24-14 victory. Rainey shaded Skerries 17-14, while UL Bohemian were emphatic at home, running in eight tries in a 52-17 win over Sligo.
In Division 2C, Bruff’s Wiktor Wilczuk stole the spotlight with four tries in a thrilling 38-28 win over Belfast Harlequins. Clonmel controlled proceedings against Midleton to win 31-17, Dolphin were clinical in a 28-7 victory over Ballyclare, and Monkstown defeated top of the table Thomond 19-17.
Results:
Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A
Ballynahinch 34-13 Lansdowne, Ballymacarn Park
Cork Constitution 19-18 Young Munster, Temple Hill
Nenagh Ormond 27-49 St Mary’s College, New Ormond Park
Terenure College 31-15 Clontarf, Lakelands Park
UCD 14-19 Old Belvedere, Belfield
Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B
Instonians 29-22 Queen’s University, Shaw’s Bridge
Dublin University 31-29 Garryowen, College Park
Naas 24-17 City Of Armagh, Forenaughts
Old Wesley 19-17 Highfield, Energia Park
UCC 19-13 Blackrock College, The Mardyke
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A
Ballymena 12-19 MU Barnhall, Eaton Park
Dungannon 24-21 Banbridge, Stevenson Park
Greystones 7-26 Cashel, Dr Hickey Park
Wanderers 22-17 Old Crescent, St Michael’s College 4G Pitch
Galway Corinthians 27-22 Shannon, Creggs
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B
Buccaneers 27-22 Malone, Dubarry Park
Enniscorthy 14-28 Galwegians, Alcast Park
Navan 14-24 Clogher Valley, Balreask Old
Skerries 14-17 Rainey, Holmpatrick
UL Bohemian 52-17 Sligo, UL 4G
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2C
Belfast Harlequins 28-38 Bruff, Deramore Park
Clonmel 31-17 Midleton, Rockwell College 4G
Dolphin 28-7 Ballyclare, Virgin Media Park
Malahide P-P Bective Rangers, Estuary Road
Thomond 21-0 Monkstown, Liam Fitzgerald Park

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