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All-Ireland Cup : The only game of substance on the opening Saturday of the AIB Cup came at Castle Avenue as Clontarf overcame…

All-Ireland Cup: The only game of substance on the opening Saturday of the AIB Cup came at Castle Avenue as Clontarf overcame a 20-point deficit to progress to the quarter-finals at the expense of fellow Division One side Dungannon.

It finished 30-20 with a late try from winger Peter Woods putting a gloss on the final scoreline.

Malone pushed Terenure at Lakelands before the Division Two leaders pulled away in the final quarter with Mark Mahony crossing for their second try while a Brian Flanagan drop goal pushed them to a 19-12 victory.

Belfast Harlequins, Buccaneers and Garryowen swept past Division Two opposition. Quins are now Ulster's sole representative in the competition after they crossed for eight tries in the 50-12 destruction of Suttonians at the Grafton Arena. Buccaneers defeated DSLP in Kilternan, 50-13, with Tom Cregan crossing for three and converting five of the Pirates' eight tries.

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Garryowen arrived at Musgrave Park with too much firepower for Dolphin to handle as a quality backrow of Anthony Kavanagh, John O'Sullivan and Paul Neville ensured a back line, conducted by Paul Burke, was presented with plenty of go-forward ball. It was 26-0 by the break after tries from John O'Sullivan, Kavanagh, Kevin Hartigan and Cillian O'Boyle. O'Boyle twisted the knife with a second try.

The Greystones versus St Mary's fixture has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 29th.

The draw date for the quarter-finals will be announced this week, expected to take place in early January, with the games to be played on February 11th.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent