All-Ireland League Round-up:The All-Ireland League play-off spots appear to be sown up after victories for the usual suspects - Cork Con, Shannon, Clontarf and Garryowen - ensured a sizeable gap has now opened from the chasing pack.
The most significant result of the weekend came at Castle Avenue as Dublin's perennial representatives in the semi-finals, Clontarf, engineered an injury-time try for wing Derek Keane to clinch a 10-8 win over UL Bohemian. A similar last-gasp trick was performed against Old Belvedere last week.
The result puts UL Bohs nine points adrift of a play-off berth and, despite a game in hand, they look to have missed the boat.
The same can be said of Blackrock, whose failure to beat relegation strugglers Greystones has severely damaged their chances of making the knockout stages for the first time. What must really rankle is they were in control, leading 22-13 at half-time with the bonus point secured by two tries apiece from wingers Niall Morris and David Rowan.
However, fullback Fionn Carr landed only one from seven shots at goal, including an injury- time miss. The Greystones revival came via a second-half try from captain Stuart Abbott while former Blackrock schoolboy James Power added the vital conversion and penalty to seal a 23-22 win that takes them out of the bottom two.
Cork Con went two points clear of second placed Shannon after a five-try 40-12 demolition of Dungannon at Temple Hill. Richard Lane scored two tries, while Cronan Healy broke coach Brian Walsh's club record with his 34th league and cup try.
Tom Gleeson and Ed Leamy also got in on the act with Jeremy Manning kicking 15 points.
When the AIL returns on February 16th, Clontarf host Con in what can be interpreted as a battle for a home semi-final.
Elsewhere, Shannon struggled to see off Galwegians at Coonagh, eventually winning 16-5, despite the presence of Alan Quinlan (getting in some practice at number eight ahead of the Ireland A v England Saxons fixture next Friday) and Tony Buckley. It took the introduction of the long-serving flanker Colm McMahon to claim the decisive try.
Garryowen had Gerry Hurley to thank for kicking a late penalty to see off Terenure, 12-10, in a tight contest at Dooradoyle.
They remain on course to repeat last season's league and cup double with Clontarf away next weekend in the AIB Cup quarter-final.
Dolphin went fifth thanks to a Barry Keeshan-inspired 19-12 win over Ballymena and St Mary's saw off an Old Belvedere revival at Templeville Road, 23-22.
Lansdowne's survival in Division One is in serious doubt after they lost 29-16 to UCD at the RDS with Vasily Artemiev gliding over for the pick of the students' three tries, while Killian Lett accounted for the other 14 points. UCD face Blackrock at Stradbrook in the cup quarter-final next Sunday.
