All-Ireland League: The last full day of the AIB All-Ireland League wouldn't be complete without some traditional last-day dramatics and nowhere was this more in evidence than in the Division One relegation scrap.
At various stages throughout the second halves on the Lansdowne Road back pitch and at Oakpark, Dublin University, Carlow and Lansdowne were each in turn poised precariously above the trapdoor.
Ultimately, a 20-20 draw at Lansdowne Road between the home side and Trinity, combined with Carlow's comeback and bonus point in a 29-22 defeat to UCD, consigned Lansdowne to the one-off relegation/promotion play-off at home to UCC next Saturday.
Soon after the interval at both venues, Lansdowne looked best placed of all. Despite beginning the day two points below Trinity and Carlow, they had motored into a deserved 20-6 half-time lead. Their halves - Shane Whelan and Andy Tallon, peppered the corners and their full-timers, John Lynn, the ubiquitous Niall Ronan and Aidan McCullen, led the way with some strong ball-carrying and offloading for tries by Ronan, Fiachra Baynes (a cracking, multi-phase effort) and Tallon.
Over at Oakpark, UCD (no doubt harbouring mixed feelings about doing Trinity an apparent favour) had moved 22-6 ahead and at that juncture Trinity were clinging on by points difference ahead of Carlow. But their status as draw specialists demonstrates the spirit in Trinity. Availing of Enda Bohan's sinbinning - an inevitable product of Lansdowne's ill-discipline at mauls and the breakdown - to monopolise possession, their pack hammered away at the Lansdowne line for tries by flanker and captain Hugh Hogan, and centre Barry Kinsella, to draw level.
Meantime, Richie Murphy took his tally to five penalties and converted a try by stalwart prop Pauric Brennan to bring Carlow level, making UCD's winning try by Conor Davis academic. As word filtered through to Lansdowne, Whelan was well short from half-way and both Tallon and Johnny Murphy attempted abortive drop-goal efforts as Trinity comfortably held on for a draw which was rapturously celebrated on the pitch.
Both their head coach Tony Smeeth and his Lansdowne counterpart Andy Doyle highlighted the need to remain in Division One and thus retain their clubs' successful under-20 production lines.
This prompted Doyle to plead for current, lapsed and former members to come out in force for what he described as "as important a game as any the club has faced in the history of the All-Ireland League next Saturday".
The upper tier of the top flight was, by comparison, fairly routine, with Shannon and Garryowen ensuring home semi-finals courtesy of 27-20 and 26-20 wins at home to Cork Constitution and Blackrock. Belfast Harlequins' 6-0 win over Clontarf obliges the latter to end Shannon's eight-match winning sequence.
Dolphin began the day at the top of Division Two but, having completed their programme, probably feared the worst and were duly gazumped by the three teams below them. UL Bohemians, after years of knocking on the door, and St Mary's - at the first time of asking - ensured automatic promotion with 22-5 and 33-19 wins away to Ballynahinch and at home to Barnhall.
The St Mary's win would have given them some misgivings given their close relationship with Barnhall over the years, as it consigned the Kildare club to a relegation/promotion play-off against Clonakilty next Saturday. UCC earned their tilt at Lansdowne for a place in next season's expanded Division One with a six-try 47-18 rout of Thomond.
In Division Three, all that remained was for Instonians and Suttonians to edge out Ards for the remaining semi-final places.
Playoff dates:
DIVISION ONE
Saturday, April 23rd: Relegation/ Promotion play-off: Lansdowne v UCC, Lansdowne Road.
Saturday, April 30th: Semi-finals: Shannon v Clontarf, Thomond Park; Garryowen v Belfast Harlequins, Dooradoyle.
DIVISION TWO
Promoted: UL Bohemians and St Mary's.
Saturday, April 23rd: Relegation / Promotion play-off: Barnhall v Clonakilty, Parsonstown.
Saturday, April 23rd: Semi-finals: Ul Bohemians v Dolphin, Thomond Park; St Mary's v UCC, Templeville Road.
DIVISION THREE
Promoted: Greystones.
Relegated: Ballina.
Saturday, April 30th: Semi-finals: Greystones v Suttonians, Dr Hickey Park; Clonakilty v Instonians, The Vale.
