Galwegians 41 Lansdowne 20, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: Brian Murphy, Josh Pimm, Ed O’Keeffe 2, Ciaran Gaffney; Con: Aidan Moynihan 2; Pens: Aidan Moynihan 3; Drop: Darragh Leader
Lansdowne: Tries: Mark Roche, Joe O’Brien, Tom Farrell; Con: Scott Deasy; Pen: Scott Deasy
HT: Galwegians 13 Lansdowne 8
Galwegians claimed the scalp of defending champions Lansdowne with a stunning 41-20 bonus point victory in front of a vocal home crowd at Crowley Park.
Young out-half Aidan Moynihan kicked two penalties and converted Brian Murphy’s 37th-minute try from the touchline to give ‘Wegians a 13-8 interval lead. Murphy’s score owed much to a fine burst from prop Jason East in the build-up.
A Joe O’Brien try from a charge down - two minutes into the second half - had Lansdowne ahead for the second time, but Matt Brown’s men went on to dominate the closing half hour. Winger Ed O’Keeffe continued his rich vein of form with a brace of tries, while Ciaran Gaffney and Josh Pimm also touched down late on.
Ballynahinch 24 Old Belvedere 34, Ballymacarn Park
Scorers: Ballynahinch: Tries: Lorcan Dow 2, Aaron Cairns; Cons: Richard Reaney 2, Manihera Eden; Pen: Manihera Eden Old Belvedere: Tries: Rory O’Loughlin 2, Shane McDonald, Daniel Riordan; Con: Steve Crosbie; Pens: Shane McDonald 2, Steve Crosbie 2
HT: Ballynahinch 14 Old Belvedere 26
Early tries from Rory O’Loughlin and Daniel Riordan set Old Belvedere on their way to a 34-24 bonus point triumph away to bottom side Ballynahinch.
Wingers Shane McDonald and O’Loughlin also crossed for ‘Belvo in the second period, with the latter’s 83rd-minute effort ensuring a five-point return for Paul Cunningham’s men who are up to second in the Division 1A table.
Ireland Under-20 international Lorcan Dow, who lined out at openside flanker for ‘Hinch, bagged a brace of first half tries. Ireland U-20 speedster Aaron Cairns dotted down to make it 29-24, but O’Loughlin had the final say for the Dubliners.
Cork Constitution 19 UCD 19, Temple Hill
Scorers: Cork Constitution: Try: Darren Sweetnam; Con: Tomas Quinlan; Pens: Tomas Quinlan 4
UCD: Tries: Barry Daly, Nick McCarthy, Penalty try; Cons: Liam Bourke 2
HT: Cork Constitution 16 UCD 5
A controversial late refereeing decision denied Cork Constitution a match-winning try as they drew 19-all with UCD at Temple Hill.
Cork Con looked comfortable at half-time, leading 16-5 after winger Darren Sweetnam touched down in the opening minute from a long clearance kick and outhalf Tomas Quinlan contributed the other 11 points from the tee.
A fourth Quinlan penalty made it 19-5 in the 54th minute, but UCD fought back with scrum half Nick McCarthy nipping in under the posts and a converted penalty try then brought them level. They survived some late drama as Con had a try disallowed and also missed a drop goal.
Terenure 23 Garryowen 22, Lakelands Park
Scorers: Terenure College: Tries: Stephen O'Neill, Ian Hanly; Cons: Jake Swaine 2; Pens: Jake Swaine 3
Garryowen: Tries: Josh Hrstich, Neil Cronin, Steve McMahon; Cons: Neil Cronin 2; Pen: Neil Cronin
HT: Terenure College 6 Garryowen 8
Young winger Jake Swaine’s 82nd-minute penalty guided Terenure College to a nail-biting 23-22 comeback win over three-try Garryowen at Lakelands Park.
Garryowen’s Kiwi captain Josh Hrstich crashed over on the end of a powerful early maul and was only just denied a second try approaching half-time, as Terenure struggled to cope with two yellow cards for Willie Devane (35 minutes) and Kevin O’Neill (37).
The Light Blues kept on course with converted efforts from Steve McMahon, who scored a brilliant breakaway score from his 22, and Neil Cronin for a 22-13 scoreline. However, Terenure snapped back to win by the minimum in the end as Swaine converted Stephen O’Neill’s 62nd-minute try in the corner and held his nerve to land the decisive penalty kick.
Young Munster 27 Clontarf 27, Tom Clifford Park
Scorers: Young Munster: Abrie Griesel, Darragh O’Neill, Diarmaid Dee; Cons: Paul Downes 3; Pens: Paul Downes 2
Clontarf: Tries: Karl Moran, Mick McGrath, Conor O’Brien; Cons: Joey Carbery 3; Pens: Joey Carbery 2
HT: Young Munster 13 Clontarf 21
Clontarf lost their grip on an 21-13 half-time advantage and needed a late Joey Carbery penalty to draw 27-27 with hosts Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park.
Despite missing out on a fourth straight victory, 'Tarf remain top of the Division 1A standings - a point clear of 'Belvo. Missed tackles from Munsters allowed the visitors through for three first half tries, including a sixth try in four outings for Leinster winger Mick McGrath.
Diarmaid Dee touched down from a rolling maul on the resumption, adding to an earlier effort from the Cookies’ new South African scrum half Abrie Griesel, and the Limerick side went 27-24 up thanks to a Darragh O’Neill try. But Carbery’s second three-pointer of the day ensured a share of the spoils.
