All Ireland Cup Round-up:Year two of the AIB All-Ireland Cup and already it is certain a new club will be engraved alongside Cork Constitution after the defending champions were knocked out of the competition by St Mary's College at Templeville Road on Saturday. This fixture was a repeat of last season's final but with a contrasting result.
The 16-9 victory once again showed the importance of Jonathan Sexton to St Mary's aspirations of a return to former glory. The young outhalf drives this team along and remains the best candidate to replace Felipe Contepomi in the Leinster side when the Argentina international eventually returns home or starts practising medicine on a full-time basis.
Sexton may have to wait a few years for the Leinster number 10 shirt but his assured kicking here, three penalties and a conversion of Hugh Hogan's try, brought a composure to proceedings.Now he needs time to further develop the consistency required to play at the highest level.
There were three more reversals in the first-round ties. Garryowen avenged the pre-Christmas defeat to Buccaneers with a 16-13 victory at Dooradoyle. Eoghan Hickey kicked three first-half penalties to fend off a late surge from the visitors, which included a Gareth Halligan try set up by a sparkling break from teenager Aidan Wynne.
Shannon corrected last week's league defeat to Clontarf in Thomond Park with a 22-13 win, while UCD addressed a 40-10 hammering to Ballymena with an 18-16 victory back at Eaton Park.
Elsewhere, Welshman Paul Young's revolution at Galwegians continued as they brushed Dungannon aside 40-3, Terenure dismissed Malone 12-7 while Belfast Harlequins made hard work of overcoming division three side Nenagh Ormond.
Clonakilty are the only division two club in tomorrow's quarter-final draw after they beat Greystones 8-0 at the Vale.
