Sport

Staunton delivers for Young Munster

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: A LAST-MINUTE penalty from outhalf Willie Staunton helped Young Munster retain their place at the top of…

Mon Nov 28 2011 - 00:00

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE:A LAST-MINUTE penalty from outhalf Willie Staunton helped Young Munster retain their place at the top of the Division 1A table with a valuable 15-13 victory over Lansdowne at Tom Clifford Park.

Staunton, normally the most reliable of goalkickers, had seen four out of five previous second -half efforts go wide.

But, from a position wide out to the left, he struck his fifth successful penalty of the game to give the home side victory after Lansdowne, helped by a try from Matt Healy, had led 10-9 at the interval.

As a consequence, the Limerick outfit remain on top of the table, now just one point ahead of their nearest rivals Clontarf who bounced back from their first defeat of the season in some style by trouncing Shannon 29-8 at Castle Avenue.

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To make matters complete, they scored four tries through Simon Crawford (two), skipper Barry O’Mahony and Killian Lett. A disappointing Shannon could only manage one try through fullback David O’Donovan.

Cork Constitution are third on points difference ahead of St Mary’s following a hard-earned 17-14 success over Blackrock College at Stradbrook.

Cork Con appeared to be in some trouble when trailing 14-7 at the interval. Outhalf Darragh Fitzpatrick had scored all of Blackrock’s points with a try and three penalties. But Con came good in the second half when their impressive flanker Brian O’Hara went over for his second try of the game. Gerry Hurley landed the rest of Con’s points.

Blackrock remain at the bottom of the table on points difference behind Dolphin and Old Belvedere. Once again, Dolphin were unable to make pressure pay as they went down 14-9 at home to Garryowen.

Garryowen got two tries through Lorcan Burke and Corey Hircock, while Barry Keeshan kicked all Dolphin’s points.

Ballynahinch’s 17-3 win over Bruff moved them back to the top of Division 1B after Buccaneers suffered their first defeat of the season when losing 19-14 away to Belfast Harlequins. The accurate goalkicking of Belfast Harlequins’s Michael Heaney proved to be the difference between the sides.

Ballymena just a point behind the leaders after trouncing UL Bohemians 30-13 at Annacotty.

Dungannon picked up a bonus point after their 27-14 win over UCC while improving Galwegians defeated UCD 26-13 at Belfield.