Cork Con remain on top of the AIB League Division One with 49 points following their 41-20 victory over Old Crescent this afternoon, with Galwegians in second with 47 points and Ballymena in third position.
Old Crescent 20-41 Cork Constitution
League leaders Cork Con scored a 41-20 victory over doomed Old Crescent this afternoon. Crescent started well with three penalties from Billy Tracy to give them a 9-3 lead at half-time with Ronan O'Gara scoring a penalty for Cork Con. In the second half, Cork Con stepped up a gear with a try from Donnacha O'Callaghan which O'Gara converted to lead 10-9. O'Gara and Tracy exchanged penalties before Brian Walsh scored a second try in the 62nd minute, which O'Gara converted. Further tries from Mick O'Driscoll, Derek Dillon and Colm O'Mahoney pushed Con beyond Cresent's reach with Billy Tracy topping a great individual performance with a consolation try in the dying minutes
Ballymena 44-27 Shannon
Ballymena are back in contention with a 44-27 win over Shannon and a bonus point for scoring five tries at Eaton Park this afternoon. Within five minutes of the start, Shannon led with a penalty from Andrew Thompson and a try from John Lacey. However, Ballymena levelled the score-line with a penalty, a try and a conversion from Neil Doak. Further tries from Rhys Botha, James Topping and Shane Stewart added to Ballymena's 31-3 lead at half-time. Three minutes into the second-half, Botha scored his team's fifth try before Shannon staged a mini-revival with tries from Marcus Horan and John Davis. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Doak sealed the victory for the Ulstermen with two penalties in the space of three minutes.
Terenure College 24-52 Galwegians
Galwegians maintained their push for the top spot with a resounding 52-24 victory over Terenure at Lakelands Park this afternoon. Man-of-the-match Eric Elwood opened the scoring with a penalty followed by an 11th minute try. Tim Allnutt added the second with full-back Gavin Duffy getting the third. In the second half, tries from Ger Brady, Pat Duignan and a second from Eric Elwood sealed victory for Galwegians. Terenure tried to respond with a try by David Coleman and a late consolation try by Peter O'Malley with two minutes remaining, but the result was secure for Galwegians.
Buccaneers 18-23 St Mary's
Buccaneers secured a bonus point for losing by less then seven points to remain hopeful of a place in Division One next season following a 18-23 defeat to St Mary's at Moher Road this afternoon. Simon Allnutt put the homeside ahead in the 20th minute with a penalty, but St Mary's soon equalised with a penalty kick from Mark McHugh. In the run-up to half-time, St Mary's scored 17 points including two tries from Peter McKenna and John McWeeney, both converted by McHugh, which gave St Mary's a 20-3 lead at the break. In the second half Justin Meagher scored a try for Buccaneers and Allnutt scored a penalty to trail 11-20. St Mary's extended their lead with a penalty from Mark McHugh before Jimmy Screen scored a push-over try 11 minutes from the end. Although Allnutt added the conversion, Mary's held onto their five-point lead to the final whistle.
Blackrock 32-29 Lansdowne
Alan McGowan scored a last minute penalty to secure a 32-29 win for Blackrock over Lansdowne at Stradbrook this afternoon. A try from John McGowan and a try and a penalty from McGowan added to Blackrock's 17-3 lead after just five minutes, but Lansdowne responded with tries from Colin McEntee and Bobby Geraghty to close the gap. In the second half, Shane Whelan scored a try with ten minutes remaining but it was not enough as McGowan scored a late penalty to give the points to Blackrock.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
