Cork Constitution overcame Ballynahinch to climb back into the top four of Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A.A 77th-minute try from Munster’s Seán French sealed a 26-15 bonus point victory at Temple Hill, as Con got the better of the relegation-threatened Ulster side.‘Hinch broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, their South African winger Shane Ball crossing in the corner via passes from Paddy Wright and Greg Hutley.Con, who had number 8 David Hyland stretchered off, touched down through John Forde and Max Abbott either side of half-time.A nice move off a scrum had Con’s Greg Higgins raiding over in the 66th minute. French stretched over for the bonus point score, before a late rally from ‘Hinch.
Bonus Point Wins for Top 3
The top flight’s leading three clubs also recorded bonus point victories, the largest of them coming at Lakelands Park where in-form Terenure College hammered UCD 60-8.Terenure scored six first half tries – and nine in all – with their slick skills out wide creating scores for Colm de Buitléar, captain Stephen O’Neill and Craig Adams, who ran in his ninth of the campaign.Bottom side UCC put it up to Clontarf, with an excellent intercept try from Timothy Duggan, but the league leaders prevailed 26-13 at Castle Avenue.‘Tarf hooker Dylan Donnellan’s 11th try of the season keeps him at the top of the scoring charts. Returning lock Cormac Daly, Adrian D’Arcy and Cian O’Donoghue also crossed.Out-half Peter Hastie scored 16 points in Lansdowne’s 46-5 dismissal of Garryowen, while Leinster Academy hooker Lee Barron scored two tries in Dublin University’s impressive 27-8 away defeat of Young Munster.
Division 1B
St Mary’s College were the only team to win on the road, as two tries each from captain Richie Halpin and Myles Carey guided them past Navan on a 36-28 scoreline.Winger Paul Stack weighed in with a brace in Highfield’s 19-8 victory over Banbridge, and Naas overcame Shannon 38-29, their skipper Peter Osborne contributing 13 points to take his season’s haul to a mammoth 133.Hooker Ben Burns’ 79th-minute maul try clinched a 22-7 triumph for table toppers Old Wesley against Old Belvedere.ENERGIA MEN’S ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE – ROUND 12 RESULTS:
DIVISION 1A
Clontarf 26 UCC 13
Cork Constitution 26 Ballynahinch 15
Lansdowne 46 Garryowen 5
Terenure College 60 UCD 8
Young Munster 8 Dublin University 27
Division 1B
Highfield 19 Banbridge 8
Malone v City Of Armagh (Covid-19-affected match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams are awarded two points)
Naas 38 Shannon 29
Navan 28 St. Mary’s College 36
Old Wesley 22 Old Belvedere 7
Division 2A
Cashel 22 Old Crescent 19MU Barnhall 50 Dolphin 24Nenagh Ormond 41 Ballymena 7Rainey Old Boys 3 Buccaneers 60UL Bohemians 5 Queen’s University 58Division 2B
Ballina 19 Dungannon 28Belfast Harlequins 32 Sligo 22Blackrock College 31 Wanderers 26Galway Corinthians 17 Malahide 37Greystones 59 Galwegians 7Division 2C
City of Derry 19 Midleton 20Enniscorthy 29 Bangor 25Omagh Academicals 6 Clonmel 8Sunday’s Well 14 Skerries 9Tullamore 28 Bruff 7
