Munster Conference

Young Munster’s dominant scrum had a big influence on their 27-15 derby win over Garryowen in Greenfields in the Energia Community Series. They dismantled the visitors’ set-piece for two penalty tries as they kept a tight hold of top spot in Munster Conference 1.

A massive power-surge from the Young Munster scrum earned them their first penalty try, just before half-time. Garryowen had forwards Pat O’Toole and Bailey Faloon sin-binned as they trailed 13-3.

Six minutes into the second half, Munsters’ Welsh number 8 Huw Worthington sped over from a maul. The visitors hammered back with a 12-point push, including tries from hard-working youngsters Evan Maher and Cian Huxford.

Yet, Gearóid Prendergast’s charges got back on top and their strong scrum eked out a 76th-minute penalty try. Munsters are on their travels in the next round, visiting a Cashel side who gave Cork Constitution plenty of trouble.

Former Con favourite Darragh Lyons, now Cashel’s player-coach, can be justly proud of his team’s performance in a 28-17 defeat to the Division 1A heavyweights. Powerhouse second row Cathal O’Flaherty charged over for two of Con’s four tries.

Old Crescent battled back for a deserved share of the spoils away to UCC, with replacement lock Seán Monaghan and flying winger Val McDermott both crossing during the final 11 minutes to make it 26 points apiece.

Leinster Conference

In Leinster, Dublin University came through their stiffest test yet in the Energia Community Series when edging out Terenure College in a 10-try classic at Lakelands Park.

Terenure’s barnstorming start, including two Levi Vaughan tries, had them 17 points clear, but Trinity turned the tables to take a 36-31 verdict. Rob Russell set up two tries for Ronan Quinn – one with a sublime one-handed offload – and kicked 11 points.

Ireland Under-20 scrum half Ben Murphy touched down during Old Wesley’s 30-18 bonus point success against Old Belvedere, while replacement Charlie Tector’s two closing penalties saw Lansdowne prevail 13-10 at St. Mary’s College.

Captain Matt D’Arcy and hooker Dylan Donnellan bagged a brace of tries each in Clontarf’s 34-7 bonus point win over Naas.

Connacht Conference

Kiwi winger Calum Goddard’s hat-trick helped Sligo beat Ballina 36-14 to stay in control of Connacht’s Conference.

Ulster Conference

Kyle Faloon’s late try kept City of Armagh at the summit of Ulster Conference 1 after a 24-all draw with Banbridge. Ritchie McMaster scored 10 points, including the clinching penalty, as second-placed Queen’s claimed the scalp of Ballynahinch in a 20-17 victory.

ENERGIA MEN’S COMMUNITY SERIES – THIRD ROUND RESULTS:

CONNACHT CONFERENCE:

Ballina 14 Sligo 36
Galwegians v Galway Corinthians (Match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams awarded two points)
Buccaneers – Bye

LEINSTER CONFERENCE 1:

Clontarf 34 Naas 7
Old Wesley 30 Old Belvedere 18,
St. Mary’s College 10 Lansdowne 13
Terenure College 31 Dublin University 36
UCD – Bye

LEINSTER CONFERENCE 2:

Blackrock College v Navan (Match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams awarded two points)
Greystones 24 Wanderers 38
Malahide 21 Tullamore 10
Skerries 5 MU Barnhall 52
Enniscorthy – Bye

MUNSTER CONFERENCE 1:

Shannon v Highfield (Match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams are awarded two points)
Cork Constitution 28 Cashel 17
UCC 26 Old Crescent 26
Young Munster 27 Garryowen 15

MUNSTER CONFERENCE 2:

Bruff 20 Midleton 19
Nenagh Ormond 14 UL Bohemians 8
Sunday’s Well v Clonmel (Match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams awarded two points)
Dolphin – Bye

ULSTER CONFERENCE 1:

Ballynahinch 17 Queen’s University 20
City of Armagh 24 Banbridge 24
Rainey Old Boys 17 Malone 10

ULSTER CONFERENCE 2:

Bangor 41 Ballymena 34
City of Derry v Belfast Harlequins (Match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams awarded two points)
Omagh Academicals 10 Dungannon 13

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Opening Munster Conference 1 with a 10-try thriller, the Tipperary club’s lineout maul was a serious weapon. Robin Foot and captain Cathal Ryan had pushover tries, with Ciaran Ryan’s 23rd-minute score having them 19-13 ahead at half-time.

Despite player-coach Darragh Lyons’ sin-binning, Cashel added three second half tries, one of which was a maul-earned penalty try. Shannon’s young guns managed to salvage two bonus points after Ikem Ugwueru, Ronan Coffey and Ben Daly all crossed in a late flurry.

Highfield came from 19 points down to draw 22-22 with a youthful Garryowen, ensuring an encouraging start for new head coach Conor Quaid. A stirring comeback included two tries from winger Paul Stack and a late pushover effort from their workhorse pack.

Cork Constitution had too much firepower for Old Crescent in a 54-19 bonus point win, while Ireland Club international prop Colm Skehan returned from a near two-year injury lay-off in Young Munster’s 43-14 victory at home to Division 1A rivals UCC.

In the Connacht Conference, there were braces for Jack Noone and Matthew Devine in Galway Corinthians’ 41-20 defeat of Ballina. Out-half Euan Brown touched down twice for Sligo who won 33-14 at Buccaneers.

Rob Russell, Ronan Quinn, who had a first-half try double, and debutant lock Harry Sheridan starred as Dublin University moved straight to the top of Leinster Conference 1. Trinity ran in five tries to convincingly beat hosts Old Belvedere 37-14.

Hooker Dylan Donnellan picked up two tries in Clontarf’s 27-19 bonus point win at St. Mary’s, with experienced scrum half Angus Lloyd impressing off the bench. Another former professional, Craig Ronaldson, enjoyed a try-scoring debut with Naas as they toppled Terenure College 19-12.

Old Wesley also claimed a Division 1A scalp when downing UCD 18-14, the highlight being Nathan Randles’ try created by two brilliant one-handed offloads from forwards Cronan Gleeson and Sam Pim, and a between-the-legs pass by full-back Tom Kiersey.

In Ulster, late tries from Rhys O’Donnell and Conor Phillips helped Ballynahinch to win 29-17 away to Malone. Rainey Old Boys leaked an alarming 63 points to City of Armagh, while out-half Ritchie McMaster’s accurate place-kicking steered Queen’s University past Banbridge – 23-14.

Energia Community Series – First Round Results:

Connacht Conference:
Buccaneers 14 Sligo 33
Galway Corinthians 41 Ballina 20
Galwegians – Bye

Leinster Conference 1:
Naas 19 Terenure College 12
Old Belvedere 14 Dublin University 37
Old Wesley 18 UCD 14
St. Mary’s College 17 Clontarf 29
Lansdowne – Bye

Leinster Conference 2:
Blackrock College 22 Greystones 43
Wanderers 25 Enniscorthy 10
Navan v Skerries, Balreask Old (match cancelled – two points to both teams)
Tullamore v MU Barnhall, Spollanstown (match cancelled – two points to both teams)

Munster Conference 1:
Cork Constitution 54 Old Crescent 19
Highfield 22 Garryowen 22
Shannon 30 Cashel 36
Young Munster 43 UCC 14

Munster Conference 2:
Bruff 32 Sunday’s Well 14
Dolphin 38 Midleton 14
Nenagh Ormond 31 Clonmel 8
UL Bohemians – Bye

Ulster Conference 1:
City of Armagh 63 Rainey Old Boys 14
Malone 17 Ballynahinch 29
Queen’s University 23 Banbridge 14

Ulster Conference 2:
Ballymena 19 Dungannon 40
Belfast Harlequins 31 Bangor 0
Omagh Academicals v City of Derry, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields (match cancelled – two points to both teams)

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