Byrne puts Blackrock on front foot

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE ROUND-UP:BLACKROCK COLLEGE, Old Belvedere and Clontarf are the only teams still unbeaten in the AIB All-Ireland league after three weekends of matches. Blackrock lead the table by a point, thanks largely to this weekend's 28-3 win over Terenure College.

A hat-trick from David Rowan put the home team comprehensively in charge of this meeting at Stradbrook, the former Ireland hooker and captain Shane Byrne having led the charge by touching down after six minutes.

Clontarf were equally impressive against St Mary's College. Their bonus-point win was secured with a second-half try from Seán O'Brien.

The win was all the sweeter as St Mary's had topped the table coming into the Castle Avenue meeting.

Michael Keating dotted down twice for Clontarf win as they outscored their visitors by four tries to three, Martin Dufficy kicking the rest of their points.

Old Belvedere had more difficulty in holding onto their unbeaten record, though they took the lead through two penalties from Kieran Hurrell.

Their visitors, Dolphin, hit back well with a try from George Finn.

Eddie Devitt and Ruairí Cushion touched down for Old Belvedere before Barry Keeshan landed a late penalty to at least grab a losing bonus point in the 16-11 defeat for Dolphin.

Elsewhere UCD, Garryowen and Terenure remain the only sides without a win.

Dungannon handed the students their third defeat in succession with a two-point win at home. Terenure lost to Blackrock 28-3.

Newly-promoted Young Munster finally got their season going with an encouraging away victory against Cork Constitution, a Ger Costello try in the second half securing the 16-21 win, their first of the league season.

Galwegians made the long trek to Eaton Park eminently worthwhile, facing down Ballymena 5-19. John Cleary scored two tries, one of them after a length-of-the-pitch run following an intercept. Chris Rogers added the other.

Ballymena managed only a consolation try late in the game through Jamie Smith.