Clontarf and Shannon continue to set pace

AIL ROUND-UP:CLONTARF AND Shannon continue to lead the way at the top of the Ulster Bank League Division One A table following hard-earned victories over Garryowen and St Mary's College respectively.

Once again, the boot of former Cork Con wing Richie Lane proved crucial as Clontarf defeated Garryowen 9-6 at Dooradoyle. Lane landed three penalties, while Declan Cusack replied with two for Garryowen.

Clontarf lead the table on points difference from Shannon who have also won their three opening games. Their latest 18-11 home success over St Mary’s owed much to the boot of outhalf Gareth Quinn McDonagh.

Quinn McDonagh kicked four penalties and a drop goal, with David O’Donovan also landing a drop goal. St Mary’s scored the game’s only try through Rob Sweeney but they had to settle for a losing bonus point. Gavin Dunne was responsible for the remainder of their points with two penalties. After beating Garryowen in their opening match, St Mary’s have now lost two on the trot to be third last in the table.

Young Munster showed they can again be contenders for the title following a 37-13 success over bottom-of-the-table Blackrock College at Stradbrook on Saturday.

Last season’s beaten semi-finalists are third after scoring four tries to pick up a bonus point. They have won two out of three with their only defeat, by a single point, coming away to leaders Clontarf.

Importantly, they seem to have overcome the loss of last season’s leading scorer Alan Kingsley, now in Australia. Their supporters must have wondered if they could manage without his brilliant goalkicking. The answer is they have coped exceptionally well with Willie Staunton taking over the place-kicking. After contributing 15 points against Clontarf, the outhalf was responsible for 17 more on Saturday, with two penalties, a drop goal and four conversions.

Blackrock, now coached by Eric Miller, started well, scoring the best try of the match through left-wing Jan Simon-Byrne, converted by Darragh Fitzpatrick.

But they immediately gave away a try after having a kick blocked down. It was Young Munster’s capacity to avail of those chances which enabled them to establish a 24-10 interval lead.

Centre Matthew Costello secured two of the tries with left-wing Darragh O’Neill showing good pace to get the third. Staunton converted all three and added a penalty.

There was no way back for Blackrock as the Young Munster scrum became increasingly dominant after the interval. That set-piece pressure told when Young Munster were awarded a penalty try 12 minutes from time to give them the bonus point.

The remaining Division One A game on Saturday saw Cork Constitution return to winning form by beating a Dolphin side, which included Tomás O’Leary at scrumhalf, 17-11 at Musgrave Park. Centre Niall O’Driscoll was very much the key figure, scoring two tries with secondrow Brian Hayes getting another.

In Division One B, Ballynahinch continue to lead the way following their Friday night 25-21 success over Dungannon. But Buccaneers are just a point behind following an excellent 23-17 home victory over UCD.

Buccaneers and Ballynahinch are the only two sides to have won their opening three games. Their frontrow played a huge part in Buccaneers’ victory over the students with two of their tries coming from prop Denis Buckley and another from hooker Gareth Halligan.

Belfast Harlequins are in third spot after trouncing Galwegians 39-15 at Crowley Park. They scored six tries in a humiliation of the home side who now lie pointless at the bottom of the table.

UL Bohemians and Ballymena are also on nine points with two wins out of three. UL Bohs accounted for UCC 19-9, while Ballymena edged out Bruff 34-28 in a great battle at Kilballyowen Park.