Lane keeps Constitution on winning way

All-Ireland League, Division One round-up: Cork Constitution and Shannon maintained an unbeaten start to their AIB All-Ireland League Division One campaigns on Saturday.

Constitution eased to an 18-7 victory over a tenacious Old Belvedere at Temple Hill, the former Ireland under-21 wing Ritchie Lane producing a virtuoso performance in bagging all his team's points: two tries, two penalties and a conversion.

The Dublin side had the temerity to take the lead through a try from Barry Kinsella, improved upon by Ritchie Murphy, but could not add to their tally.

Shannon wing Stephen Kelly grabbed the only try of their Limerick derby with UL Bohemian, the final score 16-6 at Coonagh.

Andrew Thompson tagged on a conversion and a couple of penalties - Tadhg Bennett dropped a goal - while the students' response came through the boot of Fergal Lawlor.

The defending champions, Garryowen, enjoyed a somewhat fortuitous victory thanks to a late penalty from scrumhalf Gerry Hurley to nudge past Dolphin 19-18 at Dooradoyle.

Dolphin will feel hard done by; they outscored their hosts by two tries to one and in James Coughlan had the game's outstanding player.

Terenure managed to squeeze past Galwegians 7-5 at Lakelands.

Their gamebreaker was John Bollard, returning after injury, who scored a superb solo try 10 minutes after the interval, dotting down under the posts to make the conversion a formality for outhalf David McAllister.

Arguably the away display of the day belonged to Ulster's Ballymena, who edged past those perennial league aspirants Clontarf 23-22 at Castle Avenue.

The Dubliners appeared to be heading for victory when leading 22-13, having already managed a four-try bonus point, but a try from Ballymena's replacement prop Adrian Kirkpatrick, converted by Don Raw on 60 minutes, set up a pulsating finish.

Raw's penalty in the final throes of the contest it was that ensured a happy coach journey home for Ballymena as they recorded their first victory of the season.

Lansdowne could also muster a reasonable claim to the Saturday afternoon away-day honours after beating Greystones 35-10 at Dr Hickey Park.

Wing Neil Walsh crossed for two tries, and a try apiece from Gavin O'Meara and Luke Cozens brought up the bonus point, while the latter also contributed three conversions and three penalties.

UCD eked out a 16-15 win against St Mary's at Belfield, scoring tries through their Leinster academy Russian-born wing Vasya Artemiev and Kevin Croke.

All of the visitors' points came from the boot of Jonathan Sexton.

It was the Blackrock backs that earned the home side a bonus-point 29-22 win over Dungannon at Stradbrook. In a hard-fought, seven-try game, the winners' four tries came from their Ireland under-20 Grand Slam winner Shane Monahan, who grabbed two, Gary Brown and Fionn Carr.