Unbeaten Clontarf continue to set pace

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE, Division One: CLONTARF, THE AIB All-Ireland League Division One pacesetters, maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable 26-8 victory over Blackrock College at Castle Avenue on Saturday.

The architect behind their victory was scrumhalf Paul O'Donohoe, who followed up a recent appearance for Leinster A - he did very well according to coach Michael Cheika - at outhalf with another fine display, this time in the number nine jersey.

O'Donohoe, Martin Dufficy and Michael Keating scored tries for the home side while prop Royce Burke Flynn crossed for Blackrock's try.

The visitors weren't helped by the fact that scrumhalf David Moore and wing David Rowan received yellow cards.

Shannon glided into second place in the table with a facile 36-9 bonus-point victory over UCD at Coonagh. Former Irish underage international Eoghan Grace grabbed a couple of tries while outhalf Tadhg Bennett, who is having a fine season, contributed 16 points with a try, four conversions and a penalty.

Cork Constitution were comprehensive 25-7 winners over Galwegians at Temple Hill.

Richie Lane and Munster panellist Billy Holland grabbed first-half tries to put the home side 12-0 ahead at the interval.

A late try from scrumhalf Duncan Williams allowed the home side to ease home.

Galwegians South African centre Chris Brigl had earlier crossed for a try but the visitors were well beaten on the day.

UL Bohemian moved up to fifth in the table with a 24-6 triumph over Young Munster at Thomond Park.

Young Munster led 6-3 at half-time thanks to a couple of penalties from Ger Slattery but tries from Tommy O'Donnell and Giles Boland, coupled with 14 points from outhalf Fergal Lawlor, saw the students come back strongly.

St Mary's College were surprisingly thrashed 38-3 by Dolphin at Musgrave Park.

Munster backrow James Coughlan helped himself to a couple of tries as the Cork club won their ninth successive game at home, while winning for the first time in their last three games.

St Mary's only reply came through the boot of Barry Lynn.

Buccaneers produced arguably their best performance of the season as they travelled to Stevenson Park and beat Dungannon 36-26.

They had the bonus point secured by half-time with a brace of tries from Connacht's Danny Riordan with Kolo Kiripati and Garrett Halligan also crossing the Dungannon line.

Terenure College's late arrival at Eaton Park delayed the kick-off but this proved the only inconvenience to hosts Ballymena as they ran out 34-3 winners, making it a bad day for the Dublin 6 clubs.

The Ulster club led 8-0 at the interval but a strong second-half display saw them clinch a bonus point. Garryowen enjoyed a fine 26-14 win over Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road.

Ciarán O'Boyle scored two tries while Anthony Kavanagh managed another. Leinster Academy prospect Felix Jones, recovered from a knee ligament injury, crossed for the home side.