Young Munster prevail in dramatic fashion

AIB ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE:OLD BELVEDERE'S player-coach Andy Dunne had no complaints about a remarkable ending to the top of the table AIB League Division One B clash at Anglesea Road on Saturday.

With the match well into injury-time, Old Belvedere were desperately hanging on to a 15-13 advantage. They seemed certain to secure a victory when the Young Munster outhalf Alan Kingsley was just wide with a penalty three minutes into injury-time.

But there was further drama in the fifth minute of added time when the referee, Leo Colgan, penalised Old Belvedere’s representative scrumhalf Chris Keane for deliberately throwing the ball into touch. The penalty, some 45 metres out and from the touchline, was far tougher than the one Kingsley had previously missed.

Furthermore, it was the last kick of the game. But the former Garryowen man delivered the victory for Young Munster with a tremendous effort which just scraped over the crossbar.

Old Belvedere remain very much in the running for one of the two promotion positions and for the semi-final spot which goes with winning Division One B. They now trail the new leaders Young Munster by a point with the third placed side five points adrift.

For Young Munster the victory is a huge boost as they bid to get back in the top flight for the first time in nine years. They have come a long way under the guidance of their scrumhalf and coach Mike Prendergast. Prendergast, previously of Munster, Bourgoin and Gloucester, formed an influential halfback partnership with Kingsley. The outhalf was responsible for 14 points, scoring a well-taken break away try when he gather his own chip ahead and landing three conversions.

Centre Matthew Costello added the extra points to Kingsley’s try to leave Young Munster 13-10 ahead at the interval. Old Belvedere had tries from flanker Jason Risdon and left-wing Dave Mongan with Leinster centre Fergus McFadden landing a conversion and a penalty.

Cork Constitution have moved to the top of the Division One A following a hard-fought 18-15 victory over Blackrock and the St Mary’s surprise home defeat to Garryowen. After a superb opening to their campaign which saw them win their first four matches, St Mary’s have now lost three out of the last four. Their 16-14 Templeville Road defeat to lowly Garryowen means they drop to second spot, two points adrift of Cork Constitution.

Significantly, a Shannon side which included Marcus Horan, put their off-field troubles behind them to move into third position with a 32-10 home victory over Dolphin as the battle for the three play-off spots increases. At the moment, Cork Constitution and Shannon are the two teams moving in the right direction.

Not that things were at all easy for Cork Constitution against a Blackrock outfit which could so easily have snatched a draw at Temple Hill. But Ian Madigan saw his late penalty effort go wide.

Once again, Scott Deasy (two penalties and a conversion) and Richard Lane (two tries) were major contributors for Cork Con.

At Templeville Road, a Paul Neville try and a conversion and three penalties from scrumhalf Conor Murray enabled Garryowen edge out St Mary’s and move off the bottom of the table.

Shannon were much too strong for Dolphin at Coonagh , scoring four tries through Eoghan Gace (two), Stephen Kelly and Fergal Walsh. Crucially, the match also saw Ireland and Munster prop Horan make a welcome return to action.

Dolphin are now five points behind Shannon, although they do have a game in hand. They are on the same mark as Blackrock and Clontarf.

Unlike Blackrock, Clontarf managed an important victory on Saturday, defeating UL Bohemians 21-12 at Castle Avenue. Wing Michael Keating’s contribution was vital, scoring two tries. Unfortunately for UL Bohs, they go back to the bottom of the table.

In Division One B, Young Munster’s dramatic victory over Old Belvedere moves them to the top of the table with UCC occupying third spot following a 19-13 home success over Galwegians.

Elsewhere, Ballymena edged out Buccaneers 16-13 and Ballynahinch’s game against Dungannon was called off as the Ballymacarn Park pitch was waterlogged.