Sport

Blackrock impress to move top of the table

AIB LEAGUE Blackrock College 48 Garryowen 14 : AFTER crossing for six tries to demolish Garryowen at Stradbrook on Saturday …

Mon Oct 12 2009 - 01:00

AIB LEAGUE Blackrock College 48 Garryowen 14: AFTER crossing for six tries to demolish Garryowen at Stradbrook on Saturday and move top of the AIB League Division One A League, Blackrock College are entitled to feel pretty good.

Sensibly though, coaches Emmet Farrell and Barry Gibney have no intention of getting carried away. A couple of matches in and Blackrock are exactly where they want to be, with only themselves, St Mary’s College and Dolphin having won their first two games in what is proving to be a highly competitive league.

“That’s great so far as it goes, but we only have to look back on the events of last season to know how things can change,” Farrell warns. “I remember that we also got away to a great start, but eventually missed out on the play-offs.”

Blackrock number eight Michael Carroll provided the openings for Brendan Macken and substitute Jordi Murphy to go over, while the Andrew Conway showed his finishing power to cross for Blackrock’s final try.

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Crucially, Garryowen had their Ireland Under-20 scrumhalf Conor Murray sent to the sin-bin at a stage when they just might just have been thinking of a comeback. After trailing 24-6, they had reduced the deficit to 27-14 when Murray was yellow carded midway through the second half.

Blackrock took full advantage to score two converted tries and end the game as a contest. It was a pity for Murray as he was comfortably Garryowen’s best player. Earlier, Moore had sprinted in from 30 metres to score his team’s first try. Hooker Cian Culleton and centre Kyle Tonnetti soon added two more, while outhalf James Power contributed a drop goal and three conversions to give Blackrock their 24-6 advantage.

A try by Ronan O’Mahony on half-time, gave Garryowen a much needed boost. Murray contributed three penalties, but once he was off the field, they were overrun.

Blackrock ran in a fourth try for the bonus point, before Murphy and Conway scored, with Power converted all three.

Elsewhere, St Mary’s beat Shannon 12-7, while Dolphin upset Clontarf 27-19.

Cork Constitution beat UL Bohemians 16-3 while in Division One B, Old Belvedere trounced Buccaneers 36-12. Ballymena defeated UCC 31-28 and Ballynahinch edged past Galwegians 25-24. Dungannon beat Young Munster 14-8.