Garryowen will have home advantage for the semi-final of the All-Ireland league against local rivals Young Munster next weekend after defeating a poor Ballymena side at Dooradoyle on Saturday.
In an entertaining match which produced 13 tries representative players Killian Keane and Barry Everitt were outstanding. Keane contributed 26 points which included a wonderfully taken try but Everitt picked up an injury scoring a well-taken try which may rule him out for next weekend's clash.
Playing with a strong wind in the first half the light blues quickly went ahead with two tries in five minutes from the excellent David Wallace which were both converted by Keane and the Limerick side found themselves 22 points ahead at half-time.
Scoring sequence: 10 mins: D Wallace try, K Keane con, 7-0; 15: Wallace try, Keane con, 14-0; 21: Keane pen, 17-0; 35: J Brooks try, Keane con, 24-0; 40: R Irwin try, 24-5; 41: Keane pen, 27-5; 45: T Tierney try, Keane con, 34-5; 48: D McAleese pen, 34-8; 51: S McDowell try, McAleese con, 34-15; 54: Keane try, con, 41-15; 58: Keane pen, 44-15; 65: P Humphreys try, 4915; 67: J Topping try, McAleese con, 49-22; 72: B Everitt try, 54-22; 74: Brooks try, Keane con, 61-22; 77: A Matchett try, McAleese con, 61-29; 79: P Hogan try, 66-29.
Garryowen: D Crotty; J Clarke, J Brooks, K Keane, K O'Riordan; B Everitt, T Tierney; P Spain, P Cunningham, G Walsh, V Humphreys, S Leahy, P Hogan, A Birmingham, D Wallace. Subs: D O'Sullivan for A Birmingham (half-time), S McIvor for T Tierney (51 mins), F Costello for S Leahy (67 mins), K Hartigan for B Everitt (74 mins).
Ballymena: S McDowell; J Cunningham, S Coulter, M Boyd, J Topping; D McAleese, A Matchett; N McKernan, S Ritchie, R Irwin, P McBride, R West, A Graham, A Dougan, K Gallick.
Referee: D McHugh (Ulster).
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