Clontarf and Con gain the edge

AIL round-up : Clontarf staged a stirring comeback away at Shannon as the Dubliners and Cork Constitution stole a march on their…

AIL round-up: Clontarf staged a stirring comeback away at Shannon as the Dubliners and Cork Constitution stole a march on their rivals at the top of the All-Ireland league this afternoon.

With the top four sides in action against each other, points were at a premium and, with precious little between the sides all season, it was somewhat fitting that both encounters were settled by a single point.

Clontarf, with former Shannon scrumhalf Fiach O'Loughlin leading from the front, looked to be heading for defeat having trailed Shannon 14-3 but a late fightback earned the visitors a 17-16 win at Thomond Park.

Cork Con, meanwhile, gained a measure of revenge for their Munster Cup defeat by Garryowen last weekend with a 12-11 win at Dooradoyle.

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Elsewhere, UL Bohemian moved into third place with a 24-10 win at St Mary's while Dungannon and Lansdowne kept the pressure on the leaders with away wins at Belfast Harlequins and Blackrock.

Division One results

Belfast Harlequins  6 - 23  Dungannon  
Blackrock 20 - 24  Lansdowne  
Galwegians  45 - 15  Dolphin  
Garryowen  11 - 12  Cork Constitution  
Shannon  16 - 17  Clontarf  
St. Mary's 10 - 24  U.L. Bohemian  
Terenure 18 - 8  Buccaneers  
UCD  10 - 40  Ballymena