Gerry Thornley's AIB League round-up
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| Young Munster's Mick Lynch (left) launches himself at Con's Conor Mahony during today's match |
The first six series of the AIB league Division One campaign having yielded just two draws, much like Dublin busses along came three together yesterday, which probably serves to underline the theory there is not much between the bulk of the clubs in the top flight.
However, with pacesetters Cork Constitution and Galwegians maintaining their 100 per cent records thanks to home wins over Young Munster and Clontarf respectively, the net result of yesterday's activity is that the top two have pulled eight points clear of third placed Ballymena, with a further gap of six points separating Young Munster in sixth place from the peleton in mid-table where there is quite a logjam.
Amazingly just three points cover eight clubs, or half the table, in that middle rump.
Fast disappearing over the horizon are Constitution and Galwegians. Con were far from their vintage best against Young Munster at Temple Hill, where their three-year unbeaten home record was looking decidedly precarious as they defended a one-point lead in the last ten minutes before a Brian Walsh try in the fifth minute of injury time gave them a slightly flattering 21-15 win.
Galwegians moved to within a point of Con thanks to a four-try 34-14 win at home to Clontarf, so earning them a bonus point, at the expense of a Clontarf side who continue to suffer from travel sickness whenever they leave Castle Avenue - whereas they've won all three games at home they've lost all four on the road.
Ballymena moved into third place with a slightly flattering 17-7 home win over Terenure College. Though Ballymena deservedly led 10-0 at the break, Terenure monopolised possession after the break and following a Luke Hammond try, which Shane Cullen converted, the latter failed with a penalty to level matters. A late try by James Topping, latching onto Neil Doak's chip ahead denied the visitors even a bonus point.
Shannon slipped to fourth but will be happy enough with a 23-23 draw at home to Dungannon after trailing 13-0 at the break due to two tries by prop Richard Mackey and a penalty by David Humphreys.In a reprise of last year's final, St Mary's and Lansdowne played out an 18-all draw at Templeville Road which does little favours for either of them. The defending champions moved into a 12-0 lead by the 22nd minute after a couple of tries by John McWe eney and Peter McKenna, the latter a fine effort after a blazing run by Victor Costello and a neat dummy by Eddie Hekenui.
However, Lansdowne monopolised possession for much of the game and though they once again struggled to create anything in failing to score a try for the second game running (or win any of their last four outings) and so had to rely on three penalties in either half from out-half Dave Quigley, Mark McHugh's brace of second-half penalties ensuring a share of the spoils and two points apiece.
Blackrock and Garryowen also shared the four points in a 16-all draw at Stradbrook while DLSP won a crunch eight-pointer at the bottom of the table with a potentially critical 22-15 win over Belfast Harlequins at Kilternan.