Rugby - AIL round-up:Munster's Marcus Horan made a welcome return to action yesterday, completing the full 80 minutes for Shannon in the AIB League.
Horan’s comeback had been put on hold due to the weather conditions last weekend but the Ireland prop played his part in Shannon’s 32-10 win over Dolphin as the Limerick club moved into third place in the AIL standings.
It was Horan’s first game since he retired during Munster’s Heineken Cup tie against Benetton in December. He could now feature for Munster against Northampton next Friday in the final pool match in the Heineken Cup.
Cork Constitution have moved to the top of the Division 1A following their hard fought 18-15 victory over Blackrock College and 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 Con.
ot that things were at all easy for Con 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 contributers for Cork Con. At Templeville Road, a Paul Neville try and a conversion and three penalties from scrum-half 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 (2), Stephen Kelly and Fergal Walsh.
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, with St Mary’s having moved ahead of them by virtue of their victory over St Mary’s
In Division 1 B , Young Munster’s dramatic 16-15 Anglesea Road 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 because the Ballymacarn Park pitch was waterlogged.