Cup Round-Up: Blackrock and Clontarf progressed to the AIB Cup semi-final after comprehensive victories over UCD and Garryowen over the weekend.
They will not discover their opponents until the other quarter-finals - St Mary's v Shannon and Galwegians v Malone are settled - but Clontarf's 23-11 defeat of the defending champions Garryowen leaves them on course for a League and Cup double.
Winger Phil Howard raced clear from his own 22 on the hour mark for the defining score at Castle Avenue on Saturday. Ian Keatley landed three penalties and two conversions, the first off a penalty try after continual infringements by the visiting pack.
Munster scrumhalf Gerry Hurley did get over for Garryowen but Clontarf held out despite having Martin Garvey and Simon Crawford sin-binned late on.
Blackrock crossed for five tries in a 33-7 victory over UCD yesterday. Former Irish hooker Shane Byrne claimed two touchdowns while Kieran Maloney, Fionn Carr and Sean Byrne also got on the scoresheet with outhalf Kyle Tonetti adding two touchline conversions.
The students were without key forwards Ronnie McCormack and Kevin McLaughlin but openside Kevin Croke was excellent throughout. UCD can atone for this result when they return to Stradbrook for the league fixture on March 1st.
The gulf in class between AIL Divisions One and Two was all too evident at Templeville Road yesterday as St Mary's College demolished Clonakilty in a one-sided third round clash. The hosts bagged five tries, three converted, in the process to book their place in the quarter-finals while the visitors could only muster a single penalty. St Mary's were well-assisted by the boot of outhalf Frank Lynch, who weighed in with 12 points.
St Mary's opened the scoring after four minutes when Lynch posted the first of his two penalties.Then on 31 minutes the hosts grabbed their first try when left-winger Ronan Doherty went over, Lynch missing the conversion, leaving the half-time score at 8-0.
Lynch, Kevin Sheehan, Gareth Logan and Robin Copeland added second-half tries while David Lombard kicked a penalty for Clonakilty.
