CORK WILL have two sides in division one next season after Dolphin gained promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's history thanks to a 29-15 win over Malone at Gibson Park.
Out-half Conor Mahony was Dolphin's key player, contributing 19 points: The sides were level on nine points a piece at half-time, Mahony and his opposite number Gareth Fry both kicking three penalties.
Two minutes into the second half Mahony darted in for a try which he then converted but Malone cut their lead to a single point with a fourth penalty from Fry and a drop goal from Colm Wilkinson.
However, it was the keener Cork team who finished the stronger. Mahony added another penalty before flanker Ken Roche dived over from close range. Second row Hugh Farrelly sealed the win with another try in the last minute.
At the other end of the table City of Derry, who have so often lost out to late scores this season, avoided relegation thanks to a late penalty by fullback Ian McGregor. That score gave Derry a 15-14 win over NIFC and consigned North to division three rugby next season.
NIFC led 9-6 lead at halftime, but McGregor's third penalty got the home side back on terms. When North's Derek Wilson dived over for the game's only try following a blind-side break near the end of the third quarter the match looked to be following a familiar pattern.
But the home side and in particular McGregor kept their nerve. The fullback kicked his fourth penalty after good work by Keith Gallick, before adding the match winner from over 40 metres five minutes from time.
That result rendered Highfield's 24-23 defeat at the hands of Sunday's Well at Musgrave Park superfluous. With Derry winning Highfield need to beat Sunday's Well by some 20 points to avoid the drop and that was never really likely
Although trailing 17-13 at half-time Highfield dominated the second half and tries by John O'Neill and Victor Nelson looked to have earned them a morale boosting victory. But they were denied even that when Well's Greg Tuohy dived over for a try in the fourth minute of injury time.
Skerries, who had an outside chance of winning the second promotion spot, had to be content with two more league points after their hard fought 11-9 win over DLSP at Kilternan.
Three penalties from DLSP's Tommy James gave the home side a 9-0 lead. But Skerries' David O'Sullivan scored the game's only try in the 24th minute and a penalty from Clive Lawless early in the second half cut their lead to a single point. Jimmy Dempsey then made amends for a number of earlier misses with a penalty 12 minutes from time.
Clontarf showed just why they, are champions by over-turning Greystones 17-3 halftime lead before going on to record a 34-17 victory at Castle, Avenue. Once their pack gained control upfront, Clontarf's back row cut loose.
Monkstown ended their season on a bright note, Andrew McMaster's last minute drop goal, earning them a one point victory over neighbours Wanderers at Merrion Road.
