All-Ireland League Round-up: Local derbies rarely show any regard for current form and it was no different over the weekend as both Blackrock College and Buccaneers were turned over by arch-rivals in the AIB League.
Lansdowne pulled themselves off the foot of Division One as an injury-time drop goal from full-back Brian O'Mahony gave them a 19-17 victory at Stradbrook, while at Crowley Park, Galwegians scraped past play-off contenders Buccaneers.
This Western derby also supplied some timely good news for Connacht coach Michael Bradley ahead of next week's visit of French club Grenoble in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals as David Slemen kicked 10 points for the victors on his return from injury.
It's unlikely he will make the step back up to the provincial line-up immediately but, with so many backs on the treatment table, at least it gives Bradley some extra options.
Blackrock, not for the first time this year, managed to let a commanding position slip as they saw a 14-6 interval lead disintegrate as a try from Lansdowne's Ian Hopkins set things up for O'Mahony's late intervention.
It was an excellent weekend for Ulster rugby as both Belfast Harlequins and Dungannon continued the lead set by the province against Gloucester on Friday night by both winning at home on Saturday.
Harlequins obliterated County Carlow 26-0 at the Grafton Arena with tries from Paul McKenzie (two), Mark Kettyle and scrumhalf Reece Spee ensuring a bonus point that puts them into a play-off spot.
Dungannon continue to prosper under Jeremy Davidson's guiding hand as they turned over last year's league finalists Cork Constitution. Gillan Carruthers and David Spence crossed for the tries in the 21-14 win.
Constitution have failed to win since the December 4th match against Clontarf in Temple Hill and are running the risk of missing out on what would initially have been an almost guaranteed top-four finish.
The league gets an extended three-week run from Saturday week, until February 5th, with play-off contenders UCD, Shannon and Garryowen all back in action for the full programmes. The only game next week is vital as it sees the undefeated students travel to Thomond Park.
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