AIL Round-up:Garryowen took full advantage of Cork Constitution's slip-up at Blackrock to move to the top of the AIB League Division One table, with just two full rounds of matches remaining.
The Limerick side eased to their tenth straight league win (45-7), going on a six-try scoring blitz against an under-strength Ballymena side at Dooradoyle.
The bonus point victory has moved Dara O'Sullivan's men to the summit, ahead of Blackrock and former leaders and defending champions Cork Constitution.
Visitors Ballymena had a debutant in the second row in John Andrews and they also had to play a regular back rower in the centre because they were short nine regulars including skipper Ian Caldwell.
Garryowen struck for their first try after only three minutes when winger Lorcan Bourke raced in at the right corner.
A superb bit of play involving six players ended when David Sherry barged in near the posts for try number two, which Conor Kilroy converted.
Garryowen's experienced full-back then landed a difficult penalty to make it 15-0.
Ballymena briefly raised their hopes when Craig Woods gathered a bouncing ball and touched down after good play by Jamie Smith and John Nichol.
Woods converted the try but that was as good as it got for the Braidmen as Garryowen took a firm grip with two more Kilroy penalties.
Four minutes before half-time, Willie Staunton raced through a yawning defensive gap for a try which Kilroy converted to make it 28-7 at the break.
A delightful cross-field kick by Staunton sent centre Kevin Hartigan in for a try after 58 minutes. Kilroy hit the upright with the conversion attempt.
Harigan had another try after 66 minutes and a minute from the end Neville Melbourne grabbed the sixth and final touchdown, which Staunton converted for good measure.
Blackrock recorded a 23-7 win over Cork Con at Stradbrook to throw the top division wide open.
Cork Con, unbeaten in the league since December, looked on course for another win when leading 7-3 at the interval.
Outhalf Darragh Lyons had cut through for an early try, which he converted himself.
His opposite number Kyle Tonetti, standing in for the injured Darragh Fitzpatrick, kicked Blackrock’s first-half points from a penalty.
But the Blackrock forwards, including Des Dillon and Shane Byrne, turned the tables in the second half after the visitors had enjoyed most of the ball in the opening 40 minutes.
With a solid platform of possession, ‘Rock’s back-line, arguably the best in the top flight, thrived as the game wore on.
Tries from centre Gary Brown, winger Shane Monahan and the increasingly influential Tonetti put the game beyond Con’s reach.
The Leesiders were frustrated into submission as they were pinned back in their own 22 for much of the second half.
‘Rock upped the pace and they grabbed the score of the day on 66 minutes when the imposing Monahan finished off a well-worked team move by racing in under the posts for Tonetti to convert.
Tonetti's try and subsequent penalty pushed the Dubliners into a 23-7 lead and there was no way back for Con, who had winger Cronan Healy sin-binned.
Blackrock scrumhalf David Moore was also yellow carded, in the closing stages, for a late tackle.
Today’s Division One Results:
Garryowen 45 Ballymena 7
Blackrock 23 Cork Con 7
Young Munster 7 Dolphin 10
Clontarf 46 Buccaneers 26
Shannon 23 Old Belvedere 19
St Mary's 38 Galwegians 17
Terenure 8 Dungannon 22
UCD 25 UL Bohemian 30
