UL can still end season on a high

UL Bohemians 39 UCC 7

A prime example was their opening clash with Dublin University last October. They led 28-3 before the students came back in sensational fashion to steal victory on a 35-28 scoreline and eventually finish in the number one spot.

However, as a result of yesterday’s semi-final play-off 39-7 hammering of UCC at Thomond Park, this well balanced Limerick side can still wind up the season on a high note as they prepare to avenge that earlier defeat by Trinity in the decider at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

UL/Bohs dominated yesterday’s semi-final played in glorious weather but before a very sparse attendance. They enjoyed a considerable advantage in age and weight up front and made it pay in devastating fashion as they ran in six high quality tries against youthful opposition that found itself outgunned in every department.

It didn’t help the students that Conor Quaid missed a couple of good penalty opportunities in the first half and that they lost their talented scrum-half Frank Murphy with a hamstring problem at half time.

But they had to wait until the 79th minute for their only score, a fine try by Dermot O’Kane converted by Barry Keeshan, and otherwise it was UL/Bohs all the way. Outstanding second-row Ryan Hartigan made much of the running for the first try by Barry Murphy after twelve minutes while slack defending allowed prop Kevin Flanagan to gallop twenty metres unopposed from the back of a line-out for the second on twenty minutes. Cathal Garvey added a penalty and it was all over as a contest just before half time when Murphy raced over for his second try and Garvey converted to make it 22-0 at the interval.

UL/Bohs continued in this highly impressive vein, backs and forwards combining delightfully and leaving all present to wonder why they couldn’t have performed like that as well for the rest of the season. O’Gorman played a true captain’s role and got his second try shortly after the restart.

Garvey converted and then danced his way through some non-existent tackling for a try of his own. There were twenty three scoreless minutes before O’Gorman touched down for his second and his side’s sixth try, Garvey adding the points, until eventually O’Kane provided some consolation for College.

UL/BOHS - C. Garvey; B. O’Donnell, M. McPhail, C. Finn, B. Murphy; P. Treacy, L. O'Connell; M. Harty, G. Ryan, K. Flanagan, R. Hartigan, A. Hartigan, A. O’Gorman, P. Van Esbeck, J. O'Neill.

Replacements: J. Leonard for Finn half time; W. Leahy for O’Conell 60 mins; S. Ryan for A. Hartigan 69; J. Danaher and JE O’Connor for Flanagan and O'Gorman, both 74.

UCC: D. Hurley; D. Fitzgerald, D. O’Kane, J. O’Flynn, P. Hurley; C. Quaid, F. Murphy; F. Gateley, R. Quinn, V. Soden, A. Laffan, E. Leamy, R. Noonan, D. O’Neill, H. O'Flynn.

Replacements: D. O’Leary for Murphy half time; D. Ryan for Leamy 45 mins; B. Keeshan for O’Kane 50; R. Geoghegan for O’Flynn 65; O’Kane for Quaid 74.

Referee: A. McKay (Ulster).