In-form O’Driscoll returns to haunt Garryowen

NIALL O’DRISCOLL returned to haunt his former club as Dolphin continued their blistering start to the season by recording an 18-13 victory over Garryowen at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

In the tie of the ODM Munster Senior Cup first round, winger O’Driscoll – who moved from the light blues to Dolphin during the summer – touched down twice to help his side to a 12-3 half-time lead.

Willie Staunton converted his own try after the break to ensure Dolphin lived on their nerves, but Barry Keeshan’s earlier successes with the boot had kept the visitors out of reach.

Dolphin will face another searching examination in the quarter-finals when they go toe-to-toe with Shannon, who racked up seven tries in a 47-10 dismissal of Clonakilty at The Vale, including two from Marcus O’Driscoll, while Tadhg Bennett helped himself to 17 points.

Junior kingpins Cashel caused the biggest upset of the round in defeating Nenagh Ormond 6-0 at Spafield.

The hosts had reached the semi-finals four years ago in their last appearance and penalties in either half from Pat O’Connor and Darragh O’Brien helped them shock the senior club in a hard-fought Tipperary derby.

They will face a sterner test next week however, in the form of Young Munster, whose second-half revival helped them to a 16-9 win at Bruff.

Three Brian Cahill penalties had the hosts 9-0 to the good at the break, but Shane O’Neill’s try and 11 points from the boots of Alan Kingsley and Ray Moloney saw Munsters home.

Holders Cork Constitution strolled to a 39-0 win over Sunday’s Well at Musgrave Park.

Robert Quinn, Tim Kenneally, Cronan Healy, Merle O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony and Darragh Lyons shared Con’s six tries – with four coming in a 10-minute second-half spell – while Richie Lane kicked nine points.

Thomond will now visit Temple Hill next week after the Limerick side defeated Highfield 23-11. Tries in either half from Warren Kelly tries made the difference for the hosts.

Meanwhile, there will be an early-season inter-varsity clash in the last eight after UCC and UL Bohemians came through their respective ties.

Former Connacht full-back Danny Riordan crossed twice as Bohs cruised to a 25-3 victory over Old Crescent at Annacotty.

College, who have once again lost many of their star performers to bigger clubs over the summer, found things tougher for their trip to Midleton.

The visitors, playing their first game of the season, found themselves 9-7 at the break at Towns Park thanks to the kicking of Jeff Hitchmough and Jason Holland.

But Brian Derham and Pat Parfrey replied in kind after the break, adding to Willie Devane’s first-half try to help College to a nervy 16-12 victory.