UL Bohs keep survival hopes alive

BACKS to the wall, UL Bohemian produced a sensational AIB League victory over Garryowen at Dooradoyle on Saturday to keep the dream of Division 1A survival alive.

The 16-13 win gave faint hope of the club being able to claw their way out of the relegation zone and making either Blackrock College or Clontarf pay in the process.

The Limerick side are eight points adrift of Clontarf with a game in hand and nine behind Blackrock on the same number of games (12); they take on Cork Con this weekend in a rearranged game, while Blackrock have to travel to play Garryowen – and the Light Blues will be anything but happy after losing on Saturday.

Given Garryowen are still in with a mathematical chance of qualifying for the top four – they’re four points adrift of Shannon with a game in hand – Blackrock won’t feel safe, not least after their capitulation to Dolphin at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

It’s all to play for at the top with St Mary’s securing crucial home points with a four-point win over Constitution but the Cork club remain in second place and have a game in hand.

Dolphin’s victory sets them up perfectly for an end-of-campaign clash with Con at Temple Hill and the possibility of them completing a double over their old city rivals.

In Division 1B there is still all to play for on April 10 with Young Munster looking for an away win against Buccaneers before hoping UCC do a favour by ending Old Belvedere’s fine run and knocking them off the top.

There’s a huge amount at stake on Saturday week, with Ballymena, Buccs, Dungannon and Ballynahinch all battling relegation.

Bruff are within one victory of securing the second promotion spot in Division 2 behind runaway leaders Lansdowne when they meet Malone next weekend. Bruff will be aware that a slip-up will allow Terenure back into contention although the Dublin side are seven points adrift.

There was drama at the bottom of the table with both Old Crescent and Highfield losing. Crescent were hammered by Thomond while Highfield were slipped by Belfast Harlequins by a single point. It could all come down to the final match on April 10 – and there could hardly be a more fitting climax to the campaign than a fixture between Highfield and Crescent at Woodleigh Park to decide the issue.!

In Division 3, both Queens and Midleton who have already secured promotion, continued on their respective victory marches.