Butler injury may add to Munster’s woes

MUNSTER will be anxiously awaiting news of Paddy Butler’s fitness after the backrower injured his shoulder in Shannon’s Ulster Bank League loss to Blackrock on Saturday.

Butler would be the natural choice for Tony McGahan to call on to replace long-term injury victim Denis Leamy, but he left the field after less than five minutes at Stradbrook clutching the same shoulder he has previously injured.

A Shannon spokesperson said Butler would undergo a scan today to determine the extent of the injury.

‘Rock climbed off the bottom of the table thanks to the 30-15 bonus-point triumph.

Young Munster’s five-match winning run came to an abrupt end as St Mary’s College raided Tom Clifford Park, routing the hosts 36-11 to overtake them at the Division 1A summit.

Livewire scrum-half Matt D’Arcy went in for a crucial first-half try which helped the visitors to a 13-6 lead at the break, before notching the first of three quickfire tries — Stephen Grissing and Ciarán Ruddock claiming the others — that decided the contest.

Lansdowne and Cork Con joined third-placed Clontarf on 23 points after wins over Garryowen and Old Belvedere respectively.

Skipper Ross McCarron crossed twice as Lansdowne routed the Light Blues 30-13 on the back pitch at the Aviva Stadium. At 18-3 down, Garryowen roared back into contention with tries from Ian Hanly and Paul Neville but Willie Earle and McCarron had the final say to give the hosts maximum points.

Cork Con had a harder time dispatching Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road, winning 9-7 thanks to Johnny Holland’s penalty three minutes from time. Holland and his half-back partner Gerry Hurley had earlier notched a three-pointer each to reel in the hosts, who had led through Danny Riordan’s 13th-minute try, converted by Aidan Wynne.

In Division 1B, UCC scored a shock 22-18 home win over Buccaneers — their first win of the season — to re-ignite their survival hopes.

Brian Kingston’s boot did most of the damage — he racked up 17 points — while Luke Duffy crossed for a try that leaves the students three points behind Bruff, who were defeated 28-15 by promotion-chasing Dungannon.

Ballynahinch replaced Ballymena at the summit as the latter fell 9-0 to Belfast Harlequins on Friday night. ‘Hinch stormed back from 21-5 down at home to UCD to draw 21-21 with the Belfield students and move ahead of Ballymena on points difference.

UL Bohemian produced an even more fruitful comeback as second-half tries from Sean Henry and Ben Martin, plus points from the unerring boot of JJ Hanrahan, saw them win 24-22 at Galwegians, having been 22-9 down at the break.