UL Bohs inflict heavy defeat on UCC in semi

AIB League Division Three Semi-final:

UL BOHEMIANS 39

Scorers: Tries: Barry Murphy 2, Aidan O'Gorman 2, Kevin Flanagan, Cathal Garvey; Cons: Cathal Garvey 3; Pen: Cathal Garvey

UCC 7

Scorers: Try: Dermot O'Kane; Con: Barry Keeshan

UL Bohemians booked their place in the final of AIB League Division Two next Saturday with a comprehensive six-try 39-7 defeat of provincial rivals UCC at Thomond Park, with full back Cathal Garvey scoring 14 points.

Garvey masterminded the Bohs' win, which sees them into a second league final in three years having diced against Belfast Harlequins in 2002, as his side swept to a 22-0 half time lead.

With UCC, winners of the U20 Frazer McMullen championship trophy last weekend, struggling against Limerick's superior defence, Bohs' left wing Barry Murphy found the space to touch down in the left corner after 9 minutes.

Garvey failed with the convert but added the extras to prop Kevin Flanagan's close-in effort 7 minutes later. Garvey stroked over a half-hour penalty and converted Murphy's second try on 38 minutes to edge the home side three scores clear.

Skipper and flanker Aidan O'Gorman added a converted fourth five minutes after the restart off a left-flank lineout. Bohs' chances of adding to their 1994/95 AIL Division 4 title improved further as Garvey and then O'Gorman again touched down for unconverted scores and a 39-0 lead.

Cork summoned the courage to finally breach the home defence when centre Dermot O'Kane ended a fine back line switch with a 75th minute try, converted by Barry Keeshan, but the damage was already done.

UL now face Dublin University next Saturday at Lansdowne Road in the all-College decider.