AIL: St Mary’s and Clontarf set up Division 1A final showdown
Former Munster back Dan Goggin in action for St Mary's in their Energia AIL Division 1A victory over Terenure College. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
The Energia All-Ireland League season is reaching a dramatic conclusion, with finals set, and promotion dreams edging closer to reality across the Men’s divisions next weekend.
St. Mary’s College and Clontarf will contest the Division 1A final after emerging from a gripping semi-final weekend. At Templeville Road, St. Mary’s showed composure and control to defeat Terenure College 20-13 in a hard-fought Dublin derby to book their first appearance since winning the competition in the 2011/12 season.
The home side built their platform in the first half, with Daniel Leane finishing well before Conor Dean added a second try to nudge Mary’s into a 12-10 interval lead. Terenure remained firmly in contention thanks to an Adam LaGrue try and the boot of Chris Cosgrave.
The contest remained finely balanced throughout the third quarter before replacement Richie Bergin made a telling impact, crossing in the 65th minute to extend the lead. Terenure responded with a Caspar Gabriel penalty to close the gap, but Mick O’Gara’s late penalty ensured St. Mary’s held on and booked their place in the decider.
They will face Clontarf, a repeat of their last final encounter who produced an attacking performance of real quality to defeat Lansdowne 39-28 at Castle Avenue in the other Dublin derby. Clontarf set the tone early through Fionn Gilbert’s try and maintained momentum with further tries from Jordan Coghlan and Hugh Cooney to lead 21-14 at the break.
Lansdowne remained dangerous throughout, with Juan Beukes grabbing two tries and Bobby Sheehan also crossing, but Clontarf’s attacking depth proved decisive. Second-half scores from Daniel Magner and captain Dylan Donnellan, combined with Conor Kelly’s accuracy from the tee, ensured the home side stayed in control despite a late Lansdowne push.
The promotion play-offs across the men’s divisions provided further drama. Dublin University overturned a half-time deficit to defeat Instonians 32-21 in the 1A/1B semi-final. After trailing at the interval, Trinity surged ahead with tries from Johnny O’Sullivan, Oscar Cawley and Hugh Goddard.
UCD will play host in the final hoping to preserve their 1A status, advancing after a 35-24 win over Garryowen in the UCD Bowl. A lively contest saw the visitors lead at half-time, but UCD’s second-half response proved decisive, with five tries in total securing their progression.
In the 1B/2A play-offs, Shannon RFC delivered a standout display to defeat Dungannon 34-22. Oisin Minogue was the star of the show, scoring all four of Shannon’s tries in a dominant attacking performance that underlined their promotion credentials.
They will travel to face UCC for the chance to take their spot in 1B, UCC advanced in impressive fashion, running in six tries to overcome Galway Corinthians 40-10 at the Mardyke, controlling the game from the outset and finishing strongly.
Elsewhere, Sligo relegated Old Crescent to 2B with a 16-10 win in a tight contest at Takumi Park, Arek Czeck scoring a brace of tries. UL Bohemian will meet them to try and get into 2A, they proved too strong for Clogher Valley, winning 27-15.
Clonmel will face Bective Rangers in the Division 2C Final. Bective Rangers saw off Thomond 21-13, thanks to Chris Poole’s late try and the boot of Matthew Gilsenan. Clonmel delivered one of the most emphatic results of the weekend with a 44-17 victory over Dolphin, Freddie Davies with a hat-trick, while Joey O’Connor landed all five conversions and three penalties.
In the Women’s Conference Final, Wicklow were crowned champions after a 17-12 victory over Galwegians in Mullingar. Clara Dunne’s early try set the tone before a tightly contested encounter saw the sides level at the break.
Wicklow’s second-half composure proved decisive, with Jessica Griffey and Jamie Church both crossing to secure the title, while Galwegians stayed competitive through tries from Saoirse Lawley and Rebecca Farrell.
Next Saturday will see those promotion/relegation play-off finals take place, while next Sunday in headquarters UL Bohemians meet Blackrock College in the Women’s Division Final, while St Mary’s take on Clontarf for 1A silverware.
St Mary's College 20-13 Terenure College, Templeville Road
Clontarf 39-28 Lansdowne, Castle Avenue
Wicklow 17-12 Galwegians, Mullingar
UCD 35-24 Garryowen, Belfield
Dublin University 32-21 Instonians, College Park
UCC 40-10 Galway Corinthians, The Mardyke
Shannon 34-22 Dungannon, Thomond Park Back Pitch
Old Crescent 10-16 Sligo, Takumi Park
UL Bohemians 27-15 Clogher Valley, UL 4G
Clonmel 44-17 Dolphin, Ard Gaoithe
Bective Rangers 21-13 Thomond, Energia Park
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