AIL: UCD secure Division 1A status with hard-fought win over Dublin University
Paul Gerard of UCD RFC is tackled by Arthur O'Rahilly of Dublin University FC. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
The Energia All-Ireland League season reached its climax with a dramatic Saturday of finals where league status was decided and silverware secured in a series of high-quality encounters across the divisions.
At the UCD Bowl, UCD secured their Division 1A status with a hard-fought 28-24 victory over Dublin University in a thrilling play-off final.
UCD laid the groundwork with a dominant first-half display, building a 17-3 lead through tries from Andrew Osborne and Sami Bishti, both converted by Paddy Clancy, who also added a penalty.
Trinity struggled to break through early on, with Matthew Lynch’s penalty their only response in the opening half. However, the visitors came roaring back in the second half.
Clancy extended UCD’s advantage with further penalties, but momentum shifted when Hunter Deane-Johns crossed in the 65th minute for Trinity.
Johnny O’Sullivan followed with another try, and when Alex Finlay touched down in the closing stages, Trinity had surged to within a single score. Lynch’s conversion tightened the gap to four points, but UCD held their composure in the final moments to close out the win and confirm their safety, heartbreak for Trinity who were on the opposite side last season.
In the Division 2A promotion final, UL Bohemian produced a commanding performance to defeat Sligo 58-33 at UL 4G. The hosts were dominant from the outset, racing into a 28-0 half-time lead with tries from Killian Dineen, Darragh O’Gorman, Oisin Fagan and Greg Fitzgerald.
Sligo showed resilience after the interval, with Cillian O’Neill and Mark McGlynn among the scorers, but UL Bohemian continued to find space. Darren Ferrar added two tries, while Liam O’Shanahan crossed late to seal an emphatic victory, with Cian Casey’s accurate kicking ensuring their dominance was reflected on the scoreboard.
The Division 2C final delivered one of the tightest contests of the weekend, as Clonmel edged Bective Rangers 28-24 at Ard Gaoithe. Clonmel established a first-half advantage through Freddie Davies and Luke Hogan, leading 14-5 at the break.
Bective Rangers responded strongly in the second half, with Christopher Hennessy and Oisin McCloskey both crossing to keep the game finely balanced. However, Davies proved decisive, completing his hat-trick with two second-half tries, including a crucial late score in the 76th minute.
Despite a dramatic late try from Chris Poole for Bective Rangers, Clonmel held on, with Joey O’Connor’s conversions proving vital in a narrow but deserved victory.
In the Division 2C promotion/relegation play-off, Malahide retained their status with a 29-24 win over Boyne at Estuary Road. The home side made a strong start, with James Hurley and James McKeown both crossing in the opening half, helping Malahide to a 17-14 lead at the interval.
Despite being 17-0 down, Boyne never gave up and replied with tries from Michael Briscoe, Rian Kindlon cutting the gap to three points at the break, after Bevan Duffy’s conversion.
However, Daniel Hayes drew first blood in the second half but Boyne pushed back Eoghan Duffy had crossed to reduce matters to a point following Duffy’s conversion, before Karl Keogh landed a penalty for a 24-22 lead. But it was Conrad Daly who completed the great escape.
Malahide needed to claw down a 10-point gap going into the last two rounds of the season, and it was Daly who dotted down for the decisive score, as they secured AIL status for another season.
UCD 28-24 Dublin University, UCD Bowl
UCC A-A Shannon, The Mardyke
UL Bohemian 58-33 Sligo, UL 4G
Clonmel 28-24 Bective Rangers, Ard Gaoithe
Malahide 29-24 Boyne, Estuary Road
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