Round five of the Energia All-Ireland League delivered a busy weekend of club rugby, with leading sides strengthening their positions and several matches going down to the wire. Old Belvedere, Clontarf, Blackrock College and Cashel were among the major winners as the Ireland rugby club game produced plenty of talking points.
The latest sports Ireland supporters’ updates show the strength and competitiveness running through the All-Ireland League, from the top flight to the provincial divisions. With the campaign still developing, every bonus point, comeback and narrow victory could prove significant later in the season.
Old Belvedere maintain perfect momentum in Division 1A
Old Belvedere claimed one of the standout results of the weekend by defeating Cork Constitution 24-7 at Temple Hill. The sides were level at 7-7 at half-time after early tries from Cork Con’s Evan Clarke and Old Belvedere captain Jayden Beckett.
Old Belvedere then took control after the interval. Calum Dowling crossed twice before George Hadden added a fourth try late on, giving the visitors a convincing second-half performance. The result underlined Old Belvedere’s impressive start and strengthened their position among the early Division 1A contenders.
Cork Constitution will be disappointed after competing closely during the opening 40 minutes but failing to match their opponents’ attacking accuracy in the second half.
Clontarf respond in style
Clontarf bounced back with a 39-21 win over Ballynahinch at Castle Avenue. The match was level at 7-7 at the break, but Clontarf produced a powerful second-half display.
Dylan Donnellan was central to the victory, scoring three tries, while Paul Deeny and Oisin McCormack also crossed. Conor Kelly added four conversions and two penalties as Clontarf pulled clear. Ballynahinch threatened through Claytan Milligan, Pierce Crowe and Aaron Sexton, but could not contain the home side’s finishing power.
Terenure win an entertaining contest against UCD
Terenure College overcame UCD 47-25 at Lakelands Park in another high-scoring Division 1A encounter. The hosts led 21-13 at half-time and continued to build pressure after the restart.
Aran Egan scored twice and added five conversions, while Caolan Dooley, Adam LaGrue, Dylan Murphy and Luke Rigney also contributed tries. UCD remained competitive through Bernard White’s double and a score from Luke Coffey, but Terenure’s attacking variety proved decisive.
St. Mary’s College also claimed an away victory, beating Old Wesley 26-17 at Energia Park. Meanwhile, Lansdowne finished strongly to defeat Young Munster 36-26 in Limerick, overturning a two-point half-time deficit with a composed second-half performance.
Blackrock College take control at the top of Division 1B
Blackrock College produced the most emphatic result in Division 1B, beating Garryowen 43-16 at Dooradoyle. Seven different Blackrock players crossed the whitewash, including Harry Waters, Thomas Quinn, Barry Galvin, Jack Treanor, Derry Moloney, Luke McAuliffe and Tommy Butler.
Garryowen’s points came from three penalties by Alexander Wood, along with a late try from Eric Cantillon. Blackrock’s broader attacking threat, however, made the difference and moved them to the top of the division.
Naas also impressed, defeating City of Armagh 43-17 at Forenaughts. Cillian Redmond scored twice, while five further Naas tries reflected a strong all-round display. Nenagh Ormond edged MU Barnhall 18-16 in a much tighter contest, holding on after a late challenge from the visitors.
The meeting between Highfield and UCC was abandoned because of floodlight failure at Woodleigh Park. That fixture will require attention from the competition organisers as teams manage a crowded club rugby calendar.
Cashel and unbeaten sides make their mark in Division 2
Cashel snatched a dramatic late victory over Dungannon to move into pole position in Division 2A. Ballymena were beaten 24-17 by Wanderers, while the round also featured a number of closely fought contests across the regional sections.
In Division 2B, Malone retained their unbeaten record in the North, while Clonmel continued their perfect run in the South. Those results underline the depth of Ireland’s club rugby structure, with momentum beginning to build ahead of the winter schedule.
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What comes next in the All-Ireland League?
After five rounds, the early table is beginning to separate. Old Belvedere and Clontarf have laid down strong markers in Division 1A, while Blackrock College’s attacking display has put the rest of Division 1B on notice. The next round will test whether the leading teams can maintain their momentum and whether the chasing pack can close the gap.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby