Round two of the Energia All-Ireland League produced another packed weekend of Irish rugby, with defending champions St Mary’s College again edging Clontarf and several clubs making early statements across the divisions. For followers of sports ireland, the latest results offered close finishes, high-scoring performances and plenty of momentum to carry into the next round.
St Mary’s College survive another Clontarf test
St Mary’s College maintained their strong start in Division 1A with a 36-31 victory over Clontarf at Templeville Road. The champions built a commanding 33-14 half-time lead, with Richie Bergin, Conor Pierce and Dan Goggin crossing while Mick O’Gara added a series of successful kicks.
Clontarf refused to fold after the interval. Dylan Donnellan completed a hat-trick and Oisin McCormack also scored, but the visitors could not quite complete the comeback. The result gives St Mary’s another important win over one of the league’s leading sides and underlines their early title credentials.
Old Belvedere set the standard
Old Belvedere delivered the most emphatic Division 1A performance, defeating Ballynahinch 56-10 at Ollie Campbell Park. Robbie Russell scored three tries, while Jayden Beckett and Sam Wisniewski also made major contributions in a dominant display.
Ballynahinch’s Aaron Sexton scored twice, but Old Belvedere had already established a 35-10 advantage by half-time. Their attacking variety and clinical finishing made the difference as they strengthened their position near the top of the early table.
Elsewhere, Old Wesley edged Cork Constitution 36-33 in a thrilling contest at Energia Park. The home side led 19-14 at the break and held firm despite a determined Cork Con response. Young Munster also claimed a narrow 21-17 win away to Terenure College, while UCD overcame Lansdowne 43-26 in another high-scoring encounter.
Division 1B remains tightly contested
Dublin University produced a powerful second-half performance to beat Garryowen 46-22 at College Park. The students led 17-10 at half-time before pulling away after the interval, scoring six tries in total. Garryowen added late tries, but the hosts had already taken control.
Nenagh Ormond also remain unbeaten after a 31-21 home victory over Naas. Patrick Scully scored twice, while Conor McMahon, Robbie Tynan and Matthew Brice also crossed as Nenagh built a 17-7 half-time lead and managed the second half effectively.
Blackrock College preserved their perfect start with a 31-26 win over UCC at the Mardyke. UCC fought back strongly after trailing 14-7 at half-time, but Tim Corkery’s goal-kicking and Blackrock’s four tries proved decisive.
- Highfield RFC defeated Instonians 24-7 at Shaw’s Bridge.
- MU Barnhall edged City of Armagh 23-22 in a tense finish.
- Nenagh Ormond and Blackrock College remain unbeaten after two rounds.
Early promotion pace emerging in Division 2A and 2B
Cashel and Galway Corinthians have made the early running in Division 2A, while the opening two rounds have created an intriguing picture across Division 2B. Five clubs have recorded consecutive maximum-point wins in the North section, highlighting the strength and competitiveness of the competition.
In Division 2B South, Clonmel and Old Crescent are the teams to catch after two rounds. Although the season remains in its early stages, maximum-point starts can prove valuable when promotion and play-off positions are decided later in the campaign.
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What to watch in round three
The next round will offer an early opportunity for the leading clubs to reinforce their positions, while teams beaten narrowly in round two will be eager to respond. St Mary’s College, Old Belvedere, Nenagh Ormond and Blackrock College have all made strong starts, but the tight margins in several fixtures show how quickly the league can change.
For supporters following ireland rugby and local club competition, the main takeaway is clear: the Energia All-Ireland League is already producing meaningful contests across every division. The next set of fixtures should provide a clearer indication of which teams can sustain their early momentum.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
