The latest Irish rugby weekend delivered high-scoring contests, dramatic finishes and a clearer picture of the early Energia All-Ireland League race. Across the men’s divisions, defending champions St Mary’s College stayed unbeaten, while several clubs made it two bonus-point wins from two.
Round 2 also produced a landmark moment for Enniskillen, who continued their outstanding introduction to senior league rugby, and a first top-flight victory in more than 29 years for Old Wesley. With the competition already producing such fine margins, the next few rounds will be crucial for clubs hoping to establish momentum.
Irish rugby leaders make strong starts in Division 1A
Old Belvedere and UCD set the pace in Division 1A after both collected their second bonus-point victories. Belvedere were particularly impressive at Ollie Campbell Park, defeating Ballynahinch 56-10 in a dominant eight-try display.
Robbie Russell scored three times, while Jayden Beckett and Sam Wisniewski each crossed twice. Ballynahinch briefly threatened through Aaron Sexton’s two tries, but Belvedere had built a 35-10 half-time lead and never looked likely to surrender control.
UCD matched that ten-point haul with a 43-26 win over Lansdowne at the UCD Bowl. Maxim Aschenbrenner and Charlie Molony both scored two tries, but Paddy Clancy’s kicking was the decisive factor. The out-half converted four tries and added five penalties for 23 points, taking his personal tally to 37 after two rounds.
St Mary’s College remain firmly in the title conversation after edging Clontarf 36-31 at Templeville Road. The champions led 33-14 at the interval, but Clontarf mounted a spirited second-half comeback, with Dylan Donnellan completing a hat-trick. St Mary’s held on for a second victory and showed the resilience expected of reigning champions.
Old Wesley claimed one of the weekend’s most significant results, beating Cork Constitution 36-33 at Energia Park. Tom Larke’s 79th-minute penalty settled a thrilling contest and secured Wesley’s first top-flight win in over 29 years. Young Munster also opened their account by defeating Terenure College 21-17, with a late penalty try proving decisive.
Unbeaten clubs emerge in Division 1B and 2A
Nenagh Ormond and Blackrock College both moved to nine points in Division 1B. Nenagh defeated Naas 31-21, helped by two tries from Patrick Scully after his early introduction. Blackrock overcame UCC 31-26 in a closely fought match at the Mardyke, despite a late effort from the hosts.
Dublin University produced the most emphatic Division 1B result, beating Garryowen 46-22 at College Park. The students ran in six tries after recovering from an early setback, while Highfield also secured their first win of the campaign with a 24-7 victory over Instonians.
Cashel and Galway Corinthians share the early lead in Division 2A after recording maximum points for a second successive weekend. Cashel defeated Queen’s University 36-29, while Corinthians beat Greystones 26-19 after a late surge that included tries from Tadhg Johnston and Dominic Williams.
Dungannon and Ballymena are close behind on nine points. Dungannon overcame Wanderers 31-25, while Ballymena survived a strong UL Bohemian fightback to win 31-28. Shannon finally got off the mark in dramatic fashion, with Peter Dougan scoring four minutes into stoppage time to defeat Galwegians 25-19.
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Five teams perfect in Division 2B North
Division 2B North could hardly be tighter. Clogher Valley, Malone, Ballyclare, Skerries and newly promoted Enniskillen have all taken ten points from their first two matches.
- Clogher Valley defeated Navan 38-17, with Callum Smyton scoring twice.
- Malone impressed away from home, beating Sligo 36-7 as Sam Green completed a hat-trick.
- Ballyclare made a rapid start in their 36-12 victory over Rainey.
- Skerries fought back from a half-time deficit to defeat Banbridge 31-26.
- Enniskillen followed their historic opening win with a 31-19 success at Malahide.
Enniskillen’s result was especially eye-catching. They scored all 31 points before half-time, with Eddie Keys adding a penalty and converting each of the club’s four tries. Malahide improved after the interval, but the damage had already been done.
Clonmel and Old Crescent set Division 2B South pace
Clonmel and Old Crescent remain the teams to catch in Division 2B South. Clonmel produced another attacking performance to defeat Dolphin 43-21, building a 26-7 half-time lead before completing a second win from two.
Old Crescent had to work harder against Monkstown. They trailed 24-15 at half-time but turned the game around with a powerful second-half response, completing a 44-31 victory. Jed O’Dwyer scored a hat-trick, while the Limerick club finished with a 29-point turnaround after the break.
Bective Rangers also made a statement, responding to their opening defeat with a 57-7 win over Bruff. Their nine-try performance underlined the competitive depth across the division and ensured they moved quickly to reset their campaign.
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What to watch in Round 3
The main question is whether the early leaders can maintain their perfect or unbeaten records. Belvedere, UCD and St Mary’s have already shown strength in Division 1A, but the narrow margins in several fixtures suggest the table could change quickly.
In Division 2B North, five clubs share the maximum ten-point return, making every bonus point and late score potentially decisive. Enniskillen’s rapid rise will also attract attention, while Clonmel and Old Crescent will look to protect their positions at the top of the southern section.
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The takeaway: Round 2 confirmed that the Energia All-Ireland League is already producing genuine competition across every division. The next round will show which early contenders have the consistency to turn a fast start into a serious promotion or title challenge.
