Young Munster 15 Terenure College 5

Young Munster ended 2017 with a hard fought home win over Terenure on Saturday with thanks to tries from Conor Hayes and Jack Lyons as well as the boot of Shane Airey. Out half Airey was on hand to put his side ahead following good pressure from the Cookies pack in the 18th minute, however the next score would go in the away side’s favour as good work from their own front 5 resulted in a well taken try for winger Jake Swaine on the stroke of half time.

In the second half, the Greenfields outfit’s forward began to take control of the clash, with their maul work continually causing problem’s for their opponents defence. Both Hayes’ and Lyons’ scores came after good work from their forwards and Nure’ couldn’t respond with a score of their own in the second half which meant Gearoid Prendergast’s men would be sitting in 6th place come 2018.

Full time in Limerick@YoungMunsterRFC 15-5 1st XV
Hard luck lads – safe home to all the excellent supporters who went down!

— Terenure College RFC (@terenurerugby) December 9, 2017

Cork Constitution 37 Garryowen 11

Cork Constitution got revenge on Saturday when they secured a bonus point victory over Munster rival’s Garryowen in Temple Hill. In stark contrast to the week previous Conan Doyle’s side came away with nothing from the clash thanks to a powerful display from Con’s pack. Two first half penalties simply weren’t enough for the light blues, with the home side recording two rolling maul tries in the first forty coupled with two well struck penalties from Tomas Quinlan which meant the away side would chasing the game for the second 40.

The second period continued in a similar fashion to the first with Con dominating proceedings and when Conor Kindregan went over for his side’s third there was no way back for the Dooradoyle outfit. Lorcan Bourke did get over for a consolation on 78 minutes, but a penalty try following repeated scrum infringements in the last play of the game meant a try bonus point for the reigning champions in the last league fixture of 2017.

there will be no Limerick side’s in the top four of division 1A come 2018

Shannon 49 Ballynahinch 19

Shannon recorded a superb win over table top rivals Ballynahinch on Saturday at a cold Thomond Park to cement their positio as division 1B leaders. Early tries in the first half from Ty Chan, Pa Ryan and a penalty try saw the home side go into a 21-0 lead in the first quarter but their opponents kept their cool and went over for a nice score following good hands in the build up to leave the score 21-7 at the break and the game still in the balance.

Tom Hayes’ side then got off to an ideal start in the second half when a strong scrum platform set up full back Fionn McGibney to go over in the corner and secure a bonus point. Shannon went on to dominate second half proceedings with impressive fly half Conor Fitzgerald going over for a brace and McGibney also notching up a second and since the away side could only reply with two scores they left Limerick empty handed and the Coonagh outfit top of the league for Christmas.

https://twitter.com/Shannon\_RFC/status/939509395842625536

UCC 13 UL Bohemians 7

UL Bohemians will want 2018 to come as soon as possible following another league defeat on Saturday in the colours game against UCC. Bohs couldn’t get on the scoresheet in the first half but the home side were the opposite, and got out of the blocks quickly and went into a 13-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

The next score didn’t come until after the interval when Harry Fleming got over for the away side which Mike Mullaly converted meaning the red robins would have to settle for a losing bonus point for the second week in a row against the Cork outfit. The University of Limerick side now sit in second last place in 1B with relegation a possibility at this point.

The two local side’s in 1B are having very mixed season’s

Navan RFC 18 Old Crescent 19

Old Crescent were made to work to keep their 100\% record again on Saturday when they faced Navan RFC in both side’s final fixture of 2017. Crescent looked comfortable in the first half with two tries from Brendan Guilfoyle and Sean Monaghan, with Ronan McKenna converting Guilfoyle’s but not Monaghan’s meaning they went into the break 12-3 ahead following a Navan penalty.

The home side were a different outfit in the second forty with 15 unanswered points to race into an 18-12 lead but with about five minutes left on the clock Guilfoyle and his side were awarded a dramatic penalty rty which meant they would top at Christmas as well as keeping their perfect record in tact.

Old Crescent players celebrate after narrow hard earned win over @Navanrfc yesterday! 10 out of 10 – top of the class!
Congrats to our senior players and rugby management on a fantastic season! We look forward to more of the same in 2018! pic.twitter.com/GkyIXQALXv

— Old Crescent RFC (@OldCrescentRFC1) December 10, 2017

Crescent are now 13 points clear at the top of 2B

Midleton 12 Bruff 19

Bruff made it two wins from two over Midleton on Saturday after a hard fought away victory in Cork. Jack O’Grady got over for the county Limerick side in the first half but O’Grady’s brother Dave couldn’t add the conversion. The home side notched up two penalties in the first forty to leave the away side a point behind going in at the break.

A tight second half ensued with O’Grady getting over for his second following a neat grubber which was soon followed by a John Hogan try off a well worked maul to put his side 19-9 in front. The home side did manage a late penalty to secure a losing bonus but not enough to spoil Eoin Cahill’s side’s day.

Thomond 18 Bective Rangers 14

Thomond finished off a good 2017 campaign with a win against Baective on Saturday at Liam Fitzgerald park. After struggling to score last time out, the soda cakes went into a 13-0 first half lead thanks to a Ger Finucane try and two well struck penalties from out half Evan Cusack.

For the first time in the clubs history we played a game under floodlights at home and got the result too. Great night ahead pic.twitter.com/vXQEuheIPl

— Thomond RFC (@RFCThomond) December 9, 2017

After the break Dean O’Brien went over to give the home side a bit of breathing space, but nearly resulted in the royal blues letting the foot off the gas too much and Bective got over for two converted tries to set up a nervy finish for James Hickey’s side but they held out and further cemented their top four credentials, now sitting in second place on 32 points, three behind leaders sligo.

Bruff and Thomond are currently in good positions in 2b