Vital wins recorded by Limerick sides in the All Ireland League

Four Limerick sides claimed big wins over the weekend, with the two sides who lost out claiming losing bonus points.

It could be a major turning point in the division 1A playoff chase as Young Munster claimed a 25-16 win over Clontarf in Castle Avenue.

Gearoid Prendergast’s men now leapfrog Garryowen into 5th, as the lights blues game against Dublin University was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Conan Doyle’s side will have been happy with the Young Munster win as it takes them within four points of a playoff place with a game in hand, while Cork Con’s loss will have given both Limerick sides a boost.

Munster’s Dan Goggin returned to club action with a first half try for the away side, while Munster A number 8 Gavin Coombs also went over with Shane Airey and former Ireland 20’s star Alan Tynan chipping in with points from the boot as the cookies took an 18-6 lead into the break.

Clontarf fought back to cut the deficit to 2 points at 16-18 in the second half but Young Munster’s last try which had over 40 phases in the build-up cemented the crucial win for the Greenfields side.

Alan Kennedy delivers the coup de grace for @YoungMunsterRFC against @ClontarfRugby yesterday. Six minutes of hard graft posession through over forty phases of play. More images at https://t.co/AdPmV2jO4V pic.twitter.com/50V0yOvUzt

— Liam Coughlan (@Liam09C) January 28, 2018

In 1B Shannon had to settle for a losing bonus point against Ballymena as they suffered a 10-5 defeat.

Lock Jade Kriel had the Parish side in the lead in the early goings but Tom Haye’s men failed to register any points after that.

Shannon are still top of the table by a point.

UL Bohemian claimed a crucial win at the other end of the table they saw off Dolphin 7-3 Mike Lynch with the try the conversion came from Robbie Bourke.

Christy Neilan’s side are now 5 points clear of the Cork side who remain bottom of the table.

Old Crescent made it 12 wins from 12 recording a bonus point win over Belfast Harlequins in Rosbrien 33-15 was the final score as Crescent marched on at the top of the 2B table.

FULL TIME: 33-15 @OldCrescentRFC1

Record breaking season, 12 wins from 12 matches. Well done lads! Thanks @BHarlequinsRFC for a great game. #OCvBH #UBL pic.twitter.com/8bOIJVbuhk

— Old Crescent RFC (@OldCrescentRFC1) January 27, 2018

Backs coach Brian Tuohy started the scoring, while Ronan McKenna and Kevin Doyle added to that before the half, Sean Monaghan was put through for a second half try following an offload from head coach Brendan Guilfoyle, while Seaghan Gleeson went over for the Limerick side’s final try.

In division 2C Thomond have moved to the top of the table following a 10-6 win over Omagh, all the points coming from Evan Cusack.

The win signified a first win up north for the Limerick side since 2014, and shows a great turnaround so far this season from the soda cakes, following back to back relegations.

First win in the North since 4/10/14, 3 years and 3 months. Will be a fairly hectic bus journey home. pic.twitter.com/8z9hJY5MKe

— Thomond RFC (@RFCThomond) January 27, 2018

Elsewhere Bruff claimed a losing bonus point against Malahide they lost out 13-6.

Sligo’s second loss in a row in the division has really blown the title race wide open, with Eoin Cahill’s side still only five points behind Limerick rivals Thomond, despite their loss.