ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE ROUND-UP:THE FINAL Saturday of the AIB All-Ireland league was played out in dramatic circumstances with every game, bar one, having some meaning with regards to the play-offs, home advantage or relegation.
Clontarf held off the challenge of Blackrock College to clinch the fourth semi-final spot by convincingly beating Galwegians 37-14, scoring all their points in the first half, making the bonus point Blackrock attained with a six-try (two tries apiece for Kyle Tonetti, David Rowan and Paul Graham) 49-27 win over St Mary's at Stradbrook irrelevant.
The reward is a trip south to face Cork Constitution in the semi-final on May 3rd. Last year's runner-up were convincing victors in the Cork derby, ending Dolphin's hopes of making the play-offs with a resounding 25-3 scoreline. Tries by Tom Gleeson, Richard Lane and Cronan Healy made sure of a home semi-final for Constitution.
In the other semi-final, Garryowen make the short journey over to Coonagh, also Saturday three weeks, to face Shannon after the defending champions powered past UCD in Dooradoyle thanks to tries from Cillian O'Boyle, Conan Doyle, Damien Varley and Gerry Hurley for a 34-13 win.
Constitution also topped the table in 2007, only to lose the final to Garryowen so while Brian Walsh's men remain favourites to atone for that defeat, ominously, Shannon are coming into a rich vein of form.
They remain on course for a league and cup double after their 38-5 dismissal of Greystones, a result that sent the Wicklow club back into division two after just one season of top flight rugby. Seán Cronin and Stephen Kelly, with two apiece, and David Quinlan got Shannon's tries.
Dungannon survive by dint of a 38-7 win over Ballymena, a result that condemned Lansdowne to Division Two for the first time in the club's history, despite the fact they overcame Terenure in Lakelands 27-20.
The final takes place at Musgrave Park on May 11th, kick-off at the unusual time of 1.15pm.
In the only match not to have any relevance for play-offs or relegation, Old Belvedere capped off a respectable return to Division One rugby with a 33-18 win over UL Bohemians thanks to tries from Richie Leyden (twice), Eoin O'Malley, Felix Jones and Eamonn Fitzgerald.
