Limerick rivals set for semi-final clash

All-Ireland League: Garryowen finished as champions of the AIB All-Ireland League Division One following their 37-24 victory over UCD and will now enjoy a home semi-final against Shannon in the end-of-season play-off format.

The Limerick rivals will dispute a place in the final at Dooradoyle next Saturday.

Garryowen have lost only once this season - 18-10 to Clontarf at Castle Avenue. They proved too strong for UCD, running in tries from Paul Neville, Anthony Kavanagh, Kevin Hartigan and twin brothers Ciarán (2) and Cillian O'Boyle.

Shannon earned their place in the final four with 31-15 victory over Belfast Harlequins at Thomond Park. Three of the tries came from the halfbacks, Frankie McNamara and Dave Delaney (2). They will be hoping that they can replicate last season's feat by qualifying for and then winning the final.

Next weekend's other semi-final sees the AIB Cup champions Cork Constitution and Clontarf in action.

Constitution beat Dublin University 33-21 at Temple Hill, thereby not alone securing a home tie next Saturday but also consigning Trinity College to relegation. Tries from Conor Quaid, Tom Gleeson, Daragh Lyons and Ed Leamy were enough to see them win their sixth league game in succession.

Joining Trinity in Division Two next season are Carlow while making the reverse journey are Terenure (champions) and Dolphin (runners-up), the Cork side pipping Young Munster.

Next weekend's semi-finals will see Terenure host UCC with Young Munster making the journey to Cork to take on Dolphin. Ballynahinch and Waterpark have been relegated to Division Three.

It's been a great year for the west Cork club of Clonakilty as the won the Division Three championship and have been promoted alongside Suttonians.

In the play-offs, the former will take on Bruff while Wanderers will have to take on Suttonians at the JJ Memorial Grounds.

Skerries have been relegated from senior rugby.

Final Tables

Division One

P W D L F A B Pts

Garryowen 15 14 0 1 379 180 5 61

Clontarf 15 12 0 3 403 222 13 61

Cork Con 15 12 0 3 384 216 8 56

Shannon 15 13 0 2 357 200 4 56

UL Bohemian 15 10 1 4 345 309 7 49

Harlequins 15 8 0 7 328 330 7 39

Buccaneers 15 7 1 7 305 261 7 37

Lansdowne 15 7 0 8 337 311 4 32

UCD 15 6 0 9 295 286 8 32

Ballymena 15 7 0 8 307 313 4 32

St Mary's 15 6 1 8 250 305 3 29

Dungannon 15 6 0 9 264 357 5 29

Blackrock 15 4 1 10 213 376 5 23

Galwegians 15 3 0 12 208 343 7 19

Dublin Univ 15 3 0 12 265 399 5 17

Co Carlow 15 0 0 15 191 423 5 5

Division Two

P W D L F A B Pts

Terenure 15 14 0 1 397 136 9 65

Dolphin 15 12 0 3 381 223 8 56

Y Munster 15 12 2 1 325 214 4 56

UCC. 15 9 0 6 319 220 6 42

Bective 15 8 0 7 240 274 3 35

DLSP. 15 8 0 7 262 298 3 35

Midleton 15 7 0 8 262 269 5 33

Old Crescent 15 7 0 8 237 299 5 33

Greystones 15 6 0 9 337 305 8 32

Highfield 15 6 0 9 285 302 8 32

Barnhall 15 6 0 9 216 232 6 30

Old Belvedere 15 5 1 9 303 347 7 29

Thomond 15 6 1 8 224 277 2 28

Malone 15 6 0 9 240 332 4 28

Ballynahinch 15 5 1 9 268 327 3 25

Waterpark 15 0 1 14 146 387 4 4

Division Three

P W D L F A B Pts

Clonakilty 15 13 0 2 375 167 9 61

Wanderers 15 11 0 4 316 192 6 50

Bruff 15 10 1 4 287 190 6 48

Instonians 15 9 1 5 312 241 5 43

Nenagh 15 8 0 7 264 278 6 38

Corinthians 15 8 0 7 282 271 4 36

Old Wesley 15 7 0 8 272 309 4 32

Sunday's Well 15 6 1 8 269 341 4 30

Queen's Univ 15 5 0 10 230 238 7 27

City of Derry 15 4 1 10 299 334 9 27

Banbridge 15 5 1 9 224 352 4 26

Connemara 15 5 1 9 194 283 2 24

Ards 15 4 2 9 268 360 4 24

Portadown 15 5 0 10 260 393 3 23

Skerries 15 4 0 11 197 265 6 22