AIL Final Day Drama

Digifriendly

See http://www.irishrugby.ie/23_20560.php
So its Cork Con, St. Mary's, Dolphin and Old Belvedere into the semis. Shannon miss out and Clontarf relegated to Div 1B along with UL Bohs. Shannon must be kicking themselves at missing out. Cork probably favourites now as they have home semi against Dolphin (winners over same opposition today) and plenty of experience in latter stages of this competition. Will be a Munster vs Leinster club final which should add a bit of spice. Will be interesting to see how Belvo perform against Div 1A opposition.
Dramatic finish to relegation battle in Div 1B with late runs from Buccaneers and Dungannon seeing them to safety while Ballymena (who looked safe and secure a few weeks ago) faltered on the final straight and ironically are condemned to Div 2 by fellow Ulster side Ballynahinch who also go down despite bonus point win.
Lansdowne and Bruff go up from Div 2 with Highfield and Greystones relegated to Div 3. Queens and Midleton take their place while Carlow return to ranks of Junior Rugby and Portadown face relegation play off. Lansdowne and Queens have both been outstanding and should cope in higher divisions.
As a side note I was critical of splitting Div1 into 2 sections but it made for compelling drama on final Saturday with something riding on every game in 1B. I was at Stevenson Park where Dungannon came home with a late surge against Galwegians to survive. Had to keep 'phoning a friend at Ballymacarn Park to hear how other 2 Ulster sides were faring. So high drama indeed!

danthefan

So what happens, the top three from 1A and the winner of 1B go into the SFs?

Podge_irl

Aye, so it's Marys v. Belvo and Con v. Dolphin.

When are the semis?

Digifriendly

Podge_irl wrote: »

Aye, so it's Marys v. Belvo and Con v. Dolphin.

When are the semis?

Link says next Saturday.

Aidric

Good to see Bruff go up. Their rise has been meteoric. I actually think Dolphin might surprise a few and win it.

andyman

Anyone know if Dave Mongan is back from injury for Belvo? Haven't been following AIL in recent weeks.

toomevara

Is the AIL ever televised by RTE, (bar the final).....?

Risteard

Did anyone hear the result between Richmond and Seapoint?

irishbucsfan

Risteard wrote: »

Did anyone hear the result between Richmond and Seapoint?

Heard from a Newbridge player last night that Seapoint won (Newbridge need them to go up, for them to go up?).

Don't understand the promotion sytem in the Junior Division 1B league at all TBH

Risteard

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Heard from a Newbridge player last night that Seapoint won (Newbridge need them to go up, for them to go up?).

Don't understand the promotion sytem in the Junior Division 1B league at all TBH

Ah well, I suppose there's always next year.

Digifriendly

toomevara wrote: »

Is the AIL ever televised by RTE, (bar the final).....?

Semi-final to be shown next Saturday afternoon on RTE.

Digifriendly

Risteard wrote: »

Did anyone hear the result between Richmond and Seapoint?

Here's the update - http://www.irishrugby.ie/636_431.php

Seapoint's win over Richmond makes them probably favourites now for automatic promotion to AIL 3 and Derry maybe slight favourites to face Portadown in promotion/relegation playoff.

theKramer

Digifriendly wrote: »

Semi-final to be shown next Saturday afternoon on RTE.

Any idea where the semis/final will be played? Not an ardent follower but wouldnt mind going seeing a semi or the final if they are in or around Dublin

anonymous_joe

toomevara wrote: »

Is the AIL ever televised by RTE, (bar the final).....?

Why would it be? Ratings wouldn't be high enough to justify it to RTÉ.

Big shame.

Digifriendly

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Why would it be? Ratings wouldn't be high enough to justify it to RTÉ.

Big shame.

Just pointed out in post #11 that one of the semis is on RTE next Saturday.

delta_bravo

theKramer wrote: »

Any idea where the semis/final will be played? Not an ardent follower but wouldnt mind going seeing a semi or the final if they are in or around Dublin

St. Marys v Old Belvedere in Templeville Road, Templeogue would be the one nearest you if youre based in D6

themont85

I'm really hoping for a Old Belvo/Marys win overall in the comp although the former is my preference. They've made some great strides in recent years and this is their first playoff appearance I believe.

Gracelessly Tom

Does anyone know where the final will be held? I've heard Thomand and Athlone mentioned.

Think it will be a Marys Con final myself.

outwest

a bit off topic, but corinthians and a great win and dlsp griffen getting 2 trys. one for the future

Gracelessly Tom

Just been announced that RTE are showing the Mary's vs Belvo match live, KO is 14:05 so presumably the TV coverage starts at 14:00.

AdeT

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

Just been announced that RTE are showing the Mary's vs Belvo match live, KO is 14:05 so presumably the TV coverage starts at 14:00.

Should be a top game. Hopefully there's a good crowd turn-out for the cameras

anonymous_joe

Digifriendly wrote: »

Just pointed out in post #11 that one of the semis is on RTE next Saturday.

I meant the general games. Didn't get it across properly though.

Digifriendly

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I meant the general games. Didn't get it across properly though.

Apologies. I suppose RTE show brief highlights of AIL on 'Against the Head' which is better than nothing during regular season. Wonder why this programme is concluded for the season? Surely with ML and HC and ACC still to come there would be plenty of action to fill even a half hour programme at least for another 3-4 weeks.

thomond2006

Digifriendly wrote: »

Wonder why this programme is concluded for the season? Surely with ML and HC and ACC still to come there would be plenty of action to fill even a half hour programme at least for another 3-4 weeks.

It ends this time every season, makes little sense.

theKramer

Was at the Belvo - St Marys game today. Good game. It went right down to the wire at the end. Though I thought the Yellow card for the high tackle on a Marys player was a bit harsh. It was clumsy more than anything. Good way to spend a few hours in the sun

norrie rugger

theKramer wrote: »

Was at the Belvo - St Marys game today. Good game. It went right down to the wire at the end. Though I thought the Yellow card for the high tackle on a Marys player was a bit harsh. It was clumsy more than anything. Good way to spend a few hours in the sun

It was a bit of a cynical tackle though, potential scoring opportunity and at speed too.

Thought that there would be a few comments about that conversion TBH

Eoin

Not really an AIL drama, but Seapoint Rugby Club beat Monivea 33 - 7 today to become the latest AIL club for the first time in the club's history. This followed a close win over City of Derry (who still have a chance of promotion) and a bonus point win over the Munster champions, Richmond RFC.

Risteard

eoin wrote: »

Not really an AIL drama, but Seapoint Rugby Club beat Monivea 33 - 7 today to become the latest AIL club for the first time in the club's history. This followed a close win over City of Derry (who still have a chance of promotion) and a bonus point win over the Munster champions, Richmond RFC.

Fair play to them. I suppose it was too far for us this year, maybe next year .

theKramer

norrie rugger wrote: »

It was a bit of a cynical tackle though, potential scoring opportunity and at speed too.

Thought that there would be a few comments about that conversion TBH

Yeah that conversion did look a bit iffy alright. Had forgotten about that.. I thought there were a couple of decisions that went the way of St Marys that I thought were a bit suspect. Cant remember them, but I thought the ref slightly favoured them at the end. Second half was an absolute cracker.

Happened to be standing near Johnny Sexton and a few of the Leinster players. The little kids found him in the second half. Looks of total adoration on their little faces It was hilarious. Fair f***s to him tho, when the match was going right down to the wire, he was still signing balls, flags and jerseys of any kid that came up to him.

norrie rugger

theKramer wrote: »

Yeah that conversion did look a bit iffy alright. Had forgotten about that.. I thought there were a couple of decisions that went the way of St Marys that I thought were a bit suspect. Cant remember them, but I thought the ref slightly favoured them at the end. Second half was an absolute cracker.

Happened to be standing near Johnny Sexton and a few of the Leinster players. The little kids found him in the second half. Looks of total adoration on their little faces It was hilarious. Fair f***s to him tho, when the match was going right down to the wire, he was still signing balls, flags and jerseys of any kid that came up to him.

I had to laugh at the mary's kids after the game
Ignored Johnny, jennings and the others. They only wanted the senior teams autographs

Eoin

Risteard wrote: »

Fair play to them. I suppose it was too far for us this year, maybe next year .

I understand Richmond were missing a few regular players? They also had two away games, which is never easy in this competition.

Aidric wrote:

Good to see Bruff go up. Their rise has been meteoric.

They beat us by a point 5 years ago in the AIL round robin qualification to be promoted to the AIL - it's great to see them doing well, and hopefully it will show that junior clubs can cut it after promotion.

Risteard

eoin wrote: »

I understand Richmond were missing a few regular players? They also had two away games, which is never easy in this competition.

Not sure, I haven't been down in ages due to injury and still only U21s so I'm not sure what's been going on.

Digifriendly

It's Portadown vs Derry for relegation/promotion playoff.

Eoin

Digifriendly wrote: »

It's Portadown vs Derry for relegation/promotion playoff.

City of Derry are a very good team; they could well win that game.

bamboozle

eoin wrote: »

Not really an AIL drama, but Seapoint Rugby Club beat Monivea 33 - 7 today to become the latest AIL club for the first time in the club's history. This followed a close win over City of Derry (who still have a chance of promotion) and a bonus point win over the Munster champions, Richmond RFC.

there's a few Seapoint lads at Clontarf, Cremin, dundon and a kiwi flanker who's name escapes me, i wouldnt be suprised to see them all return to seapoint,

Beanmachine

Ben Focas is it?

bamboozle

Beanmachine wrote: »

Ben Focas is it?

thats the one!