Cookies bag five in-a-row

TRY scorers Alan Tynan and Gavin Coombes were on top form as Young Munster edged out Cork Constitution 15-11 in a cracking Ulster Bank League contest at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Munster Academy pair book-ended the second half with crucial scores and impressed in open play as the Cookies climbed into fifth place in the Division 1A table after their fifth successive victory.

Cork Con, who had led 11-8 thanks to a Gerry Hurley try, have now lost their last four league meetings with Munsters, but remain right in the play-off mix.

Thirteen points clear at the summit, Lansdowne are on the cusp of sealing a home semi-final, while five clubs, including the Munster trio of Young Munster, Con and Garryowen, are covered by just six points and locked in a furious scrap for second place and the two other play-off berths.

Garryowen’s well-drilled maul was the undoing of UCD at Belfield where the Light Blues won 17-0.

Brothers Liam and Neil Cronin combined for 12 points, the former crossing for a try on the stroke of half-time and the latter kicking seven points. Ireland U-20 hooker Diarmuid Barron came off the bench to touch down from a late second-half maul.

Bottom side Buccaneers lost their grip on an early 14-point lead as Dublin University emerged as 21-17 winners of the basement battle at College Park.

Alex McDonald and Sam Pim cancelled out tries from Cian Romaine and Conor McKeon, with Tommy Whittle’s two penalties after the break proving decisive for the students, who have climbed out of the bottom two.