It was a dramatic day in the All-Ireland League with four rounds of regular season games left, with Limerick picking up three wins.
In Division 1A, Young Munster achieved an exciting 31-24 bonus point victory over UCD at Tom Clifford Park.
The win leaves Munsters sixth in the 1A table, but 17 points adrift of the top four in the play-offs.
Also in the Top League, Shannon lost 38-24 away to high-scoring powerhouse Cork Constitution at Temple Hill.
The defeat leaves Shannon in ninth place in the relegation play-offs, two points behind Armagh City and six points behind underground team Dublin University.
Meanwhile, in Division 1B, Clinical Garyowen recorded a 56-5 bonus point win over Naas at Doorisle to remain in the promotion play-offs.
The win moved Garyowen into third place with eight tries, just one point behind second-placed Old Wesley.
Limerick’s two teams in Division 2A have experienced contrasting fortunes. Old Crescent had a comfortable 36-14 win over Banbridge at Rosbrien, while Ur Bohemians lost 13-17 to Cashel at Annacotti.
Crescent’s victory moved the Limerick side into fourth place in the standings in the race for a place in the promotion play-offs at the end of the regular season.
UL-Bohs occupy sixth place, five points behind Crescent and one point behind fifth-placed Banbridge.
In Division 2C, Brough felt leader Clogher Valley had a difficult task. Cran when they lost by a scoreline of 40-7.
Brough, who have nine wins and two draws in AIL matches this season, are in third place, one point behind Enniscorthy.
At Clifford Park, Young Munster claimed maximum five points against UCD.
The Munsters led 24-17 at half-time at Greenfields. After falling behind 7-0 after an early delay, Munsters fought back with their next try. James O’Brien hit both Donchad O’Callaghan and Harrison Allan, earning him a bonus point for safekeeping before the interval. Tony Butler scored two of the tries.
Munsters scrum-half O’Callaghan added his second try after the restart and Butler added another to make it seven points.
Meanwhile, on Leaside, despite Shannon’s resolute stand, they succumbed to the high-flying Cork Constitution.
The Parish side were just three points behind at half-time, 14-17, with Limerick’s scores coming from tries from Kelvin Brown and Luke Rigney, both scored by Mike Cook.
Kelvin Brown’s second try was again converted by Cook, giving the visitors a 21-17 lead shortly after the restart.
Conn fought back with a converted try to claim a three-point advantage, but 56 minutes later Cook beat the post with a penalty goal, leveling the score at 24-24.
This was Shannon’s final goal of the match, with two converted tries sealing victory for the home side. Matthew Bowen completed his hat-trick with a try for Conn.
In Division 1B, third-place Garyowen has eight wins and one draw in 14 regular season games so far.
Garyowen laid the foundation for this latest success in the first half, after which the ‘Light Blues’ held a significant 21-0 lead against Doorisle.
Hooker Max Klein completed a memorable hat-trick of tries for the home side, Donnacha Byrne scored twice and Brian Fitzgerald, Neil Cronin and Colm Quilligan also scored. Out-half Dylan Hicks added six conversions and Kelvin Langan scored the remaining two tries.
Next up for Garyowen is a trip to Old Wesley on Saturday, March 2nd.
In Division 2A, Old Crescent comfortably defeated Banbridge, scoring a try, thanks to a great second half performance. Michael O’Hanrahan scored a try in the first half for Limerick, giving Rosbrien a 5-7 lead at half-time.
After the restart, Crescent took the lead through a Ronan McKenna penalty, before O’Hanrahan scored his second try of the match. McKenna’s successful conversion extended the lead to eight points at 7-15.
Crescent then added tries through Joe Rickard, Sean Monaghan and Werner Hofmann. McKenna made all three of his 5-point shots on point. Earn a victory margin of 22 points.
Also in 2A, Ur Bohemians trailed Cashel 3-7 at half-time at Annacotti, with the Limerick side grabbing a point through a first-half penalty from Harry Byrne.
Shortly after the restart, another Byrne penalty cut the gap to one point between the teams, but Cashel fought back with a penalty and looked to take an 11-point lead at 17-6.
To their credit, UL-Bohs fought back with a converted try after a quick tap penalty, leaving both teams with just four points at 13-17.
This was the final score of the contest, giving Cashel the victory.
Meanwhile, in Division 2C, Brough found it difficult to see high-altitude Clogher Valley away from home.
The clinical Ulster side led 12-0 at half-time in difficult conditions and added four more tries after the restart to build a substantial 40-0 lead.
Brough grabbed a late try just before full-time with a goal from Clem McCaullife, which was also converted.