A smashing and most amazing encounter. Twelve minutes into the game, Clontarf were down and out at Musgrave Park. But then, almost as quickly as Dolphin threatened to blitz the visitors, they were blitzed themselves.

Clontarf coach Brent Pope reckoned his side didn't touch the ball in those opening minutes - except to kick off after conceding 10 points. Then, just as quickly as they looked out of the game, they were back in it.

A surging run from number eight Craig Brownlie, weak Dolphin tackling and Clontarf were back in the hunt. They never looked back.

Pope reckons there is a very thin line between success and failure. "If Dolphin had got another score at 10-0 were gone. Instead, out of the blue it happened to come the other way round. Amazing."

If Brownlie started the rehabilitation process, the ultimate hero was out-half Richard Murphy who blitzed Dolphin with a 31-point contribution which included an almost flawless exhibition of goalkicking.

After Mick O'Donovan's early try, a conversion and penalty from John O'Mahony, Clontarf responded with the Brownlie try, a conversion, two drop goals and two penalties from Murphy, who also scored and converted a try.

Dolphin's response came through O'Mahony with a penalty and drop goal, but it wasn't enough. Clontarf tacked on tries from Matt Smith and Karl Hoffman, two conversions and two penalties from Murphy. Dolphin's sole response was a try from John O'Connell.

English Premiership rivals Bath and Saracens are locked in a head-to-head battle for the services of Lions goalkicking star Neil Jenkins. European champions Bath met the Pontypridd captain last month, but Premiership title challengers Saracens have also made a move.