Some may quibble with the margin of victory but none should dispute the merit of Terenure College's Kitty O'Shea Leinster Senior Championship success at Donnybrook yesterday.
Eight points in the closing two minutes can not disguise what for the previous 78 was a every competitive encounter, primarily a war of attrition up front and it was in this area that Terenure won the majority of battles.
For long stretches of the first half Terenure pinned Clontarf inside their own 22, edging ever closer to the line but flawed decision making, a lack of control in tight and excellent defence combined to frustrate the winners.
It was not until the 65th minute that Terenure eventually conjured a way through their opponents rearguard. Again it offered a passage of play in which Clontarf appeared to have repelled another siege. The losers fringe defence did not fall for a Niall Hogan dummy close to their own line, forcing a turnover.
But from the ensuing scrum, Hogan spoiled his opposite number Ronan O'Reilly forcing him to touch down behind the line. Two scrums later and Hogan scurried over through a gap on the shortside and was eventually driven over for an unconverted try and a 14-9 advantage.
Terenure had spurned three kickable penalties to try and force a try: the gamble finally paid off. Clontarf out-half Richie Murphy had a chance to close the deficit but his long range penalty drifted wide. Four minutes later he spurned another opportunity, Clontarf's final salvo.
Terenure out-half Craig Fitzpatrick kicked a penalty and then took a pass from Dermot Blaney, the game's outstanding performer, to canter over for a try in injury time. Clontarf had little cause for complaint. They were forced to give second best up front, despite the work-rate of Pat Ward and Peter McQuillan.
Bernard Jackman's lineout throwing was at best wayward, and this prevented Clontarf from establishing a solid platform.
Character and resilience were simply not enough. To Terenure the spoils, deservedly so on the strength of their forward effort.
Scoring sequence: 8 mins: Murphy penalty, 3-0; 16 - Fitzpatrick penalty, 3-3; 24 - Fitzpatrick penalty, 3-6; 29 - Murphy penalty, 6-6; 37 - Murphy penalty, 9-6. Half-time: 9-6. 44 - Fitzpatrick penalty, 9-9; 65 - Hogan try, 9-14; 78 - Fitzpatrick penalty, 9-17; 80 - Fitzpatrick try, 9-22.
Terenure College: C Clarke; D Coleman, B Treacy, M Smyth, R Browne; C Fitzpatrick, N Hogan; S Baretto, J Blaney (capt), J Campbell; R Sheriff, C Potts; P O'Malley, G Hill, D Blaney. Replacements: B Kavanagh for O'Malley 63 mins.
Clontarf: M Woods; R O'Neill, T Meagher, M Smith, O Winchester; R Murphy, R O'Reilly; H Hurley, B Jackman (capt), P McQuillan; M Coughlan, C Power; D O'Brien, D Moore, P Ward. Replacements: W O'Kelly for Hurley half-time; A Dignam for Moore half-time; C Bewley for Smith 77 mins.
Referee: D Courtney (Leinster).
