Ulster Bank League – Division 1A round-up: UCD threatened to end Terenure College's long-standing 28-match winning streak last night before the Division 1A leaders stamped their authority on the sides' Belfield clash to take a 26-17 verdict.
Unbeaten in league fare since February 2013, Terenure fell 17-8 behind with little over 16 minutes remaining as UCD put themselves in a winning position.
The fiercely determined College side had built a 12-3 interval lead on the back of tries from scrumhalf Nick McCarthy and right-winger Sam Coghlan-Murray, who touched down following superb 60-metre breakout.
Although the visitors rallied to make it 12-8, with a James Thornton penalty and Stephen O’Neill try, UCD were clinical again when Adam Byrne ran a kick back with interest and Risteard Byrne set up Coghlan-Murray’s second try of the night.
But James Blaney’s Terenure somehow found their way out of a deepening hole, with replacement Mark O’Neill coming on to kick a settling penalty and close the gap back to 17-11.
Following a Garry Ringrose penalty miss, the students showed their first signs of creaking as Stephen O’Neill sent winger James O’Donoghue down the right touchline for a 73rd-minute try. Mark O’Neill’s missed conversion left it on a knife-edge at 17-16.
Barely three minutes later, the visitors led for the first time when replacement Alex Dunlop got his offload away for fellow backrower Robert Duke to charge in for a converted try.
Mark O’Neill mercilessly added a penalty in the final minute to deny UCD a bonus point they wholeheartedly deserved but, in truth, Bobby Byrne’s youngsters should have been out of sight by the time O’Donoghue had scored ’Nure’s second try.
The hard-fought victory has Terenure seven points clear at the top of the table, and they will have been pleased to see defending champions Clontarf falter at home to Old Belvedere.
Clontarf’s hopes of retaining their league crown took a further dent as Danny Riordan’s late drop goal gave Old Belvedere a 20-17 comeback win.
After a mistake-riddled first half during which Josh Glynn and Alan Hughes scored a penalty apiece, Clontarf seemed to have the game within their grasp when converted tries from Ariel Robles and Matt D’Arcy pushed them 17-3 clear.
Winger Robles finished off some fine work from replacement Mark Sutton, while shortly afterwards outhalf D’Arcy supplied the finishing touches to a clever blindside break.
However, Old Belvedere, who were held to a draw by Dolphin last week, found an extra gear to work Charlie Rock and Adam Howard over for tries. Josh Glynn’s second successful conversion tied things up before fullback Riordan – the reigning Division 1A Player of the Year – stepped forward to condemn ’Tarf to their third defeat in six games.
Last night's Leeside derby between Dolphin and Cork Constitution was a try-less affair as Stuart Lee landed a late levelling penalty for the hosts in a six-all draw at Musgrave Park.
Lee had rescued a draw for Dolphin at Old Belvedere last week and starting at outhalf this time, he repeated the trick in the 81st minute to deny Cork Con the derby spoils.
Constitution veteran Darragh Lyons kicked a penalty in each half, as did Lee, with a crowd in excess of 2,500 baying for a try. It never came, but the home fans were very satisfied to see Dolphin make it three league games without defeat against their local rivals – they did the double on Con last season.
Meanwhile, Lansdowne issued a serious statement of intent at Templeville Road last night, running out 38-20 winners as St Mary's College succumbed to their fifth defeat of the season.
Young outhalf Conor McKeon laid off for his Ireland under-20 colleague Cian Kelleher to score the visitors’ first try. Promising St Mary’s number eight Nick Timoney touched down but a second Lansdowne try – finished off by flanker Aaron Conneely – had them 14-10 ahead at the break.
Gavin Dunne’s third successful place-kick reduced the arrears for the home side to 14-13, only for Lansdowne to kick on in the third quarter. Paddy O’Driscoll broke from a scrum and offloaded for his halfback partner McKeon to tee up a try for centre Tom Farrell on the right.
Fullback Scott Deasy converted and Mike Ruddock’s men secured their bonus point in the 67th minute when winger Eoghan Quinn touched down. Mary’s were demoralised at this point and Lansdowne rubbed in their dominance with further tries from Stephen Gardiner and Farrell.
Tempers frayed in injury-time as referee Olly Hodges sent Brian McGovern of Mary’s and Lansdowne try scorer Gardiner to the sin-bin following an off-the-ball fracas. This was an isolated in what was generally a sporting game which ended with a consolation try for Mary’s outhalf Cathal Marsh.
