Lansdowne hold off late surge from St Mary’s
ST MARY’S……………………………………. 28
LANSDOWNE………………………………… 33
Opening half tries from Mark Roche, Tyrone Moran and Paddy O’Driscoll were decisive at Templeville Road last night, as reigning champions Lansdowne held off a late surge from St Mary’s College.
St Mary’s had taken the lead courtesy of a successful 25-metre place-kick from Cathal Marsh three minutes in, but the visitors quickly responded with tries from Roche and powerful hooker Moran.
Mary’s did reduce their deficit when Marsh converted a 49th minute penalty. There was never a sense that Lansdowne were going to let their lead slip but Mary’s did give themselves a glimmer of hope in the closing moments when Sexton and Gareth Austen both crossed the whitewash.
Scorers – St Mary’s College: M Sexton 2 tries, C Lilly, G Austen try each, C Marsh 2 pens, 1 con. Lansdowne: T Moran 2 tries, M Roche, P O’Driscoll try each, T Kiersey 2 pens, 1 con, S Deasy 1 pen, 1 con.
ST MARY’S COLLEGE: C Hogan; S Toal-Lennon, R Hudson, M Sexton, C Lilly; C Marsh, M D’Arcy; C McMahon, D Fawsitt, B McGovern; D Frawley, C Ruddock; G Austen, B O’Flanagan, K Sheahan.
Replacements: D Hudson for Lilly (half-time), A Lyons for McGovern (45), McGovern for McMahon (75), C Lilly for Hogan (80).
LANSDOWNE: S Deasy; C Aherne, M Roche, S Morrissey, F Horan; T Kiersey, P O’Driscoll; P Dooley, T Moran, D O’Reilly; B Moylett, W Earl; C Ross, C Butterworth, R Boucher.
Replacements: G McDonald for Deasy (31), Deasy for Kiersey (47), Ian Burke for Horan (55), W Larkin for Moran (71), B O’Callaghan for Boucher (74), A Boland for O’Reilly (75).
Referee: S Gallagher (IRFU).