Tries: David Kearney, Jack O’Connell, Willie Walsh, Matt Healy, Neilus Keogh; Cons: Craig Ronaldson 5; Pen: Craig Ronaldson
Tries: Chris Rowe, Cian Bohane, Gary O’Keeffe; Cons: Eamonn Mills 3
Ross McCarron (capt); David Kearney, Foster Horan, Willie Walsh, Matt Healy; Craig Ronaldson, John Cooney; Jack O’Connell, Steve Collins, Martin Moore, Neilus Keogh, Willie Earle, Kieran Essex, Jason Kelly, Ron Boucher.Replacements used: Sean Carey for Horan (40 mins), Tom Sexton for Collins (half-time), Cian Aherne for Kearney (60).
Niall Walley; Kevin Brophy, Cian Bohane, Eric Moloney (capt), Harry Fleming; Eamonn Mills, Eoin O’Shaughnessy; Gavin Duffy, Andy O’Driscoll, Christy Condon, Chris Rowe, David O’Mahony, Rob O’Herlihy, John Quill, Robbie Allen.
Replacements used: John Leahy for O’Driscoll (3-25 mins, blood sub), Ryan Murphy for Allen (31), John Leahy for O’Driscoll (40), Gary O’Keeffe for Brophy (half-time), Kyle O’Dwyer for Condon (80).
Dolphin’s second successive trip to Dublin ended in another defeat as Lansdowne enjoyed a bonus point win on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch.
The Corkmen suffered an early setback when hooker Andy O’Driscoll had to depart with a knee injury three minutes in, although he did return to action briefly.
Matters got worse for Steve Ford’s charges when Kearney, younger brother of Ireland international Rob, crossed the try-line seven minutes in.
The opening score was expertly converted by out-half Craig Ronaldson, and even though Dolphin did their level best to run at the Lansdowne rearguard, they were helpless to prevent Lansdowne running in for two more converted tries from O’Connell and Walsh in the 19th and 37th minutes respectively.
This gave the headquarters side what seemed to be a quite comfortable 21-0 advantage heading into the second period, but Dolphin had other ideas.
They finally opened their account three minutes after the restart with a well-taken try by replacement scrum half Gary O’Keeffe on the left after good approach work by out-half Eamonn Mills.
Mills, who started in place of the injured Barry Keeshan, was on target with the subsequent conversion. He did likewise five minutes later following a second Dolphin try from powerful second row Chris Rowe.
Mike Ruddock’s Lansdowne side now found themselves in a real dog-fight, but they soon settled down again thanks to an excellent penalty from the accurate Ronaldson.
This was just the breather that Lansdowne required, and they made sure of their five-point return with two more tries from Matt Healy and Neilus Keogh.
Dolphin battled right until the end, and they registered their third try of the game in injury-time through pacy centre Cian Bohane, but the hosts just had that little bit extra in the tank.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)