Clontarf title hopes damaged
LANSDOWNE……………………………… 34
CLONTARF………………………………….. 27
Ulster Bank League
By Daire Walsh
It is advantage Old Belvedere in the race for Ulster Bank League supremacy, as Clontarf fell to their second defeat in succession on the Aviva Stadium’s main pitch last night.
A brace of penalties from reliable out-half David Joyce had edged ‘Tarf into the ascendancy during the first quarter, but defending champions Lansdowne subsequently opened up an 18-point cushion (24-6) courtesy of converted tries by Peter Dooley, Adam Boland and centre Mark Roche.
A stoppage-time Conor O’Keefe five-pointer did offer Andy Wood’s charges a much-needed boost upon the resumption, though, and when pacy winger Max McFarland crossed the whitewash with 13 minutes remaining, momentum appeared to be with the men from Clontarf.
This ultimately proved to be a false dawn for ‘Tarf, however, as a beautifully chipped pass by out-half Scott Deasy provided the platform for Foster Horan’s defining 69th-minute try.
Clontarf centre Killian Lett set up a gripping finale by breaking through the Lansdowne cover one minutes from time, but five preceding points from the boot of former Cork Con star Deasy ensured the north Dubliners were left hoping for a favour from Dolphin in Anglesea Road this afternoon.
Scorers for Lansdowne: Tries: P Dooley, A Boland, M Roche, F Horan. Pens: S Deasy 2. Cons: S Deasy 4.
Scorers for Clontarf: Tries: C O’Keefe, M McFarland, K Lett. Pens: D Joyce 2. Cons: D Joyce 3.
LANSDOWNE: C Aherne; I Fitzpatrick, M Roche, T Daly, F Horan; S Deasy, D Henry; P Dooley, T Moran, A Boland; W Earl, S Gardiner; C Ross, C Butterworth, B Moylett.
Replacements: S Delahunt, I Prendiville, R Jones, I Burke, T Farrell.
CLONTARF: D Fitzpatrick; M McGrath, E Ryan, K Lett, M McFarland; D Joyce, S Cronin; I Hirst, B Byrne, K Donoghue; B Reilly, C O’Keefe; K Moran, L Murphy, A Ryan.
Replacements: C O’Flynn, T Byrne, D Hegarty, P Du Toit, T McCoy.
Referee: A Rolland (IRFU).