ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 27 GARRYOWEN 7, Templeville Road
Scorers: St. Mary’s College: Tries: Conor Hogan, Richard Halpin, Darren Moroney; Cons: Cathal Marsh 3; Pens: Cathal Marsh 2
Garryowen: Try: Liam Coombes; Con: Neil Cronin
HT: St. Mary’s College 13 Garryowen 7
Leinster out-half Cathal Marsh kicked 12 points as St. Mary’s ran out convincing 27-7 winners over Garryowen in Ulster Bank League Division 1A on Saturday.
Conor Hogan, Richard Halpin and Darren Moroney all crossed for tries at Templeville Road to see the Dubliners climb into fifth place in the table and lift the Shay Deering Memorial trophy.
There was a lot of tactical kicking early on in the wet conditions. Marsh opened the scoring with two close range penalties as Mary’s attempted to avenge November’s 43-38 defeat to the Light Blues.
Just when it looked like Garryowen might be getting a grip on proceedings with a converted try from winger Liam Coombes, the latter’s direct opponent Hogan hit back in the 24th minute for Marsh to convert and make it 13-7.
The presence of the Johnston brothers, David and Bill, in the visitors’ back-line ensured that Mary’s had to be on their toes throughout, but the Mary’s pack made a telling impact early in the second half, driving through for hooker Halpin to touch down from a 49th minute maul.
Garryowen tried to score the same way but Mary’s maul defence worked a treat and forced turnover possession. The disciplined defensive work of Jamie Cornett’s side continued to frustrate the Limerick men and fittingly, Mary’s had the final say when centre Moroney made it over in injury-time.
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: David Fanagan; Terry Kennedy, Darren Moroney, Ryan O’Loughlin, Conor Hogan; Cathal Marsh, Paddy O’Driscoll; Tom O’Reilly, Richard Halpin, Brian McGovern, Ciaran Ruddock, Cathal O’Flaherty, David O’Connor, Hugh Kelleher, Jack Dilger.
Replacements: Stephen O’Brien, Cathal Ryan, Gus Jones, Ian O’Neill, Conor Gilsenan.
GARRYOWEN: Steve McMahon; Peadar Collins, Dave Johnson, Dave McCarthy, Liam Coombes; Bill Johnston, Neil Cronin; Jack Mullany, Niall Horan, Michael O’Donnell, Barra O’Byrne, Tim Ferguson, Caolan Moloney, Johnny Keane, Bailey Faloon.
Replacements: John Mark Griffin, Paul McCarroll, Alwyn van Vuuren, Anthony Kavanagh, Andrew O’Byrne.