DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 29 CLONTARF 21, College Park
Scorers: Dublin University: Tries: Giuseppe Coyne, Philip Murphy, Dan Sheehan, Niall O’Riordan; Cons: Michael O’Kennedy 3; Pen: Michael O’Kennedy
Clontarf: Tries: Matt D’Arcy, Declan Adamson, Penalty try; Cons: David Joyce 2, Pen try con
HT: Dublin University 7 Clontarf 14
Number 8 Niall O’Riordan piled over for a match-winning 80th-minute try at College Park where Dublin University emerged as 29-21 bonus point winners to complete a well-earned season’s double over top flight heavyweights Clontarf.
A ‘Tarf penalty try with a quarter of an hour remaining had Trinity staring down the barrel of their sixth league defeat, but young out-half Michael O’Kennedy kicked them back in front with a 77th minute penalty before back rower O’Riordan crashed in beside the posts to seal a famous win for Tony Smeeth’s side.
Despite living off limited position early on, Clontarf went close to breaking the deadlock in the seventh minute when Jack Power’s break took them close before Under-20 hooker Declan Adamsonunfortunately knocked on Ben Reilly’s pass out wide. ‘Tarf’s own defence was resolute until the 21st minute when Ireland Under-20 prospect Giuseppe Coyne touched down for Trinity via Rowan Osborne’s inviting offload.
O’Kennedy’s conversion was followed by a swift response from the north Dubliners, as Peter Hoyreleased Matt D’Arcy on the left wing and the tall centre jinked inside a covering tackle for a smartly-taken try – his fifth of the season. David Joyce, a former Trinity player, leveled with the conversion and ‘Tarf added a second converted try on the stroke of half-time.
Although they coughed up a turnover penalty, there was just enough time for a final attack from Andy Wood’s men and James McKeown’s incisive carry on the right set up Adamson for a breakaway try – his second score in as many games. Joyce’s reliable boot made it 14-7 before a pulsating third quarter saw Trinity claim a 19-14 lead.
Collecting a short pass from O’Kennedy, centre Philip Murphy squeezed through a small gap for the hosts’ second converted try. They then capitalised on Cormac Daly’s 53rd-minute sin-binning as a lineout maul allowed hooker Dan Sheehan to peel away and score in the left corner. Joyce missed a penalty into the wind before he twice kicked penalties to touch, setting up a rolling maul which led to referee Leo Colgan awarding ‘Tarf a penalty try.
However, that concession inspired Trinity to lift their game even more. O’Kennedy’s successful penalty was the jolt of energy they needed, although Con Kelly’s missed penalty at the other end was a considerable let-off. O’Riordan had the final say, applying the finishing to a multi-phase attack with O’Kennedy’s conversion taking away the losing bonus point from ‘Tarf.
It was a brilliant response from Trinity to their 66-33 hammering by Lansdowne last week, with yesterday’s result lifting them up two places in the table to fifth. They have four points to make up on fourth-placed Garryowen, with Smeeth’s charges facing crucial clashes with two teams below them, UCC and Shannon, next month.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Colm Hogan (capt); Donal Liddy, James Hickey, Philip Murphy, Jack Kelly; Mick O’Kennedy, Rowan Osborne; Giuseppe Coyne, Dan Sheehan, Dylan Doyle, Arthur Greene, Reuben Pim, Johnny McKeown, Max Kearney, Niall O’Riordan.
Replacements: Joe Horan, Bart Vermeulen, Patrick Nulty, Conor Lowndes, James Fennelly.
CLONTARF: Jack Power; James McKeown, Sean O’Brien, Matt D’Arcy, Cian O’Donoghue; David Joyce, Peter Hoy; Niall Carson, Declan Adamson, Martin Kelly, Cormac Daly, Ben Reilly, Tony Ryan, Vinny Gavin, Michael Noone (capt).
Replacements: Connor Johnson, Tom Ryan, James Hurley, Mark O’Sullivan, Con Kelly.