CLONTARF 15 TERENURE COLLEGE 16, Castle Avenue
Scorers: Clontarf: Tries: Cian O’Donoghue, Angus Lloyd; Con: David Joyce; Pen: David Joyce
Terenure College: Try: Sam Coghlan Murray; Con: James Thornton; Pens: James Thornton 3
HT: Clontarf 10 Terenure College 10
Out-half James Thornton struck a dramatic injury-time penalty at Castle Avenue on Saturday afternoon to guide relegation-threatened Terenure College to a vital 16-15 win over Division 1A semi-finalists Clontarf.
The visitors looked set to fall short in this Dublin derby when scrum half Angus Lloyd broke away for Clontarf’s 64th-minute try. Thornton’s dependable right boot kept ‘Nure in contention, however, and his ice-cool demeanour and accuracy from the tee ensured that they lifted themselves off the foot of the table.
It was second against tenth at the north Dublin venue, with Andy Wood’s charges aiming to stay ahead of Lansdowne in their battle for a home semi-final in the top flight of the All-Ireland League. Nonetheless, ‘Nure, who had beaten fellow strugglers UCC and Shannon in recent weeks, began yesterday‘s contest on the front foot and applied significant pressure early on.
It was Clontarf who were first on the scoreboard, though, as David Joyce punished an 11th-minute high tackle with a well-struck penalty goal, and just a few minutes later, Lloyd spread the play from a ruck and Jack Power was able to release Cian O’Donoghuefor a neat try on the left wing. Joyce’s conversion was cancelled out by a smoothly-struck penalty from Thornton in the 22nd minute.
Terenure narrowly avoided the concession of a second try before drawing themselves level for half-time at 10-all. Young centre Adam La Grue’s powerful break from deep created space in behind ‘Tarf’s defensive line and his well-placed pass sent former Leinster winger Sam Coghlan Murray over for his third try in two league matches, converted brilliantly by Thornton.
With so much at stake, it proved to be a largely attritional third quarter with a series of turnover penalties making it difficult for either side to build momentum. Seizing the initiative, the razor-sharp Lloyd stunned Terenure when he intercepted a loose pass and raced away for a potentially game-changing try. Joyce missed the conversion, nonetheless, and Thornton’s 69th-minute penalty gave ‘Nure fresh hope.
Clontarf, who visit Lansdowne in next Saturday‘s final round, came under further pressure after losing openside Tony Ryan to the sin-bin, and James Blaney’s men duly forced another shot at goal for the impressive Thornton. He made no mistake with a clinical place-kick from the left, and while ‘Nure remain second-from-bottom, a victory at home to Young Munster next week will preserve their top flight status for another year.
CLONTARF: Jack Power; Sean O’Brien, Michael Courtney, Matt D’Arcy, Cian O’Donoghue; David Joyce, Angus Lloyd; Ivan Soroka, Paddy Finlay, Royce Burke-Flynn, Cormac Daly, Ben Reilly, Ruadhan Byron, Tony Ryan, Michael Noone (capt).
Replacements: Declan Adamson, Tom Ryan, Niall Carson, Andrew Feeney, Conor Kelly.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Matthew Byrne; Jake Swaine, Adam La Grue, Robbie Carroll, Sam Coghlan Murray; James Thornton, Jamie Glynn; Conor McCormack, Adam Clarkin, Tiarnan Creagh, Michael Melia (capt), Harrison Brewer, Niall O’Sullivan, Paddy Thornton, Eoin Joyce.
Replacements: Robbie Smyth, Adam Tuite, Matthew Caffrey, Conor Kelly, Mark O’Neill.