Dublin University 37
Garryown 19
After suffering back-to-back defeats, Dublin University bounced back with their first win of the new Energia All-Ireland League season as they outgunned Garryowen 37-19 at College Park.
While Garryowen led at different stages of the first half, the power and pace of Trinity saw them emerge as bonus point winners. Despite the visitors losing scrum half Rob Guerin to an early injury, his replacement Evan Maher broke from a scrum and released winger Tommy O’Hora for a 14th-minute opening try.
Full-back Jamie Heuston nailed the touchline conversion, but the students were quick to respond. Former captain Colm Hogan impressed throughout in the back-three and his powerful break into the Garryowen 22 set the wheels in motion for Rob Russell’s leveling try, converted by Micheal O’Kennedy.
Garryowen turned down a shot at the posts from a series of close-in penalties, and they were rewarded just shy of the half hour mark. Centre Bryan Fitzgerald burst through a gap for a converted score, only for Trinity winger Ronan Quinn to hit back after being set free by skipper James Hickey’s quick hands.
O’Kennedy added the extras and also landed a penalty from the right to give Tony Smeeth’s youngsters a 17-14 half-time cushion. That lead was enhanced just minutes after the restart, a patient attack moving possession wide to the left where full-back Hogan dotted down.
O’Kennedy tagged on a 51st-minute penalty as Trinity continued to dominate possession in the third quarter, with flanker Max Kearney carrying strongly. Some more patient build-up play finished with centre Hickey crossing for a try which his stellar performance deserved.
Replacement Arthur Green was on the end of a 73rd-minute attack to register the hosts’ fifth try of the afternoon. With Trinity’s Giuseppe Coyne in the sin-bin, Garryowen number 8 Sean Rennison broke over for a late consolation score.
Dublin University scorers: Tries: Ronan Quinn, Rob Russell, Colm Hogan, James Hickey, Arthur Greene; Cons: Micheal O’Kennedy 3; Pens: Micheal O’Kennedy 2Garryowen scorers: Tries: Tommy O’Hora, Bryan Fitzgerald, Sean Rennison; Cons: Jamie Heuston 2
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Colm Hogan; Ronan Quinn, Liam Turner, James Hickey (capt), Rob Russell; Micheal O’Kennedy, Louis O’Reilly; Bart Vermeulen, Mark Nicholson, Aziz Naser, Reuben Pim, Joseph McCarthy, Johnny McKeown, Max Kearney, Paddy Hamilton.
Replacements: George Downey, Giuseppe Coyne, Arthur Greene, Tomas Killeen, James Fennelly.
GARRYOWEN: Jamie Heuston; Cian O’Shea, Bryan Fitzgerald, John Hurley, Tommy O’Hora; David McCarthy, Rob Guerin; Conor Fitzgerald, Derry Gleeson, Corrie Barrett, Tim Ferguson, Kevin Seymour (capt), Roy Whelan, Johnny Keane, Sean Rennison.
Replacements: Anson Thai, Andy Keating, Michael Sheehan, Evan Maher, Jack Delaney.