Dolphin hold off UCC to stay in chase

Dolphin 22 UCC 16

With a 22-9 lead, Dolphin appeared to be coasting until College - with two players in the sin-bin for six minutes and one down from the 65th minute - threw caution to the wind and reverted to the style of play we have come to expect of university sides.

It was productive, as they snatched a 77th-minute try and came within inches of scoring another that could well have put paid to Dolphin’s chances of going up. Dolphin survived that late trauma but were then given bad news from Limerick - fellow promotion contenders Young Munster scored an injury-time try against Bective to secure a bonus point and move a point ahead with just one game to play.

Dolphin play Bective in Dublin on Saturday week and need to win with a bonus point while hoping Young Munster do no more than beat Old Belvedere. With superior points difference, that would put Dolphin into the first division.

Dolphin will need to improve on this display, even if they were worthy winners. The pack did well, but Dolphin need more than a spark from a rather lacklustre back division.

When College managed to win good possession, as the game became fragmented in the last ten minutes, Dolphin struggled. Had UCC become more daring earlier, the outcome could have been different.

Barry Keeshan and Gavin Dunne each kicked three penalties in the opening half before Dolphin pulled clear. Donncha Murphy dived in for the opening try and Keeshan converted before kicking two penalties to push his side into a 13 points lead.

It was just as well that Dolphin capitalised on possession and territory, because UCC’s late surge yielded a fine try from Billy Holland, with substitute Evan Ryan converting. Out on their feet, Dolphin barely held out in the last pulsating minutes.

Meanwhile, a last-gasp breakaway try from Clem Casey secured the bonus point for Young Munster. With Waterpark already doomed at the bottom of the table, the fight continues for others trying to avoid the drop. Ballynahinch threw themselves a lifeline when they secured a bonus point in the 45-21 win over Belvedere, and six other teams will be sweating on the outcome of results on the last day of the campaign. Barnhall, Highfield, Old Crescent, Malone, Old Belvedere and Thomond are all in the danger zone.

DOLPHIN: D. O’Mahony, S. O’Halloran, D. Kingston, A. O’Shea, E. Mills, B. Keeshan, J. Purcell, F. Gateley, K. Murray, R. McKinney, R. McGrath, K. Coughlan, G. Finn, J. Coughlan (c), D. Murphy.

Replacements: D. Harty for McGrath (40), J. O’Sullivan for McKinney (61), P. Farragher for Finn (72), G. O’Keeffe for Purcell (73).

UCC: D. Hurley (captain), P. Hurley, D. O’Leary, E. Moloney, D. O’Kane, G. Dunne, D. Williams, V. Soden, R. Quinn, A. Donovan, C. O’Keeffe, B. Nagle, R. Noonan, B. Holland, H. O’Flynn.

Replacements: Darragh Hurley for Donovan (52), E. Ryan for Dunne, R. Geoghegan for Noonan (both 63), B. Duggan for Quinn (72).

Referee: D. Keane (IRFU).