Roche hero for Lansdowne

Mark Roche was the hero on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch on Saturday as Lansdowne FC made history by sealing their first Ulster Bank League top-tier title with a seven-point victory over Clontarf (32-25).

Lansdowne now have a massive 23 point advantage at the top of the table, as nine consecutive triumphs have turned them into an unstoppable force in the All-Ireland League.

Having only narrowly defeated their Dublin rivals 20-18 at Castle Avenue in November, head coach Mike Ruddock (who won a Grand Slam in 2005 with his native Wales) was delighted his charges held their nerve in such a pressurised situation.