Clontarf hopes hit again

Clontarf 17 Old Belvedere 20

Clontarf’s hopes of retaining their Ulster Bank League crown took a further dent last night as Danny Riordan’s late drop goal gave Old Belvedere a 20-17 win.

After a mistake-riddled first half during which Josh Glynn and Alan Hughes scored a penalty apiece, Clontarf seemed to have the game in their grasp when converted tries from Ariel Robles and Matt D’Arcy pushed them 17-3 clear.

Winger Robles finished off some fine work from replacement Mark Sutton, while shortly afterwards out-half D’Arcy supplied the finishing touches to a neat blindside break.

However, Old Belvedere, who were held to a draw by Dolphin last week, found an extra gear to work Charlie Rock and Adam Howard over for tries.

Josh Glynn’s second successful conversion tied things up before full-back Riordan — the reigning Division 1A Player of the Year — stepped forward to condemn ‘Tarf to their third defeat in six games.

Scorers for Clontarf: Tries: Ariel Robles, Matt D’Arcy; Cons: Alan Hughes 2; Pen: Alan Hughes.

Scorers for Old Belvedere: Tries: Charlie Rock, Adam Howard; Cons: Josh Glynn 2; Pen: Josh Glynn; Drop: Daniel Riordan

CLONTARF: Alan Hughes; Jimmy Hawkshaw, Michael Brown, Evan Ryan, Ariel Robles; Matt D’Arcy, Sam Cronin (capt); Ivan Soroka, Turlough Considine, Royce Burke-Flynn, Martin Garvey, Conor O’Keeffe, Liam Og Murphy, Adrian D’Arcy, Tony Ryan.

Replacements: Cian Culleton, Karl Morgan, Ian Hirst, Peter du Toit, Mark Sutton.

OLD BELVEDERE: Daniel Riordan; Josh Glynn, Rory O’Loughlin, Peter Robb, Shane McDonald; Steve Crosbie, Charlie Rock; Pat O’Regan, Cathal O’Flynn, Declan Lavery, Jack Kelly, Conor Owende, Michael Oyuga, Kieran O’Gorman, Jonathan Slattery (capt).

Replacements: Killian O’Neill, Adam Howard, Alan Trenier, John Kennedy, Aidan Wynne.

Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)