Dublin Uni stage dramatic comeback

Dublin University 23 UL Bohemian 22

Mike Tewkesbury's UL Bohemians surrendered a 12-point half-time advantage as they were pipped by Dublin University in a dramatic AIB League Division Two final at Lansdowne Road today.

Dublin University’s dreams of adding the AIB League Division 2 trophy to their historic top flight promotion looked dead and buried for much of this encounter, but with the last kick of the game substitute Pierre Lazies dropped the vital 15-metre goal to seal an unlikely 23-22 win.

Trinity out-half Keelan McGowan was outgunned by UL’s kicking composite of Philip Treacy and full back Cathal Garvey, who kicked a penalty and two conversions, and with just three minutes remaining was replaced by French man Lazies.

A series of relieving kicks saw Lazies pin UL back into their ’22 and a 78th minute penalty try, converted by Lazies, paved the way for the clinching kick in injury time.

In a first half that saw the Dublin side poor in their conviction, Bohs had plenty of early chances to open the scoring, but the wayward boot of Garvey ensured a nervy first 10 minutes.

The Munster U21 full back, backed by the wind, missed two early penalty chances, with the first hitting the DU crossbar and the second dragged poorly across the face of the posts from 26 metres.

UL left wing Barry Murphy, a two-cap Munster call up this spring, injected the necessary spark into this game as he charged down McGowan’s eighteenth minute clearance to collect and race through for the opening try from 30 metres out.

Garvey clipped the convert over and with Trinity hooker Matt Crockett and UL flanker Philip van Esbeck sin-binned for scuffling he added a penalty eight minutes later for a 10-0 lead.

On 30 minutes, UL edged further in front as centre Martin McPhail flicked wide for Philip Treacy to meander sideways into plenty of space but darting through a midfield gap for a try to the right of the posts.

Garvey missed the conversion and a further penalty before McGowan eased Trinity worries with a 39th minute penalty.

UL’s 15-3 half time lead was eaten into immediately after the restart as 80 seconds in, right wing Philip Howard chipped over the Bohs’ rearguard to collect and score.

McGowan’s conversion and 49th minute penalty put just two points between the sides and set up a hectic last half hour.

Replacement prop Jodie Danaher improved the Limerick lineout and carving up through the middle of Trinity two minutes later, Ireland U21 wing Breffni O’Donnell went in under the posts to score and see Garvey convert for a 22-13 lead.

McGowan, scorer of over 30 penalties in the league proper, missed a quick 64th minute reply, but Dorset-born Director of rugby Tony Smeeth’s late substitution proved inspired as the late haul of 10 points saw Trinity captain Martin Garvey claim some much-valued silverware in the club’s 150th year.

Scorers: Dublin University: Tries: P Howard, Penalty try; Cons: K McGowan, P Lazies; Pens: K McGowan 2; Drop gl: P Lazies

UL Bohs: Tries: B Murphy, P Treacy, B O’Donnell; Cons: C Garvey 2; Pen: C Garvey

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: T Horner; P Howard, B Kinsella, B Hastings, E McBennett; K McGowan, C McShane; N Conlon, M Crockett, F Gainer, M Garvey (Capt), M Warburton, E Molloy, H Hogan, J Heaslip.

UL BOHEMIAN: C Garvey; B O’Donnell, C Finn, M McPhail, B Murphy; P Treacy, L O’Connell; M Harty, G Ryan, K Flanagan, R Hartigan, A Hartigan, A O’Gorman (Capt), P van Esbeck, J O’Neill.

Referee: Olan Trevor (MAR)