Five tries for Clontarf

St Mary's College 15 Clontarf 31

Clontarf claimed their first win of the new AIB League season with a five-try defeat of St Mary's College at Templeville Road this afternoon.

The control exerted at half-back by youngsters Ian Keatley and Paul O'Donoghue, two of Ireland's Under-20 Grand Slam-winning stars, saw 'Tarf to a comfortable victory.

They led 19-8 at half-time with winger Max Rantz McDonald grabbing a brace of early tries.

Scores from lock Gareth Logan and centre Robert Hudson kept Mary's in touch, but second-half tries from centre Daragh O'Shea and winger Derek Keane saw Andy Wood's men pull clear.

Hoping for their fifth win in six league clashes with Mary's at Templeville Road, 'Tarf had Leinster prospect Keatley making his league debut for them and he certainly did not let them down.

The former Belvedere College pupil starred in this game with his distribution drawing admiration from even the Mary's support and his pinpoint line-kicking allowing the 'Tarf pack to pressurise the hosts into mistakes at the set piece.

Duffy's try was all about forward grunt, but Rantz McDonald's scores after just 3 and 10 minutes were built up by some lovely back play from the visitors, with O'Donoghue, Keatley and O'Shea linking well.

Keatley continued to pull the strings as the half progressed, although Mary's made the most of a well-worked forwards drive to put captain Logan over for his try.

Out-half Frank Lynch missed the conversion, but did kick a penalty to leave the hosts with a 19-8 deficit to overcome in the second period.

Despite Mary's competitiveness, it was a case of "game over" midway through the second 40 minutes as O'Shea and Keane, the top flight's top try scorer two years ago, both touched down with Keatley converting the latter's try.

Hudson notched his first league try for Mary's, but there was little that Steven Hennessey's side could do to get back in touch against a 'Tarf side that banished the memories of last weeks frustrating 15-10 reversal against Lansdowne.

Scorers:

St. Mary's College: Tries: Gareth Logan, Robert Hudson; Con: Frank Lynch; Pen: Frank Lynch

Clontarf: Tries: Max Rantz McDonald 2, John Duffy, Daragh O'Shea, Derek Keane; Cons: Ian Keatley 3