Dolphin keep grip on third after win

Dolphin 21 Lansdowne 5

Dolphin maintained their grip on third place in the Division One standings with this well-deserved 21-5 victory over Lansdowne at Musgrave Park.

Despite the Lansdowne pack gaining parity in the first half, Dolphin still went in at the break 13-0 in front thanks to a 33rd-minute try from winger Rory Kenneally.

Two minutes into the second period, home prop Fergus Gately was driven over. Out-half Barry Keeshan kicked 11 points in total for Dolphin, while full-back Justin Meagher grabbed a late consolation try for Lansdowne.

Beaten by Blackrock College last time out, Lansdowne travelled looking for their first league win over Dolphin at Musgrave Park but David O'Mahony's home side have quickly become a force to be reckoned with.

With the division's top scorer Keeshan pulling the strings behind a powerful pack which includes Munster's James Coughlan, Dolphin are deservedly riding high in the table currently.

Their centre pairing of Eric Maloney and Duncan Richardson is a very solid one and the Corkmen like to mix it behind the scrum as well.

Today's clash was somewhat of a slow burner with Keeshan opening the scoring with a penalty in the 21st-minute. A defensive mix-up amongst the Lansdowne backs allowed Dolphin to capitalise and put flying right winger Kenneally over for a well-taken try.

Keeshan converted and things got even better for Dolphin when Lansdowne lost back rower Pom Simone to a yellow card for killing the ball. As the rain continued to fall in worsening conditions, Keeshan slammed over his second penalty for a 13-0 scoreline.

Just two minutes after the break, tighthead prop Gately was driven over for Dolphin's second try and while Keeshan missed the conversion, the former Cork Constitution player nabbed another penalty in the 56th-minute for 21-0.

Dolphin could have scuppered their chances when they had two players sin-binned in quick succession. The aforementioned Maloney (63 minutes) and Coughlan (73) both saw yellow but Dolphin's defence held out until Meagher crossed the whitewash two minutes from time.

Scorers: Dolphin: Tries: Rory Kenneally, Fergus Gately; Con: Barry Keeshan; Pens: Barry Keeshan 3

Lansdowne: Try: Justin Meagher