Mary's power to victory over Dungannon

St Mary's College 26 Dungannon 3

St Mary's College powered to their first win of the AIB League season as they downed Dungannon by 26-3 at a rain-soaked Templeville Road.

Having not win in their last seven league games, Mary's came good as tries from second rows Gareth Logan and Victor Ryan and number 8 Kevin Sheahan helped them climb off the bottom of the table.

The Dubliners led 13-3 at the interval with Dungannon's only points coming from a John McGuckin penalty, midway through the first half.

Sitting 16th before today's kick-off, Mary's knew a win in this pre-Christmas run of games was vital. Dungannon also struggled over the season's first four games and they lost a tight tussle 16-14 to Greystones last time out.

'Gannon also possess the worst defence in Division One - they conceded the most points (98) and most tries (12) in their four opening games - and Mary's, although not taking advantage of that fact initially, did manage to expose the Ulster side's tackling by the finish.

In horribly wet and windy conditions, both sides began well and they were level at 3-3 with Frank Lynch and 'Gannon's league top scorer McGuckin both bisecting the posts with penalty kicks.

Mary's were soon in the ascendancy and that was mainly down to the hard work of their forwards, led by skipper Logan. Chances had gone a-begging when the hosts kicked too long but Lynch sent a penalty kick to the corner and Logan was driven over for the first try soon after.

Mary's grabbed another unconverted effort before the break when number 8 Kevin Sheahan picked and went off the base of a close range scrum and he had the strength to make the line.

In the absence of Leinster's Jonathan Sexton, Lynch did a fine job with the place-kicking and he landed two more penalties before a concerted spell of pressure in the 'Gannon 22 led to Ryan powering over in the far left corner.

Lynch's excellent left-footed conversion raised the touch judges' flags and Mary's could celebrate a long-awaited league win.

Scorers: St. Mary's College: Tries: Gareth Logan, Kevin Sheahan, Victor Ryan; Con: Frank Lynch; Pens: Frank Lynch 3

Dungannon: Pen: John McGuckin