'Tarf edge win over play-off rivals

Clontarf 10 UL Bohemians 8

Cian Healy played the full 80 minutes for Clontarf as they edged out play-off rivals UL Bohemians at Castle Avenue this afternoon.

Healy, a member of Ireland's extended Six Nations squad, started at loosehead prop and made his presence felt, especially during the first half.

The visitors took a 5-0 lead into half-time thanks to a try from winger Ian Hanly.

A well-worked 55th-minute try from centre Daragh O'Shea levelled the tie and for the second week running, an injury-time effort from replacement winger Derek Keane handed the spoils to 'Tarf.

Bohemians, looking to bounce back after last weekend's reversal at home to Garryowen, won the toss and elected to play with the wind at their backs in the first half.

But the Limerick men could not pile on the points against a rock-soild Clontarf defence. Despite falling behind, 'Tarf had their fair share of ball and Healy proved himself to be a very effective ball carrier in the opening 40 minutes.

Bohs ended the first quarter by putting winger Hanly over for a try fashioned by his back-line colleagues and initiated by Munster duo Paul Warwick and Barry Murphy.

Warwick missed the conversion and Bohs' lead remained at just 5-0 until the hosts, now with the elements in their favour, sent O'Shea slicing through for his try.

Ian Keatley, who enjoyed a good duel with Warwick, missed the conversion and Warwick was able to kick Bohs back in front with a well-struck penalty soon after.

Nonetheless, the game's defining moment arrived in the seventh-minute of injury-time. Last week Keane struck late to hand 'Tarf the verdict away to Old Belvedere.

Back on home soil, the former Skerries clubman, on as a replacement, was just as big an influence as after a series of rucks and mauls and shunning a kick at the posts, the ball was shifted out wide for Keane to score and keep 'Tarf well in the play-off picture.

Andy Wood's men, for whom centre Breffni O'Donnell broke well, remain third in the table, while Bohs have slipped from sixth position to ninth and are now nine points short of the top-four albeit with a game in hand.

Scorers: Clontarf: Tries: Daragh O'Shea, Derek Keane

UL Bohemians: Try: Ian Hanly; Pen: Paul Warwick

HT: Clontarf 0 UL Bohemians 5