Defiant win for Clontarf against St Mary's College

Clontarf 30 St. Mary's College 19, Castle Avenue

Michael Keating, definitely a name for the future, notched two tries in Clontarf's bonus point 30-19 win over St. Mary's College this afternoon.

Mary's were comprehensively knocked off top spot in the Division One table as teenage winger Keating took his tally to four tries in two games.

The former Belvedere College schoolboy talent, who has electric pace, is already making a name for himself after just two AIB League outings.

Backing himself, he twice burned his man on the outside to roar over for a try in each half as a shellshocked Mary's struggled to cope with his threat and the dynamic play of the Clontarf forwards.

Mary's did make a flying start at Castle Avenue, with winger Philip Brophy touching down in the fifth minute.

Clontarf had the wind at their backs in the opening half and overcame that early setback to put Keating and Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien over for tries.

Out-half Martin Dufficy failed to convert either effort but he did pump a 35-metre penalty through the posts to see the hosts turn around with a 13-5 lead.

Would that be enough, facing into the elements, for 'Tarf to see out the win? It turned out that by the hour mark, Mary's had leaked another 10 points.

Keating and O'Brien again crossed the whitewash, with Mary's simply not able to live with 'Tarf's meaty pack, in which back rowers Heinrich Stride and Simon Crawford starred.

With time ticking on, 'Tarf's third win of the campaign was safe but Mary's did gain some consolation, if not a losing bonus point, with a late salvo.

They created chances which winger Conor Donohue and full-back Darragh Fanning put away, with player-backs coach Shaun McCarthy converting both.

The damage was done however, with Andy Wood's home side running out deserved winners.