St Mary's out of play-offs despite 11-try victory

Terenure College 11 St Mary's College 59

St. Mary's College missed out on a prized place in the AIB League Division One semi-finals on scoring difference, as an amazing 11-try hammering of Terenure College was still not enough to get them into the last-four.

Mary's finished fifth in the final table, level on 51 league points with Clontarf (fourth) and Garryowen (fifth). But 'Tarf's +127 scoring difference is superior to Mary's +107, so the Templeville Road side's season is over.

Terenure, already relegated, put in a committed effort against their Dublin rivals and led early on thanks to a John Bollard try.

But Mary's seized control of proceedings before the break, running in unconverted tries from Ronan Doherty (2) and Louis Burke for a 15-8 half-time lead.

All Terenure could respond with in the second half was a second penalty from out-half David McAllister.

Mary's tore the 'Nure defence open time and again and man-of-the-match Darragh Fanning really revelled in the open spaces.

The Irish Colleges winger collected two second half tries and had a hand in a couple more as Conor Donohoe (2), Robin Copeland, Craig Morrin, Jack McGrath and Barry Lynn all touched down.

It was a fitting try for Ireland Under-20 prop McGrath near the end, after another impressive display from the youngster.

One thing that did let the visitors was their place-kicking. They landed only two of their 11 conversion attempts, with Lynn and a drop-kicking Philip Brophy on target.

Had those kicks gone over and Mary's sneeked another try, they may well have caught 'Tarf on scoring difference. But the former table-toppers can also look to other matches when they failed to convert scoring chances.

Scorers:

Terenure College: Try: John Bollard; Pens: David McAllister 2

St. Mary’s College: Tries: Ronan Doherty 2, Louis Burke, Darragh Fanning 2, Conor Donohoe 2, Robin Copeland, Craig Morrin, Jack McGrath, Barry Lynn; Cons: Barry Lynn, Philip Brophy

HT: Terenure College 8 St. Mary’s College 15