Garryowen win by the smallest of margins

Garryowen 13 Dolphin 12

Three Munster front rowers were on show as Garryowen turned the tables on Dolphin to secure a vital AIB League Division 1A win at Dooradoyle.

Munster hooker Damien Varley was a key figure for the Light Blues, scoring a first half try and digging deep during a second period that saw Dolphin turn the game into a real dogfight.

The powerful Dolphin scrum, which included provincial props Dave Ryan and Julien Brugnaut, had quite an influence as the Corkmen recovered from a 13-0 half-time deficit.

Dolphin's set piece dominance was negated though when Garryowen lost their second prop to injury and there had to be uncontested scrums late on.

Injury-hit Garryowen were missing the influence of former captain Paul Neville up front, but their hard-working pack carried on and carved out a couple of kickable chances for goal-kicking scrum half Conor Murray.

He potted two penalties and converted Varley's try - a short rumble over the line after a series of rucks in the visitors' 22 - to give the Limerick side every chance of extending their unbeaten run in the league to four matches.

Dolphin, third in the table before kick-off, were also missing a key player in skipper Barry Keeshan, whose injury has allowed Munster Under-20 out-half Cormac O'Flynn to show his wares.

Half-backs O'Flynn and Sam Cronin got the Dolphin back-line moving in the second half and with their efforts in last weekend's hard-fought AIB Cup final perhaps still having an affect, gaps duly appeared in the Garryowen defence.

Wingers Paul Hurley and Rory Kenneally took advantage with a try apiece but in a nail-biting finale, Garryowen were able to hold on and pick up four points that could fortify them for the weeks ahead.

This gutsy win has moved Paul Cunningham's men up one place to sixth in the standings and with another game in hand, they could yet fight back into the play-off reckoning.

Scorers: Garryowen: Try: Damien Varley; Con: Conor Murray; Pens: Conor Murray 2

Dolphin: Tries: Paul Hurley, Rory Kenneally; Con: Rory Kenneally

HT: Garryowen 13 Dolphin 0.