Fourth loss on the trot for Dolphin

Ulster Bank League Div 1A: St. Mary's College 20 Dolphin 18

St. Mary’s College consigned Dolphin to their fourth straight defeat as they came from behind for a 20-18 victory at Templeville Road.

Tries in each half from James Kiernan and Cian Bohane, allied to eight points from Barry Keeshan’s boot, had the Corkmen leading 18-9.

Snow was falling as the game got underway and Dolphin’s scrum got on top early on with Keeshan unable to put points on the scoreboard.

But the experienced out-half nailed a tough touchline conversion to add to winger James Kiernan’s try, the groundwork for which was laid by a tremendous Cian Bohane break.

St. Mary’s came more into this mid-table tussle as half-time approached, out-half Gavin Dunne responding to a Keeshan penalty with his first of the day.

St. Mary’s, who have pushed clear of relegation trouble, closed the gap to 10-6 with a second Dunne penalty and Dolphin had to readjusted after leg injury victim John Quill was stretchered off.

The Dolphin backs showed their attacking quality once more as full-back Eamon Mills charged through a gap and Bohane was on hand to score a swashbuckling try.

Keeshan cancelled out another Dunne penalty with a well-taken drop goal for an 18-9 advantage. But the hosts soon closed the gap with a Dunne three-pointer and a charge-down try from captain Matthew D’Arcy.

Dolphin let their discipline slip at crucial times and D’Arcy broke through while Dolphin’s young lock John Madigan was in the sin-bin.

D’Arcy’s half-back partner Dunne then stepped up to hammer home his fifth successful penalty of the game to guide St. Mary’s to a dramatic late win.

Scorers: St. Mary’s College: Try: Matthew D’Arcy; Pens: Gavin Dunne 5

Dolphin: Tries: James Kiernan, Cian Bohane; Con: Barry Keeshan; Pen: Barry Keeshan; Drop: Barry Keeshan