Clontarf 25
UCD 16
UCD suffered their first defeat of the year at Castle Avenue last night with David Joyce kicking 20 points. Joyce's opposing number, Niall Earls had a mixed night in front of the posts despite sending over UCD's opening penalty on six minutes.
It was a frustrating half for the visitors who having seen their lead wiped out by a Joyce kick, then failed to capitalise on an opportunity when Barry Daly spilled possession. They were still in contention at the break and although falling behind to a 34th-minute Joyce penalty, levelled on the stroke of half-time through Earls.
Earls put the students in front before being replaced by James Thornton. And while UCD were to freshen things up in the frontrow, they conceded a penalty try on 48 minutes which Joyce converted.
Joyce brought Clontarf's lead into double figures on 55 minutes but fortune then smiled UCD's way on 64 minutes. Thornton's penalty had come back off the posts with replacement prop, Liam Hyland on hand to drive over with Thornton converting the try before Joyce closed the game out with two late penalties.
CLONTARF: D Fitzpatrick, M McGrath, E Ryan, K Lett, M McFarland, D Joyce, S Cronin, I Hirst, B Byrne, T furlong, B Reilly, M Kearney, K Moran B Cuttriss, T Ryan. Replacement: C O' Flynn for Moran 35 mins.
UCD: A Boyle , S Coughlan-Murray, A Kelly, S Murphy, B Daly, N Earls l Mc Grath, J Treacy, A Clarkin, R Harrison, S Granell, E McMahon, D Leavy, C Gilsenan, E Joyce. Replacements: J Thornton for Earls (45 mins), L Hyland for Clark (50 mins), R Byrne for Harrison (50 mins), J Glynn for Coughlan Murray (77 mins).
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Leinster).