Division One newcomers Clontarf won the Smithwicks Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup for the second time last night when they overcame a fancied Lansdowne side in a closely contested final at Anglesea Road.
Lansdowne did manage to disrupt in the line-out but when Clontarf's pack forced them into errors, Richard Murphy was on hand to kick the penalty.
After being put under intense pressure in the first five minutes, Clontarf battled their way into the game. With both sides making a great number of unforced errors it became clear this was not going to be a high scoring affair - three penalties from Murphy giving Clontarf a deserved 9-3 lead at half time.
After being on the defensive for nearly all of the third quarter, Lansdowne broke out to score the game's only try. Brian Glennon kicked on a poor Richard Governey pass and when substitute Ray Niland hacked on again, Glennon was in for a try against the run of play. Rory Kearns added the conversion.
In the 65th minute Kearns had a chance to put Lansdowne in front but his penalty attempt came back off the left upright. A minute later he looked certain to score a try but knocked on as he prepared to fall on the ball.
Fortune favours the brave and in truth Clontarf deserved to ride their luck. Five minutes from time Murphy added his fifth penalty and after that they never really looked like losing.
Clontarf: M Woods; N Barry, G Ahern, M Smith, M Fitzsimons; R Murphy, S McCarthy; T Hannigan, B Jackman (Capt), I Cummins, M Coughlan, M Meredith, R Giroud, P Ward, C Bramley. Replacements: R Noble for N Barry (8 mins), I Stewart for P Ward (44 mins), S Guerin for R Giroud (59 mins), S Horan for B Jackman (65 mins), R Benson for T Hannigan (70 mins).
Lansdowne: B Quinn; M Dillon, S Horgan, B GLennon, R Kearns; R Governey, D O'Mahony (capt); W O'Kelly, B McCoy, A McKeen, P O'Connor, A Freeman, S Rooney, A Forde, C McEntee. Replacements: R Niland for B Quinn (half-time), A McCullen for A Ford (60 mins).
Referee: E Carberry (ARLB)
