The Buccaneers stronghold at Moher finally yielded to a Dublin force on Saturday when Lansdowne took the points from a league clash that never really fired to its potential.
It was sweet revenge for Lansdowne, whose ambitions of a semi-final spot two seasons ago were crushed at the Ballinasloe venue which had, until yesterday, been the Buccaneers' fortress.
Thus the home side, disappointed after falling to Clontarf in their opening match, have now failed to retain their unbeaten run at Moher, while Lansdowne were relieved to have escaped with a victory they just about earned.
The home side, with New Zealander Kevin Barrett dominating the lineouts, were handed a bundle of possession through some inept kicking in the first half from their Dublin opponents.
Yet that possession was wasted by the Buccaneers' high level of handling errors, and from a position of domination, Buccaneers continued to hand the initiative back to a lacklustre Lansdowne.
In truth, Buccaneers should have been a long way in front in that first half, yet they allowed Lansdowne to come within a point at the break.
Buccaneers outhalf Eamonn Molloy had kicked them ahead after just three minutes with a penalty. Scrumhalf Chris Keane had then caught the Lansdowne defence wanting with a high ball from the base of the scrum, and when first left wing Robbie Dolan and then full back Gordon D'Arcy failed to control, the former Hurricane's player Barrett strode through for the first try after 20 minutes in the right corner. When Molloy tapped over an easy 34thminute penalty, Buccaneers were deserving of their 11-0 lead.
Yet Lansdowne's ability to score from the few positions of territorial advantage they gained saw them notch a worthy 10 points. The first came from a simply-worked try from a lineout when centre Ray Niland split the Buccaneers defence apart to stride through. Then in the fifth minute of injury time Colin McEntee stretched longest after a lineout and drive to close the gap to 11-10 at the break.
When outhalf Mark Woods kicked them ahead after 45 minutes, Lansdowne knuckled down to defend their position against a Buccaneers side that lost its impetus and shape. Replacement outhalf David Quigley landed a difficult penalty after 78 minutes to seal the issue.
Scoring sequence: 3 mins: Molloy penalty, 3-0; 20: Barrett try, 8-0; 34: Molloy penalty, 11-0; 38: Niland try, 11-5; 45: McEntee try, 11-10. 45: Woods penalty, 11-13; 78: Quigley penalty, 11-16.
BUCCANEERS: R Lee; M Devine, G Austin, P Whittaker, M Walker; E Molloy, C Keane; J Screene, J McVeigh, M Cahill, C Rigney, K Barrett, I Dillon, E Brennan, C Brownlie. Replacements: K Bates for Austin (60 mins), T Robinson for Keane (68 mins).
LANSDOWNE: G D'Arcy; L O'Brien, G Hamilton, R Niland, R Dolan; M Woods, A Whelan; E Bohan, O Ennis, A McKeen, S O'Connor, G Quinn, S Rooney, L Toland, C McEntee. Replacements: A McCullen for Toland (36 mins), D Quigley for Woods (53 mins), B Cusack for Rooney (60 mins), D Dornan for Quinn (69 mins).
Yellow cards: Lansdowne, A McKeen (32 mins); Buccaneers, M Cahill (52 mins).
Referee: A Rolland (Leinster)
