LANSDOWNE ARE set to meet Terenure in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup after they scraped past DLSP in an ill-tempered match on the back pitch at Lansdowne Road. Lansdowne were forced to claw back an 11 point gap after a poor opening period which lasted for 25 minutes.
A Robbie Becker try and a conversion from out-half Eric Elwood took Lansdowne back into the game just before the break. But it was scrum-half David Mahony who gave Lansdowne breathing space when he went over for his side's second try, which Elwood converted. The Irish out half dropped a goal 20 minutes from the end to see his side safely through.
Terenure were less troubled with a 30-13 win over Old Belvedere. The losers had provided their supporters with this year's holy grail last week when they held on to their Division One status. This match was not to be a repeat of the Garryowen episode a test of mettle.
Terenure provided the class with Paul Hennebry, Ciaran Clarke and David Coleman at the centre of it all. Hennebry offered his wonderful touches to great effect, while fullback Clarke directed much of the play.
Terenure clicked after just three minutes when Clarke gathered, charged and chipped, gathered again and ran in the first try. Others followed from James Blaney, Clarke again, Michael Smyth and Coleman for the onesided win.
Clontarf provided enough at Castle Avenue to feel confident about next season in Division One with a 27-13 win over Wanderers. They now meet Division Three's Dublin University in the next round and look likely to gain a place in the semi-finals.
Clontarf, however, will probably do so without scrum-half Ronan O'Reilly who was stretchered off with a smashed nose. Wanderers prop Mike Finley was picked out by the referee for some words, but he was not sent off. Finley, however, immediately indicated to his bench that he was injured and also left the pitch.
Clontarf ran in three tries through Dave Moore, O'Reilly and Phillip Quinn after Mark Wyse initially put his side 6-0 ahead with penalties. Although, not in full flow, the side did enough to impress the crowd of around 4,000.
Bective Rangers take Blackrock to Donnybrook in the next phase after a very one sided win over Division Four champions Suttonians. Ben Kealy collected 17 points in his team's seven-try canter with Suttonians unable to bridge the gap between themselves and a side who just missed out on promotion to Division One.
Suttonians did enjoy two scores with hooker Eamon McKeon and winger Gary Dempsey each going over in the 15-47 home defeat.
The final pairing involves second division sides Skerries and Greystones, who both came through their games yesterday.
