LANSDOWNE had the same problem that beset them in their Leinster championship final defeat by Terenure in last night's Smithwick's Floodlit Cup first round tie at Anglesea Road - they started slowly.

Due in the main to Clontarf's abrasive rucking game, two good tries came from second-row Philip Quinn and prop Peter McQuillan, as well as a conversion and two penalties from the accurate boot of young out-half Mark Woods. So Lansdowne trailed 18-6 at the break, replying only through two finely struck penalties by Willie Clancy.

Inspired by right wing Ray Hennessey, Lansdowne clawed their way back into contention. First, Hennessey galloped over in the right corner two minutes into the second half. Then he cut through the cover from well inside his own half, and put Clancy over to reduce the deficit to 18-16. Clontarf replacement Garret Aherne and Hennessey exchanged further tries to leave the game very much in the balance.

In extreme desperation, deep into injury time, left wing Clancy was forced to run the ball on his own line. But as the movement broke down beside the posts, flanker Shane Guerin was on hand to claim the match-winning try. Woods converted.