Dublin University 23 UL Bohemians 22: Victory and defeat in Saturday's final were, literally, inches apart as substitute Pierre Lazies' badly scuffed drop goal just managed to dissect the uprights in injury time.
He duly took the plaudits but it was the graft of the young Dublin University pack that really earned this victory. The achievement is all the more outstanding considering 11 of the starting 15 are fresh out of the under-20 ranks, and Canadian prop Forrest Gainer, at 23, is the oldest member of the team.
Ten minutes into the second half they trailed 13-22 and looked finished. However, such was the intense pressure the student eight put on UL Bohemians coming down the home stretch referee Olan Trevor was forced to award a penalty try in the final minute, which duly set up a tense finale.
Lazies converted the try and after a succession of scrums and rolling mauls, the French man was given the chance to strike for glory. Those still up from the previous night's Trinity Ball began the delirious celebrations.
If UL Bohemians full back Cathal Garvey had had a better day with the boot they would have won with something to spare. In the first half alone he only managed to kick two from six attempts.
The Limerick side did cross for the opening try after winger Barry Murphy blocked down Trinity outhalf Keelan McGowan's attempted touch-finder before picking up, thanks to a generous bounce, and racing clear to the line. Garvey tacked on a penalty but it took a moment of genius from Philip Treacy to give them a decent lead at the break.
The outhalf was sitting in the hole awaiting a crisp delivery from Liam O'Connell in order to strike a drop goal. However, a wayward pass forced him to turn but instead of panicking he stepped away from two would-be tacklers, Conor McShane and Hugh Hogan, to sprint over the line. Garvey almost got a third try in the corner but a last-gasp cover tackle from Ireland under-21 Jamie Heaslip kept him out.
Trinity finally made it into enemy territory late in the half with a McGowan penalty leaving them in touch at the break, 15-3.
Their revival kicked into gear after the break when winger Phil Howard cleverly chipped over Garvey before outsprinting him to touch down. McGowan added the conversion and a further penalty to leave just two points between the sides.
However, UL Bohemians regained control almost immediately. The pace of winger Breffni O'Donnell saw him race under the posts after exposing a huge gap in the heart of the defence. When Garvey added the extras the game seemed once again to be beyond the Dublin students.
But, as the Limerick forwards tired, back came Trinity with the late salvo to confirm their status as the league's best team. Under the astute guidance of coach Tony Smeeth, Division One awaits.
SCORING SEQUENCE - 17 mins: B Murphy try, 0-5; C Garvey con, 0-7; 25: Garvey pen, 0-10; 30: P Tracey try, 0-15; 40: K McGowan pen, 3-15. Half time. 41: P Howard try, 8-15; McGowan con, 10-15; 50: McGowan pen, 13-15; 51: B O'Donnell try, 13-20; Garvey con, 13-22; 79: pen try, 18-22; P Lazies con, 20-22; 80 (+ four): Lazies drop goal, 23-22.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: T Horner; P Howard, B Kinsella, B Hastings, E Condren; K McGowan, C McShane; N Conlon, M Crockett, F Gainer; M Garvey, M Warburton; E Molloy, H Hogan, J Heaslip. Replacements: V Campo for Molloy (21-27 mins); T Jago for Molloy (62); S Ashuri for Horner (69); D Hayes for Warburton (75); P Lazies for McGowan (77).
UL BOHEMIANS: C Garvey; B O'Donnell, M McPhail, C Finn, B Murphy; P Treacy, L O'Connell; M Harty, G Ryan, K Flanagan; A Hartigan, R Hartigan; A O'Gorman, P van Esbeck, J O'Neill. Replacements: J Danagher for Flanagan (48); J O'Connor for O'Neill (73).
Referee: O Trevor (Munster Branch).
