At the end of it all Clontarf won at a gallop. DLSP, who had intermittently threatened throughout the game, were like schoolboys who had scaled the wall but too frightened to go that bit further and pocket the apples.
Clontarf in defence were fierce with number 8, Craig Brownlie, playing a big game and a collective attitude that illustrated why the north side club, despite a tough season, remain in Division One of the All Ireland league.
More surprisingly the match was open and free flowing. Little effort was spared to keep the ball in play. DLSP flew full back Shane Stephens in from New Zealand under an apparent veil of secrecy, and the Kilternan side were certainly up to take the trophy back to the Dublin foothills for the first time since they went senior in 1919.
That said there were too many turn-overs, too frequent misplaced passes and a catalogue of wrong options to make it a game of high class rugby. But hey, it was May 22nd !
Crucially DLSP allowed the game run too far ahead of them early in the match. Much of that credit must go to Clontarf out-half Richie Murphy. Landing four penalties and two conversions in the first half and two more penalties in the second, his haul of 22 points gave Clontarf a healthy start after only 26 minutes when his first three had ensured a 9-0 lead.
That margin further increased and although DLSP took the game to 9-7 Clontarf went in at the break 26-7 ahead, Brownlie closing the half with a deft chip and run before gathering for a second time to bull over for a try with Stephens on his back. DLSP needed to bank more, even with a favourable second half wind.
"Our defence was excellent. They did have us under pressure especially in the line outs ... I'm really happy we finished on that note and I think we deserved to win the match. I had my reasons for leaving and I'm happy it finished this way," said coach Brent Pope, now off to St Mary's "As they say - always stay one step ahead of the posse," he added.
"I was going to go on the bench myself but a friend said to me the night before the match it would be too much of a Boys Own story and while I knew we'd problems in the line-outs I'm glad it worked out they way it did and a lot of guys who've given the club a good service have come out of it with a medal."
DLSP, desperately playing catch-up raised their tempo in the second half, captain Kenny Wheelock finally surging over on his team's fourth squeeze on the Clontarf line. But Murphy added two more kicks for 32-14 with 13 minutes remaining.
The O'Riordan brothers, Niall and Dave respectively, gave DLSP a try and conversion for 32-21 but again Clontarf struck back, centre Craig Bewley kniving through in an almost instant reply.
Finally centre Mark Cunningham cantered across for the last score of the match for DLSP as referee Sean Buggy ended the match, Clontarf with two Leinster trophies (also the floodlit) and barely surviving Division One, DLSP disappointed but promoted and facing top flight rugby next season. Mixed emotions all round.
Scoring sequence: 8 mins R Murphy pen 30; 20 mins R Murphy pen 6-0; 26 mins R Murphy pen 9-0; 29 mins N O'Riordan try, D O'Riordan con 9-7; 32 mins R Murphy pen 12-7; 36 mins A McClean try, R Murphy con 19-7; 39 mins C Brownlie try, R Murphy con 26-7. half time. 46 mins K Wheelock try, D O'Riordan con 26-14; 52 mins R Murphy pen 29-14; 67 mins R Murphy pen 32-14; 73 mins N O'Riordan pen, D O'Riordan con 32-21; 77 mins C Bewley try 3721; 80 mins M Cunningham try 37-26.
CLONTARF: D McElligott; A McClean, M Smith (capt.), C Bewlwy, O Winchester; R Murphy, R O'Reilly; H Hurley, B Jackman, T Kearns, J Ball, D Moore, D O'Brien, P Ward, C Brownlie. Replacements: M Woods for O'Reilly 77 mins. P McQuillan for Brownlie.
DLSP: S Stephens; E Devitt, N O'Riordan, M Cunningham, S Gormley; D O'Riordan, B Hogan; K Condron, S Cullen, C Shanley, k Wheelock (capt.), P McDonnell, A Toher, P Nugent, P Werahiko. Replacements: D McCabe for Gormley 46 mins, G Stewart for Shanley 46 mins.
Referee: S Buggy (ARLB)
Young Munster captured the Munster Junior Cup for the seventh time and their first since 1984 when they defeated Kilfeacle by 19-13 in front of a big and enthusiastic Thomond Park crowd yesterday.
Unfortunately the game was marred by two nasty outbreaks of fighting, in the first of which rival prop forwards, Eddie Fraher of Young Munster and Eamon Sherlock of Kilfeacle, were sent off.
Kilfeacle took an early lead with a penalty by Ronan McDonagh, but Young Munster were in control by half-time after tries by Jason Rose and Richard Coveney and two penalties by Darragh O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan and McDonagh exchanged penalties immediately after half-time, but Kilfeacle were unable to break through again until the closing stages when they had a try by Pakie Hallissey, which he converted himself.
