In a schizophrenic performance, Terenure College took their time to piece together a game plan in this Leinster Championship semifinal. When they did switch on, Clontarf went out like a light at Lakelands Park. The acquisition this season of prolific goal kicker Richie Murphy from Greystones has been a real coup for Clontarf. He kicked four of his five penalties in the first half and generally made Terenure pay for any loose play or indiscretions that attracted the attention of referee Gerry Maher.
After former international Ciaran Clarke's try - converted by Peter Walsh - gave Terenure the perfect start, Clontarf reacted positively, wrenching control from in the tight. With the ball coming back on the visitors' side more often than not, Murphy kicked and passed to his side's advantage. Three penalties preceded a wonderful try from scrum-half Ronan O'Reilly.
Clontarf led 19-7 at the break. And then the tide turned.
The demons within were summoned to the surface and Terenure cut the visitors down to size on the beautifully manicured pitch. A Walsh penalty prepared the way for five second half tries from Pat Holden, Derek Hegarty, Clarke, replacement Paul Hennebry and Shane Cullen as Terenure battered away at the Clontarf line without any sign of a retaliation. There will probably be questions asked of Clontarf's feeble demise.
Scoring Sequence - 8 mins: C Clarke try, P Walsh conversion 7-0; 16: R Murphy pen 7-3; 20: Murphy penalty 7-6; 26: Murphy penalty 7-9; 33: R O'Reilly try, Murphy conversion 7-16; 39: Murphy penalty 7-19; 44: Walsh penalty 10-19; 46: P Holden try, Walsh conversion 17-19; 52: Murphy penalty 17-22; 59: D Hegarty try, Walsh conversion 24-22; 61: Clarke try 29-22; 69: P Hennebry try 34-22; 74: S Cullen try 39-22.
Terenure: C Clarke, D Coleman, R Browne, M Smyth, P Walsh, S Cullen, D Hegarty, D Hyland, J Blaney, B O'DohertyCampbell, R Sherrif, P Holden, H O'Neill, B Kavanagh, J Kelly. Replacemetnnts: P Hennebry for Browne (58 mins); M Quinn for Kelly (62 mins).
Clontarf: M Woods, G Aherne, M Smith, B Noble, M Fitzsimons, R Murphy, R O'Reilly, T Hannigan, S Horan, P McQuillan, M Coughlan, M Meredith, A Dignam, I Stewart, C Brownley. Replacements: P Ward for Dignam, I Cummins for Hannigan (both 60 mins).
Referee: G Maher (ARLB).
Argentina beat Australia 1816 in the second Test match in Buenos Aires on Saturday to level their two-match series.
Each team scored two first-half tries, with back-rower Owen Finegan and wing Ben Tune crossing over for the Australians and scrum-half Agustin Pichot and Richmond's Rolando Martin touching down for the home side.
