AIB League Two Final – Trinity Snatch It In Injury Time

A drop-goal from replacement out-half Pierre Lazies gave Dublin University a 23-22 victory over UL Bohemians. in the AIB League Division Two final

At the end of a game that had the most dramatic of finishes, UL Bohemians players sank to their knees barely able to comprehend what had happened. They had held a nine point lead with just two minutes of normal time to go, then conceded a penalty try before Pierre Lazies broke their hearts with that last gasp drop-goal.

Bohs led 15-3 at the break but let the Students back into it when they leaked a try almost straight away from the restart. They collected themselves however and scored a cracking try under the Trinity sticks. That score looked good enough to give them the trophy until that late Trinity surge which, from Bohs’ point of view, saw defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

Bohs were easily the better side in the opening half and led 15-0 with tries from Barry Murphy and out-half Phil Treacy.

Full-back Cathal Garvey converted Murphy’s try and added a penalty but crucially as it turned out, missed two fairly straight forward penalties and the conversion of Treacy’s score.

In the closing minutes of the opening half Trinity made a rare incursion into the opposing 22 and left with a three pointer when Keelan McGowan chipped over a penalty.

Minutes after the restart wing Phil Howard manufactured a try when he made ground down the West Stand touchline, chipped and chased and easily won the race for the touchdown. McGowan knocked over the conversion and added a 49th minute penalty to leave just two points (15-13) separating the sides.

Credit to Bohemians who kept their composure and they worked their way upfield for impressive wing Breffni O’Donnell to score under the posts.

Garvey’s tap-over conversion should have seen Bohs close this one out but they failed to do so and Trinity made them pay the ultimate price.

Dublin University: T Horner (F Keane 68); P Howard, B Kinsella, B Hastings, E Condren; K McGowan (P Lazies 76), C McShane; N Conlon, M Crockett, F Gainer, M Garvey, M Warburton (D Hayes 74), E Molloy (T Jago 62), J Heaslip, H Hogan.

UL Bohemians: C Garvey; B O’Donnell, M McPhail, C Finn, B Murphy; P Treacy, L O’Connell; M Harty, G Ryan, K Flanagan (J Danagher 48), A Hartigan, R Hartigan, A O’Gorman, J O’Neill (J O’Connor 74), P van Esbeck.

Referee: O Trevor (IRFU)