Garryowen Outgunned By St. Mary’s
Garryowen fell to their third successive defeat in the Ulster Bank League as St. Mary’s College romped to a bonus point win at Dooradoyle.
Division 1A's bottom side leaked five tries to the Dubliners, with St. Mary's out-half Gavin Dunne kicking four conversions and two penalties.
St. Mary's, who lifted the Shay Deering trophy afterwards, had tries from Richie Sweeney, Ronan Doherty, Darren Hudson, Damian Hall and Mark Sexton.
Hooker Sweeney touched down in the first half, with Dunne adding the conversion to two penalties for a 10-0 half-time lead.
After an error-strewn opening from both sides, St. Mary's gradually settled against a Garryowen side missing captain Conan Doyle and a number of representative players.
Dunne potted his first penalty after the hosts had worked the ball through five quick phases. The Dubliners failed to add to their 12th minute lead, until shortly before the break.
The excellent Matt D'Arcy broke forward and drew the cover before linking with lock Hall who offloaded for man-of-the-match Sweeney to touch down and Dunne converted.
The full-back landed his second penalty, three minutes after the resumption, for a 13-0 scoreline. A skip pass from Sexton invited winger Doherty through and he beat off three defenders on the way to the try-line. Dunne followed up with a lovely conversion from wide out.
Garryowen's account was opened in the 52nd minute when out-half Alan Gaughan split the posts with a penalty. But Ciaran Potts' charges cut loose again to move into a 32-3 lead and seal the bonus point.
Former Ireland Under-20 winger Hudson touched down for the second successive game, taking his haul for the campaign to seven tries.
Five minutes later, Paul Gillespie and Sexton were both involved in the build-up before scrum half D'Arcy offloaded for the supporting Hall to score a converted effort.
Flanker Anthony Kavanagh broke up a St. Mary's move on their 40-metre line and ran in an intercept try by the posts, with Gaughan converting.
The scores continued to come thick and fast before the full-time whistle. A reverse pass put Sexton over for his try and St. Mary's fifth of the afternoon.
In injury-time, Garryowen, who have a relegation battle on their hands, shifted the ball wide and young replacement Shane Buckley managed to barge through a number of tackles for a well-taken try.
The victory completed a season’s double for St. Mary's over Garryowen. Potts' side are still third in the table, hunting down Old Belvedere and defending champions Cork Constitution.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)