DLSP fail to kill off the game

For a game so pivotal to their play-off hopes, Terenure left it awful late. Throughout this dull and messy affair at Kilternan, it was De La Salle Palmerston who showed all the incentive and desire, only to find their hard-earned lead stolen away at the end.

Fortunately for them, it didn't matter to their own play-off concerns. So while Terenure have assured home advantage for the semi-final meeting with Lansdowne, DLSP avoid the feared relegation play-off as a result of Clontarf's defeat.

Still, Terenure will be the first to admit that pulling off the points here went totally against the run of play. DLSP ran and kicked with purpose, and even though their pack were out-weighed, their use and control of possession was far superior.

The problem, however, was that their lead was never quite convincing. An early try from New Zealand centre Shane Stephens, combined with the kicking of Mark Kananagh, made sure they always held the slight advantage, but Terenure's only try of the game - with just two minutes of normal time remaining - proved the crucial score.

The second half had been the more reflective of DLSP's dominance. But after one of Terenure's few significant ventures into the opposition's 22, they had reversed the fortunes.

It stemmed from David Lynagh's floating kick towards the corner that was half blocked into touch by John Corr. And after winning the two-metre lineout, prop forward Steve Barretto pushed over the line. Lynagh failed to convert and that meant DLSP heads - along with those of their healthy number of supporters - didn't drop quite yet.

Pushing straight back downfield, they were handed a penalty for a late tackle on scrumhalf Brian Hogan. But it was a long shot, and no one was surprised when Kavanagh's kick fell short and wide.

It wasn't quite daylight robbery though, because DLSP can only blame themselves for not killing the game off earlier.

Stephens' try after 13 minutes was quite thrilling, especially with the sluggish conditions underfoot. Full back Eddie Devitt had been choosing the best option in most of his clearances, and he spotted the space for winger Simon Walsh who then set up Stephens' run.

Scoring sequence: 12 mins: Stephens try, Kavanagh conversion, 70; 19: Lynagh penalty, 7-3; 54: Lynagh penalty, 7-6; 68: Kavanagh penalty, 10-6; 78: Barretto try, 10-11.

De La Salle Palmerston: E Devitt; S Walsh, S Stephens, D McCabe, M Cunningham; D O'Riordan, B Hogan; M Kavanagh, S Cullen, N Condron, K Wheelock, R Frost, D O'Brien, B Wood, T Giles (capt). Replacements: S O'Donnell for Giles (16 mins), Giles for O'Donnell (26 mins), J Corr for Cunningham (58 mins), O'Donnell for Condron (69 mins), Maher for Giles (83 mins).

Terenure College: G Dempsey; D Lynagh, M O'Reilly, M Smyth, S Cullen; R Governey, D Hegarty; S Barretto, J Blaney, J Campbell, R Sheriff (capt), P Holden, P O'Malley, E Miller, B Kavanagh. Replacements: D Quinn for Holden (46 mins), C Potts for O'Malley (64 mins), D Murphy for Governey (72 mins).

Referee: D McHugh (Munster).