There was shock, almost horror, in the Garryowen camp as the full implication of this result sank in. Dolphin, blasted apart by Ballymena just two weeks before, brought off the great escape against a side that fancied their chances of the title.

Now, Garryowen must re-assess their potential to earn even a place in the top four of the AIL after losing three points from a possible four in their opening two games.

Dolphin, meanwhile, celebrated long into the night at their Musgrave Park headquarters after pulling themselves out of trouble and providing themselves with inspiration for the remainder of the campaign.

It was the kick-start they required after the debacle at Eaton Park.

When it looked like going wrong, it all came right. They were fortunate to survive a Garryowen barrage at a time when they were 11 points down but, having survived the pressure, they struck back with venom.

Like Garryowen, they played delightful rugby at times and they threw caution to the wind in the final quarter. It was all or nothing and, in the end, it was all. The response of their delighted fans left them in no doubt that their efforts were much appreciated.

The Garryowen camp was, not surprisingly, in shock. One point from their opening two games is a lot less than they expected. They're looking to Old Belvedere to provide them with an easier platform next week.

Dolphin were unfortunate to trail by four points at the interval and even more unfortunate to concede an early second-half try.

But when Garryowen had the opportunities to push themselves into an unassailable position shortly afterwards, they didn't take it. David Wallace, one of their two try scorers, was over the Dolphin line but referee Murray White decided he didn't ground the ball.

After that opportunity, Garryowen lost their way. Dolphin came to within three points after Denis O'Dowd scored a try to add to Conor Mahony's penalty goal and though Killian Keane edged Garryowen further in front, Dolphin conjured up a try right at the death by New Zealander Steve Jackson, which Mahony converted.

Scoring sequence: 2 mins: B Everett drop goal, 0-3; 6: K Keane drop goal, 0-6; 18: C Mahony penalty, 3-6; 27: R Dineen try, Mahony conversion, 10-6; 29: B Everett drop goal, 10-9; 36: D Wallace try, 10-14; 42: S McIvor try, Keane conversion, 10-21; 58: Mahony penalty, 13-21; 64: D O'Dowd try, 18-21; 72: Keane penalty, 18-24; 79:: S Jackson try, Mahony conversion, 25-24.

Dolphin: R Dineen; D O'Dowd, Conor Mahony, Cian Mahony, M O'Donovan; J O'Mahony, K Murphy; P Scott (capt), T Kingston, E Knowles, H Farrelly, J Forde, T O'Connell, S Jackson, D Pomeroy.

Garryowen: D Crotty; J Clarke, K Keane (capt), K Hartigan, K O'Riordan; B Everett, S McIvor; P Spain, P Cunningham, G Walsh, S Leahy, V Humphreys, P Hogan, D Wallace, A Bermingham. Temporary replacement: D O'Sullivan for Hogan.

Referee: M White (Leinster).