UL Bohemians 16 Garryowen 12:GARRYOWEN LOST their unbeaten record and squandered a chance to go top of the table when beaten by local rivals UL-Bohemians at Thomond Park last night.
Jamie Gavin edged Garryowen in front with his fourth penalty to make it 12-10 four minutes into the second half after UL-Bohemians swept into a 10-0 lead but it was 10-9 at the interval.
UL-Bohemians could hardly have expected more than to find themselves 10-0 in front.
JJ Hanrahan punished Garryowen for going over the top by landing the opening penalty.
Garryowen were a little unfortunate to concede the next seven points. An attempted clearance near his own line was blocked by winger Rory Whyte. He gathered the loose ball and sprinted in near the posts for a try that Hanrahan converted.
Garryowen battled back but had to rely on the boot of outhalf Jamie Gavin for their points as the home side paid the maximum price for indiscipline.
Having missed an early penalty, Gavin then landed all three of his next attempts to make it 10-9 at the interval after UL Bohemians were twice penalised for not releasing the ball when tackled and for going over the top on another occasion.
Within six minutes of the resumption Gavin nudged Garryowen in front with another penalty.
Nine minutes from the end JJ Hanrahan was on target when Garryowen were penalised for offside and when they did so again in the last minute Hanrahan again landed the penalty.
UL BOHEMIANS: B Martin; D Moroney, N Kenneally, M Lawler, R Whyte; JJ Hanrahan, C Sheridan; G Walsh, E Rossiter, A Simpson; E Kelly, D Frawley; C Kindregan, I Condell, S Rennisson. Replacements: T Burke for Simpson (50 mins), B Walsh for Condell (60 mins).
GARRYOWEN: M Jarvis, C O'Shea, C Hircock (J McInerney 11), C Doyle, R O'Mahony; J Gavin, N Cronin; R Brosnan, J Rael, JP Cooney; A Kennedy, D Sherry; S Buckley, B O'Mahony, A Kavanagh. Replacements: J McInerney for Hircock (11 mins).
Referee:P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).