This was all about what might have been for Dublin University as they just failed to break UCD's five-year domination of the colours at Donnybrook last night.

Full back Simon Mitchell will feel especially aggrieved. He missed two scoreable penalties either side of half-time to let UCD off the hook as Trinity recovered well from a mediocre start. As it was, three penalties from Eoghan Hickey, to Mitchell's solitary reply, gave UCD a 9-3 lead at the break.

UCD made one of their first chances count in the 55th minute when Dermot O'Sullivan's pass sent Stuart McCarron over in the right corner for a 14-3 lead.

Mitchell and Hickey sent over penalties before Alan Jackson's 77th-minute try, converted by Mitchell, set up a frenetic finish.

UCD: D O'Sullivan (Newbridge); G Hayes (Clongowes Wood), M Colling (Otago Boys, NZ), S Moore (Belvedere), P Bredin (Newpark CS); E Hickey (DLS Churchtown), B O'Riordan (Gonzaga); M Moynagh (Wellington College, NZ), D Blaney (Terenure), J Montgomery (Blackrock), C Keane (Templeogue), P Callanan (Clongowes Wood), N Coughlan (Blackrock), T Carter (Terenure), N Breslin (CBS Mullingar). Replacements: S McCarron (Gonzaga) for Hayes, L Burke (St Marys) for Coughlan (both half-time); G Cantwell for Keane (52); J Lane (St Marys) for Burke (78).

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: S Mitchell (Harrow UK); A Jackson (Wesley), S Kelly (Blackrock), J Quigley (Blackrock), S Magee (Clongowes Wood); D Crotty (Belvedere), C Curneen (Blackrock); C Sheehy (Belvedere), Keith Murphy (Blackrock), Seβn Brophy (Belvedere), A Maher (St Joseph's College, Galway), P Lennon (Oatlands), P Raftery (Bedford Modern UK), H Hogan (High School), R Wilson (RBAI). Replacements: R Milliken (Bangor GS) for Magee (51); D St George (Eaton) for Hogan (61).

Referee: D Tyndall (ARLB).