Garryowen Knock Out Holders To Secure Bateman Cup Final Spot

Garryowen are through to the Bateman Cup Final after a dramatic last minute try saw them defeat holders Lansdowne 14-12 at Dooradoyle.

Garryowen will now face City of Armagh in the decider in April after the Ulster champions defeated Buccaneers 29-13 in the other semi-final.

It was really a battle of the kickers at Dooradoyle as Ben Healy opened the scoring with a penalty for Garryowen after 20 minutes. Two quick penalties from Scott Deasy gave Lansdowne a 6-3 half-time lead.

Six minutes into the second-half, Deasy made it 9-3. Two penalties from Healy had the sides level after 55 minutes.

Deasy put the visitors back in front with a penalty 12 minutes from time.

It was a well worked try in the 79th minute that decided the contest. Garryowen won their own scrum and moved the ball wide to the left. The forwards retained possession and play was switched to the right when hooker Liam Cronin was in the right spot to race in untouched.

Garryowen: Jamie Heuston; Daniel Hurley, Peadar Collins, David McCarthy, Cian O’Shea; Ben Healy, Rob Guerin; Niall Horan, Liam Cronin, Andrew Keating; Kevin Seymour, Dean Moore (capt); Tim Ferguson, Diarmuid Barron, Sean Rennisson. Replacements: Mike O’Donnell, David Canny, Scott Leahy, Steven Atkinson, Jamie Gavin, Shane Brosnahan, Andrew O’Byrne.

Lansdowne: Eamonn Mills (capt); Daniel McEvoy, Mark O’Keeffe, Conor Murphy, Peter Sullivan; Scott Deasy, Tim Murphy; Denis Coulson, James Rael, Ian Prendiville; Willie Earle, Jack O’Sullivan; Tom Murphy, Conor Fenlon, Aaron Conneely. Replacements: JJ Earle, Martin Mulhall, Greg McGrath, Conall O’Brien, Alan Bennie, Liam O’Sullivan, Barry Goulding.

Bateman Cup Semi-Final Results:

City of Armagh 29, Buccaneers 13;

Garryowen 14, Lansdowne 12;