Clontarf hold off Terenure fightback to claim third title

Clontarf 29 Terenure College 23

Clontarf secured their third Energia All-Ireland League title as tries either side of half-time from front rowers Ben Griffin and Dylan Donnellan were crucial in seeing off Terenure College.

The win means Andy Woods' table-topping side finished the season with 15 consecutive victories.

However Clontarf were made to fight all the way in Aviva Stadium, with the south Dublin side battling back in the final quarter of an exciting final.

Clontarf out-half Conor Kelly contributed 19 points, with his conversion of hooker Donnellan’s try giving Clontarf a 13-point lead early in the second half.

First-time finalists Terenure got back into it as Alan Bennie touched down on the hour mark, but they could not find another score, despite their scrum dominance.

The novel final pairing and Dublin derby drew an attendance of 5,788, a record crowd for an All-Ireland League final at the redeveloped Lansdowne Road venue.