Clontarf maintained their Division One status for the second year running with victory over UCD in the second leg play-off at Castle Avenue last night.

UCD had to play catch-up for much of the game after Clontarf outhalf Richie Murphy gave the home side a 12-point cushion following four successful penalties inside the opening half hour.

The students cut the deficit when outhalf Paddy Wallace sent over two penalties to leave it 12-6 at the interval.

The game then turned three minutes after the break when Cal McLean's diagonal run saw the UCD winger finish to the right of the posts.

Clontarf's response was to add three more penalties but sterling defence was required in the final quarter with UCD scrumhalf Bobby Quigley going agonisingly close to going over for the equalising score.

SCORERS: Clontarf - R Murphy 7 pens; UCD - P Wallace 3 pens, con; C McLean try.

CLONTARF: O Winchester; A Reddan, D O'Brien, D McElligott, C Bewley; R Murphy, R O'Reilly; W O'Kelly, B Jackman, A Clarke; D Moore, C Power; P Ward, B Devitt, C Brownlie. Replacement: A Dignam for Devitt (41 mins).

UCD: J Stone; J Norton, S Moore, M Colling, C McLean; P Wallace, B Quigley; M Moynagh, D Blaney, R McCormack; C Keane, D Braughall; J Campbell, A Carroll, D Dillon. Replacements: A Kearney for Braughall (67 mins); T Carter for Carroll (78 mins).

Referee: D McHugh (MAR).