Emphatic win for Clontarf

Clontarf's superb form continued unabated with this emphatic victory over Wanderers in the Old Belvedere floodlit cup semi-final at Anglesea Road last night.

Brent Pope's squad has now qualified for two finals within the space of four days. They showed more convincing form here to over-run a Wanderers side that stood up well to heavy first-half pressure. In fact, they went into a 6-0 lead by the 17th minute when out-half Eric Olazabal kicked his second penalty.

Clontarf did respond in the best possible manner. But, they showed little originality in bludgeoning their way to the Wanderers line. In the end they were awarded a penalty try following a number of scrummages close to Wanderers line. Out-half Richie Murphy kicked a conversion to give Clontarf a 7-6 half-time lead. There was an edge to the first half proceedings. The game was played more in the manner of an league encounter and the crowd were visibly cheered by this. They awaited a stirring repeat of what had gone before.

In this regard, they may have been slightly disappointed. For, Clontarf struck for two tries in the 45th and 46th minutes to take the wind from Wanderers sails.

Flanker Craig Brownlie got the vital touch to a push over effort and Ollie Winchester made the most of a mistake by Wanderers full back Garret Halpin to claim his side's third try.

Murphy converted both to put 15 points between the sides and scrum-half Ronan O'Reilly decorated the team's performance with two tries later.

Scorers: Clontarf - R O'Reilly two tries, C Brownlee, O Winchester try each, pen try, R Murphy 4 cons. Wanderers - M Mahon try, E Olazabal two pens.

Clontarf: M Woods; O Winchester, M Smith, T Meagher, R O'Neill; R Murphy, R O'Reilly; H Hurley, W O'Kelly, P McQuillan, C Power, R Voester, C Brownlee, D O'Brien, D Moore. Replacements: M Coughlan for Power 57 mins; C Bewley for Maher 59 mins; B Jackman for O'Kelly 68 mins.

Wanderers: G Halpin; C Leahy, N Osbourne, L Mahon, P Gleeson; E Ozabal, M Mahon; R Cole, B Cantrell, A Roberts, T McGee, J O'Callaghan, C Cronin, E de la Rue B Baggott. Replacements: D Hanlon for Roberts 48 mins; E Goulding for Cantrell 55 mins; S Sludds for McGee 61 mins.

Referee: P Swaine (ARLB)