This was a game that had everything and better still, was only the first leg of the Division One/Two play-off of the AIB League. UCD were the quicker to settle and shredded the Clontarf defence at will in the first quarter. It didn't hurt that they made the maximum use of the chances that came their way, with Calum McLean swotting Craig Bewley's weak tackle to go over in the seventh minute. Then, number eight John Campbell, used the full force of his weight to ground the ball for the second unconverted UCD try.
Outhalf Paddy Wallace did add the points to Aidan Kearney's weaving run on the 11th minute, then struck a sweet left footed dropped goal to make it 20-0.
Clontarf did make something of a recovery with outhalf Richie Murphy's long miss-pass putting Alan Reddan outside the clutches of McLean in the 29th minute. Murphy converted and nailed a 39th minute penalty before Wallace made it 23-10 to UCD at the break.
The second half was even better with Clontarf's number eight Craig Brownlie, working to great effect from the base of the scrum. He twisted, turned and drove over in the 49th and 63rd minutes. Although Murphy had to leave the field to have a blood injury attended to, his replacement, Pat Noble, kicked the 44th-minute penalty, before Murphy returned to convert Brownlie's first try.
Clontarf left wing, Craig Bewley, intercepted Wallace pass to race over under the posts in the 52nd minute for the reliable Murphy to convert. Before Brownlie's second intervention, Wallace had a penalty and converted Ronan McCormack's 58th minute try. As the drama unfolded with both teams running the ball incessantly, Murphy's sure-footed presence was keeping Clontarf ticking over nicely. He shot a 68th minute penalty to make it 37-33 for Clontarf.
However, the best was saved till last when Irish under-21 wing, James Norton, took off along the right sideline from inside his own half and blazed a trail to the line for a stunning try which Wallace converted.
Not to be outdone, Murphy was at it again in the 79th minute when kicking the equalising penalty.
Scorers: UCD - A Kearney, J Campbell, C McLean, R McCormack, J Norton try each, P Wallace 2 pens, dropped goal, 3 cons. Clontarf - C Brownlie 2 tries, C Bewley and A Reddan try each, R Murphy 3 pens 4 cons, P Noble pen
UCD: B McMahon; J Norton, S Moore, M Colling, C McLean; P Wallace, B Quigley; M Moynagh, D Blaney, R McCormack, C Keane, D Braughall, A Kearney, P Shanley, J Campbell. Replacements: J Lane for Blaney, J Smith for Braughall (both 60 mins), T Carter for Shanley (62 mins).
Clontarf: O Winchester; A Reddan, D O'Brien, D McElligott, C Bewley; R Murphy, R O'Reilly; W O'Kelly, B Jackman, A Clarke, A Duignam, C Power, P Ward, D Walsh, C Brownlie. Replacements: D Moore for Duignam (half-time), P Noble for Murphy (temp, 42 mins), T Kearns for O'Kelly, B Devitt for Walsh (60 mins).
Referee: A Rolland (Leinster).
