New faces fit in right away for Clontarf

Clontarf's one-point victory in Ballymena over the weekend showed that, after a year in mid-table obscurity, they are once more a force to be reckoned with in the AIB League.

Their heavy recruitment drive in the summer reaped instant rewards as it was the new faces who made the difference in Saturday's last-gasp victory.

Under-21 international flanker Dave O'Brien rumbled over for the decisive try with three minutes remaining, while Aidan Kearney was just one of a number of former professionals to make an impact.

Coach Phil Werahiko must have been rubbing his hands with glee as the likes of Kearney, O'Brien, Shane Moore, Anthony O'Donnell, Dan Van Zyl and Dave Hewitt came through the gates of Castle Avenue in the pre-season.

"This year a lot of guys with provincial contracts decided to concentrate on other careers and they came to Clontarf. They bring a professional environment to the club and we look to that when the games get tight. It got us through here," said Werahiko.

"It's not that often you come to this part of the country and win. Ballymena have been a stumbling block for us in the past and it was an important to start the season with a win."

Clontarf's refusal to sulk about the manner in which their 2002 side was plundered by the provinces is a testament to the club's ambitious nature.

Significantly, they tapped into their traditional resources, with many of the new players, and returnees, having roots in north Dublin and its main breeding grounds: St Paul's and Belvedere College.

Dungannon also laid down an early-season marker with victory over arch-rivals Belfast Harlequins at the Grafton Arena. Again, the margin of victory was a single point, with the boot of Gareth Steenson, another member of the heroic Irish under-21 side that reached this year's world cup final, and a Gilliam Carruthers try getting them home.

What will really please coach Jeremy Davidson is the manner in which his team's defence held firm in the face of Harlequins' late assault.

Elsewhere, UCD breezed past Lansdowne in Belfield, with David Blaney and James Norton crossing for tries late on to add to a fine kicking display from Eoghan Hickey.

Carlow look set for a long, hard season after an opening-day home defeat to Garryowen, whose wing forward Paul Neville excelled.

Player-coach Van Zyl has joined Clontarf, Andy Melville has departed, while centre Michael Swetman was snapped up by Belfast Harlequins, leaving new coach Ray Ward short on experienced players.

Finally, late-night rugby came to the league with Buccaneers overpowering Cork Constitution in the forward exchanges to win 18-12 in front of 1,200 souls at Ericsson Park in Ballinasloe.

The Buccs tries came from Martin Cahill and Justin Maher.

Saturday 's results: Ballymena 20 Clontarf 21; Dungannon 13 Belfast Harlequins 12; Carlow 10 Garryowen 24; UCD 23 Lansdowne 3; Buccaneers 18 Cork Constitution 12.