Tony Grant, the man who has masterminded so many great results for Young Munster over the years, put his expertise to outstanding use at Rosbrien on Saturday as Old Crescent eased their relegation worries with a 24-9 victory over Dolphin.

Grant has temporarily taken over the coaching reins at Old Crescent because Jed O'Dwyer is abroad on holiday. Grant won't have liked what he saw in the opening 20 minutes on Saturday as Dolphin took control and deservedly led 6-0 after two penalties by out-half John O'Mahony.

However, Crescent struck for the game's first try through their talented young wing forward Paul Neville after half an hour and when Brian Begley converted the game turned in their favour.

Back row forward Terry Brown was unlucky to be foiled of a try but almost immediately Ken Barrett went over and Begley converted to make it 14-6 at half-time.

Crescent's grip on the game never relaxed in the second half. Begley and O'Mahony exchanged penalties before second row Diarmuid O'Malley went in for a clinching try which Begley again converted.

Scoring Sequence: 3 mins: J O'Mahony pen. 0-3. 14: O'Mahony pen 0-6. 29: P Neville try. B Begley con 7-6. 35: K Barrett try. Begley con. 14-6. 42: Begley pen. 17-6. 50: O'Mahony pen. 9-17. 66: D O'Malley try. Begley con. 24-9.

Old Crescent: B Begley; P McDonagh, L Doyle, A O'Dwyer, F Walsh; K Barrett C Forde; D Davis, P J McLoughlin, T Stapleton, D O'Malley, D Kirby, P Neville, T Brown B Toland. Replacement: F Downes for Ford.

Dolphin: C McCoiter; D O'Dowd, B Sheehan, B O'Neill, M O'Donovan; J O'Mahony, K Murphy; P Scott, T Kingston, E Knowles, J Ford, R Power, T O'Connell, D Pomeroy, S Jackson. Replacement: C Mahony for Sheehan.

Referee: D Courtney (Leinster).