GARDA CAPTURED the Spencer Cup when they beat a spirited Coolmine side in Donnybrook last night. Ia an entertaining game they owed their win to a fine performance by the pack and the accurate boot of out half Niall Farren.

Garda raced into a 13 point lead thanks to a Dominic Hayes try and eight points from the boot of Farren. However, Coolmine responded with two sparkling tries, from Derek Monaghan and Hugh Martin.

Farren landed his fourth successful effort deep in injury time to leave just one point separating the sides at the interval. In the second half Farren restored Garda's lead with an eighth minute penalty before Mark Kelly won the race to get the crucial try five minutes later. Farren added the touchline conversion and a further penalty in the 20th minute.

Garda survived a late Coolmine onslaught which yielded a try for the excellent John Massey.