St Mary's knock Garryowen out of AIB Cup
Garryowen 14 St. Mary's College 23
Former schoolboy prop Cillian O'Byrne ensured a place in the inaugural AIB Cup final for St. Mary's College as his 80th-minute try ensured a 23-14 win for the Dubliners over Garryowen.
Mary's progress through to the April decider was confirmed when O'Byrne ploughed over and Connacht's Mark McHugh added the conversion late on at Dooradoyle.
There were still five minutes of injury-time remaining but Mary's, who sit seven places below Garryowen in the Division One table, hung on for a famous victory.
Mary's captain John McWeeney, the former Leinster and Ireland winger, said afterwards: "We're delighted to win. Having come down here to Limerick in previous seasons and lost a good few times, it's nice to put one over Garryowen.
"We decided that we would treat it as a "one-off" game - just go and play it as it comes and it worked out for us.
"(Having been 8-6 down at half-time) we came out and just focussed on getting the next score. I don't mind who we get in the final, honestly, we're just happy to have made it through and it's something for everyone at the club to look forward to now."
Conor Kilroy had kicked Garryowen in front from an early penalty and the hosts led 8-6 at the interval. Flanker Paul Neville burrowed over for the Limerick side's try midway through the opening half.
However, Mary's snapped back to lead 16-14 courtesy of a converted try from centre Keith Douglas and a McHugh penalty.
Centre McHugh was central to the win as he kicked ten points, including two penalties. Jonathan Sexton, who came off the bench for the Ireland Under-21s last night, started at fly half and also slotted a penalty.
But the defining moment came when all 16st 5lbs of O'Byrne was driven over the line in a climatic finish.
Scorers:
Garryowen: Try: Paul Neville; Pens: Conor Kilroy 3
Mary's: Tries: Keith Douglas, Cillian O'Byrne; Cons: Mark McHugh 2; Pens: Jonathan Sexton, McHugh 2
