Out-half Fitzpatrick, a key figure against Shannon last week, booted five penalties and converted Shane Monahan's first half try.

Kieran Lewis and Lorcan Bourke helped themselves to tries as Garryowen muscled into a 15-13 half-time lead at Dooradoyle.

Home full-back Conor Kilroy completed a 16-point personal haul, but 'Rock took the verdict thanks to the sure-footed Fitzpatrick.

Garryowen started the stronger, with Munster centre Kieran Lewis ghosting over for the opening try after a lovely, long pass from Conan Doyle.

Doyle's clever distribution came to the fore in the first half and a skipp pass from the centre put winger Bourke over for the second try.

Kilroy, Garryowen's long-standing number 15, converted Lewis' score.

At the other end, 'Rock had finished the first quarter with two penalties on the board and Fitzpatrick also split the posts when converting Monahan's fourth try of the season.

However, the Dubliners lost lock Des Dillon to the sin-bin for back chat, allowing Kilroy to kick Garryowen into a 15-13 lead.

Kilroy, a former Blackrock player, could do little when Blackrock centre Kyle Tonetti raced in for a try early in the second half.

Garryowen's indiscipline was beginning to cost them and as the hour mark approached, their lead had been erased.

Tonetti's effort and two more Fitzpatrick penalties had 'Rock leading 24-18.

Two more three-pointers, one from Fitzpatrick and the other from full-back Niall Morris, were enough to see out the result.

Garryowen, though, kept within losing bonus point territory and they at least took something from the game thanks to Kilroy's late try.

Doyle was again involved in the build-up, Ciaran O'Boyle then took the ball on and he passed on the outside to the supporting Kilroy to score.

Still, it is no wins from two outings for Dara O'Sullivan's men and bragging rights aside, next Friday's historic floodlit clash with Shannon at Thomond Park Stadium is definitely now a must-win game.