A try from Ireland U-20 winger David Kearney in first half injury-time saw Lansdowne trailing by 6-5 at half-time, after Garryowen full-back Conor Kilroy has succeeded with penalties after two and 24 minutes.

However, Lansdowne lacked the necessary cutting edge in attack and Ireland ‘A’ international Keith Earls showed a good turn of speed to pick off an unconverted try ‘ the second half’s only score ‘ and kept his side well in the play-off picture.

Garryowen beat Lansdowne 23-5 at this venue in the AIB Cup last October but the Dubliners played much better today, with their lineout and scrum, in particular, troubling the Limerick men.

Garryowen could call on the likes of Earls, Gerry Hurley and Damien Varley, who played in last week’s AIB Club international against Scotland, while Lansdowne were able to include two of their current Ireland U-20 internationals - try scorer Kearney and centre Eamonn Sheridan.

Kilroy punished an early ruck misdemeanour to push Garryowen in front and the former Blackrock College clubman followed that up with a thumping kick from just inside his half for his second penalty success.

Garryowen’s back-line purred at times but a combination of misplaced passes and bad decision-making meant the visitors saw the first half out try-less.

They had not bargained on Kearney, the younger brother of Leinster and Ireland star Rob, getting over in injury-time for a try that had the Dublin 4 outfit very much in contention.

The teenager did particularly well to squeeze over in the left corner under pressure from Earls and Alan Kingsley.

The try came just six minutes after Garryowen had lost prop Rory Brosnan to the sin-bin for killing the ball, but that was the only yellow card of a game played in good spirits.

The second half was a dour affair until Earls lit the touch paper for Garryowen’s seventh straight league win over Lansdowne. He found space out on the left and evaded his marker to cross in the corner.

Kilroy missed the conversion but Garryowen’s gritty defence allowed them to hold out and maintain their run in third place in the table.

Scorers:

Lansdowne: Try: David Kearney

Garryowen: Try: Keith Earls; Pens: Conor Kilroy 2.