Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A, Round 1: Lansdowne FC 18 St Mary's College 19
Aviva Stadium Back Pitch: Saturday 26th September 2026
Lansdowne came within the width of an upright of opening their AIL campaign with a statement win on Saturday, as reigning champions St Mary's College held on to take a one-point victory in a tense, error-strewn and at times bizarre encounter on the Aviva Stadium back pitch.
Just a fortnight after beating the same opponents 34-19 in the Leinster Senior Cup final, Bobby Sheehan's side trailed 19-13 with time running out before Mark McGlynn squeezed over in the corner for his second try. James Tarrant's conversion to win it cannoned back off the post, and St Mary's closed out the final minutes to leave Lansdowne with a losing bonus point.
It was a day of fine margins. Lansdowne saw a length-of-the-field intercept try overturned and turned into a penalty against them, conceded possession cheaply at the lineout on several occasions, and will feel they left points behind them. But there was plenty to build on, not least a dominant scrum and another two-try display from Mark McGlynn, who now has four tries in two games against St Mary's this season.
The sun was out and a big home crowd was in full voice as Lansdowne competed hard from the opening kick-off, just as they had in the cup final. Michael Moloney opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty, following a powerful scrum that yielded a penalty close to the 22.
St Mary's showed their champions' pedigree with a quick response. From a lineout, Mick O'Gara tipped the ball on to Ronan Watters and Ruairi Shields finished in the corner. O'Gara converted to make it 7-3.
The game then settled into a scrappy pattern, with penalties flowing both ways and the referee frequently resetting a scrum that Lansdowne were beginning to dominate. The lineout, so often a strength with Juan Beukes as the go-to target, misfired twice through miscommunication and an overthrow, and St Mary's gratefully accepted the ball back each time.
The turning point of the half came when Lansdowne worked an overlap and Leandro Ramirez was sent to the sin bin for deliberately killing the ball. Tarrant kicked to the corner, the pack drove, and from the resulting penalty advantage the free play was used superbly: a looping pass over the top, a slick link between the two wingers, and Mark McGlynn was in at the corner. Moloney landed a fine conversion from the far touchline to make it 10-7.
Lansdowne thought they had a second moments later when they picked off a St Mary's pass and ran it in from distance. What followed was one of the stranger sequences you will see in the AIL. Referee Daniel Carson first called the try back for a forward pass, then, after consulting his touch judge, ruled that a Lansdowne player had made a high tackle in the build-up to the interception. Instead of a 17-7 lead, play went all the way back to the Lansdowne 22 for a St Mary's penalty. With no TMO at this level, the home crowd could only look on in disbelief. To their credit, Lansdowne regrouped, St Mary's knocked on from the resulting attack, and the half ended 10-7 to the hosts.
St Mary's came out firing after the restart. Conor Dean, the visiting captain and one of the league's most influential playmakers, pulled the strings as the champions built phases deep into the Lansdowne half, and their pack drove hooker Richie Bergin over from close range. O'Gara's conversion put them 14-10 ahead.
Lansdowne responded with a superb goal-line defensive set to repel a series of St Mary's carries, and when the visitors were penalised for creeping up in the line, the home side backed themselves by taking the three points. Tarrant, in his first shot at goal of the day, made no mistake to make it 14-13 heading into the final quarter.
But St Mary's struck again. Working a penalty advantage, they spread it wide for Aaron O'Sullivan to finish on the outside of his defender. The conversion was missed, leaving a six-point gap.
With George Morris, Matt Healy, Donough Lawlor and Oisín Devitt among those introduced from the bench, Lansdowne found another gear. Playing with more tempo, they worked into the 22, the forwards laid the platform, and McGlynn was there again to touch down in the corner. At 19-18 Tarrant had the chance to win it, but his kick struck the post. The home side had one last attack but St Mary's won a crucial breakdown turnover and ran down the clock.
The defeat stings, but it is a point on the board against the champions. Sean Dunne and Greg McGrath anchored a scrum that had the upper hand throughout, while Beukes, Louis McGauran, Harry O'Riordan and Wilhelm de Klerk all carried with intent. If the lineout and the unforced errors can be tidied up, Lansdowne will be dangerous opposition for anyone.
Next up is a trip to the Belfield Bowl to face UCD next Saturday. See you there! Don't forget the next home game is Saturday 10th of October v Belvo on the main pitch!!!
Lansdowne FC: 15 Cathal Eddy; 14 Daniel Hurley, 13 Wilhelm de Klerk, 12 Harry O'Riordan, 11 Mark McGlynn; 10 James Tarrant, 9 Michael Moloney; 1 Sean Dunne, 2 Bobby Sheehan (capt), 3 Greg McGrath, 4 Juan Beukes, 5 John Forde, 6 Louis McGauran, 7 David Walsh, 8 Harry van Eeden.
Replacements: 16 Marcus McCarthy, 17 George Morris, 18 Matt Healy, 19 Donough Lawlor, 20 Oisín Devitt, 21 Sean Galvin.
St Mary's College: 15 Ruairi Shields; 14 Aaron O'Sullivan, 13 Myles Carey, 12 Mick O'Gara, 11 Leandro Ramirez; 10 Conor Dean (capt), 9 Rob Gilsenan; 1 Oisín Michel, 2 Richie Bergin, 3 Mick McCormack, 4 Daniel Leane, 5 Braemar Murray, 6 Ronan Watters, 7 Conor Pierce, 8 Dan Goggin.
Replacements: 16 Stephen McLoughlin, 17 Ciaran Scott, 18 Andrew Sparrow, 19 Max Egan, 20 Luke McGill, 21 Paul Neary.
Scorers:
Lansdowne: Tries: Mark McGlynn (32', 78'). Con: Michael Moloney (32'). Pens: Michael Moloney (7'), James Tarrant (61').
St Mary's College: Tries: Ruairi Shields (8'), Richie Bergin (45'), Aaron O'Sullivan (64'). Cons: Mick O'Gara (8', 45'). Sin bin: L Ramirez (St Mary's).
