Lansdowne say farewell with thrilling victory
Saturday, 16 December 2006 22:33Lansdowne's final match on the main pitch at Lansdowne Road before the stadium's redevelopment had a thrilling finish as full-back Robbie Dolan kicked them to a 17-16 win.
Having trailed 6-3, Galwegians threatened to spoil the party as they went 16-14 ahead thanks to an Anthony Barrett try and a 76th-minute penalty from Nick Wakley.
'Wegians prop Ross Davies was red-carded for a 32nd-minute head butt on Niall Ronan, and Lansdowne looked good when centre Clem Casey touched down.
But the visitors made a fight of it and it was left to four-penalty hero Dolan to land an 85th-minute penalty.
Lansdowne's 6-3 lead was a fortunate one as neither side looked like making a try-scoring breakthrough. 'Wegians, who travelled east looking for their first ever win at Lansdowne Road, chalked up an early penalty through young Peter Durcan, who got the nod at number 10.
Dolan slammed over two penalties at the other end, and but for the assured kicking of their top scorer of the campaign, Lansdowne would have struggled.
Their highlight in broken play came on 55 minutes when the hosts' pack delivered the ball on a plate, from a close range lineout, and Casey burst through for a well-worked try.
But just five minutes later, Barrett managed to block down a Mana Ashford clearance kick and race through to score 'Wegians' only try.
Durcan and Dolan then swapped penalties before Wakley stepped up to boot the visitors into a 16-14 lead.
Never giving up hope of claiming their third win in four league games, Lansdowne dug deep and carved out a final chance for Dolan.
With an incredibly match-winning kick, Dolan, who is nicknamed 'Floppy', left-footed over off his wrong side, out near the touchline, to confirm Lansdowne's fifth successive win at headquarters over the Galway men and start the celebrations on an historic day.
Scorers:
Lansdowne: Try: Clem Casey; Pens: Robbie Dolan 4
Galwegians: Try: Anthony Barrett; Con: Peter Durcan; Pens: Durcan 2, Nick Wakley
