A DRAMATIC injury-time penalty from full-back Conor Kilroy helped Garryowen secure a precious All Ireland League victory over a battling Ballymena side at rain-soaked Dooradoyle yesterday.

The prolific Kilroy displayed admirable composure to coolly dispatch the winning kick two minutes into injury time from an acute angle on the visitors' 22. Ballymena will feel that their industry merited greater reward than a mere bonus point.

The visitors looked all set to record only their second ever win at the Limerick venue when out-half Dirkie Strydom landed a terrific drop goal a minute from full time.

But Kilroy's reply, his fourth successful kick of the game, confined Ballymena to their second defeat against Shannonside opposition in successive weekends and ensured Garryowen maintained their winning start to the league.

The wet and blustery conditions militated against any sort of open flowing game.

Each time either side tried to move the ball out along their back lines, the move seemed to inevitably break down with a knock on or misplaced pass.

Ballymena took the game to their hosts from the outset but failed to translate their territorial advantage into scores. In contrast Garryowen scored on their first incursion into Ballymena's half when Kilroy landed a 13th-minute penalty. The same player doubled their lead five minutes later when he converted another penalty award after two Ballymena players were penalised for crossing.

Last year's beaten semi finalists held their 6-0 lead to the break, however backed by the breeze in the second half Ballymena stormed back into contention when Andy Graham crossed for an opportunistic 48th-minute try.

Strydom's conversion saw the Ulster side in front and growing in confidence.

Kilroy settled Garryowen's nerve with a 63rd-minute penalty goal. Then the small attendance, who had little to cheer about for the opening 75 minutes, were treated to those dramatic closing moments and an important win for Paul Cunningham's Garryowen side.

GARRYOWEN C Kilroy; A O Loughlin, K Hartigan, F Quaglia; C P O Boyle, A Kingsley, G Hurley; L Og Casey, D Varley, D Lavery, M Melbourne, E Mackey, P Neville, J O Sullivan, P Malone Subs E McGovern for Lavery, 32 mins;
E Hickey for Kingsley, 47 mins

BALLYMENA C Smith, P Budina, J Topping, J McGruggan, C Woods, D Strydom, D Drake, J Sleinkamp, S Douglas, T Court, E Caldwell, R Young, A Graham, G Moore, C Henry Subs A Kirkpatrick for Court, 48 mins; M Harshaw for Douglas, 65 mins; D Best for Graham, 77 mins Referee P Haycock (IRFU)