A DRAMATIC injury-time penalty from replacement out-half Eoghan Hickey saw Garryowen wrench victory away from battling Lansdowne in their hard-fought All Ireland League tie played at Dooradoyle yesterday.

Munster star Hickey showed admirable composure to slot the match-winning kick in the 81st minute after patient play from the Garryowen pack forced the visitors into an indiscretion.

Lansdowne will feel that a bonus point was scant reward for their tenacious display which yielded two tries, one in either half, through impressive flanker Niall Ronan and prolific full-back Robbie Dolan.

Garryowen, leaders prior to kick-off, were fortunate to lead 10-7 at the break.

Garryowen full-back Conor Kilroy kicked the home side in front with an 18th-minute penalty goal.

That remained the only score until the 32nd minute when Lansdowne grabbed their opening try. A Garryowen clearance out of defence was blocked down and an alert Ronan pounced to score a precious try. Full-back Dolan added the extras.

Crucially, Garryowen struck for a try of their own in first-half stoppage time. With Garryowen making little headway when spinning the ball wide, the home side opted to keep it tight instead, with both backs and forwards combining to maul their way over the Lansdowne line in the 42nd minute. Centre Frederico Quaglia was credited with the touchdown. Kilroy successfully kicked the conversion.

Lansdowne were proving plucky opponents and their industry was rewarded 15 minutes after the restart with their second try through Dolan following a fine backline move.

A Dolan drop goal in the 63rd minute saw the Dublin side into a 15-10 lead.

However, this experienced Garryowen side refused to panic. Sub Alan Kingsley slotted a 72nd-minute drop goal and Hickey proved the Garryowen hero with the winning penalty in stoppage time.

GARRYOWEN C Kilroy; A O'Loughlin, K Hartigan, F Quaglia, K O'Riordan; C Doyle, G Hurley; R Brosnan, D Varley, J Staunton, M Melbourne, E Mackey, P Neville, D Sherry, P Malone Subs E Hickey for Doyle, 48 mins; D Sheehan for Neville, 57 mins; A Kingsley for Kilroy, 69 mins LANSDOWNE R Dolan; N Walsh, G Stafford, C Casey, A McCormack; M Ashford, S Whelan; J Lyne, K Corrigan, P Doran-Jones, A Maher, D Toner, D Lavin, N Ronan, R Boucher Subs D Coughlan for Whelan, 50 mins; K Cleere for Doran-Jones, 68 mins; S McCarthy for Lavin, 74 mins Referee M Hermin (Ulster)